Sam Fadala proved many years ago that the patch and ball will not thoroughly seal the bore . He even had slow motion photography that proved it. It was in one of his black powder loading books 15 years or so ago.
topknot
All dear Sam proved, was that he knew little or nothing about how to load or the use tight ball and patch combinations required to seal the bore. He was constantly plagued with burnt up and shredded patches (and poor accuracy). That is why he experimented with wads of different types, ending up with wasp-nest in the first place. Had he learned to use tight combinations like Taylor and I did, he'd not have had to use wads to protect his patches.
Sam used thin patches with quite undersized round balls, usually .010" smaller than the bore.
Thus, when he used a wad of inert material between the patched ball and powder, he ALWAYS got an increase in velocity over no wad.
He thought he was the only one with a chronograph.
I also had one - since 1977 & had already done the experimenting he spoke of, but with different results- no increase in speed with the use of wasp-nest, 1/10" card wads or cardboard.
By that time in my shooting BP carreer, I already knew enough to use a ball only .005" smaller than the bore size along with a .022" denim patch. I had found some 'brushed' denim in a yard good store and bought a bolt of it. That lasted only a couple years - 10 yards?
One of the NAPR members from Montana, I think ("National Association of Primitive Riflemen") met up with Sam F., and had Sam chronograph the his standard target loads. Sam was astounded to find no increase in velocity in that fellow's loads. He wrote it up (paid by the word, you see) that it was a phenomenon he could not explain, but maintained in EVERYONE ELSES guns, an increase in speed would result if a wad was used as a real gasget. That a more experienced shooter using tighter combinations never crossed his mind of course as he knew it all in his first 2 years of writing - not sure how much shooting, but was quite a prolific writer then. His rifles ALWAYS gave an increase in speed with the wadding which proved there ALWAYS gas blowby. he stated that patches were actually anti-gasgets- his weak combination experiments proved it to him. He also stated those anti-gasgets even promoted gas blowby and cutting.
Good grief!
If that $#@* is what you want to believe - carry on, carrying on.
In those late 70's, after reading all of this stuff which was contrary to what I had found through my own experimentation, I wrote John Baird and asked him W-T-H Sam was talking about, and John, merely said -give him a break " Sam is on a long learning streak & supporting his family by writing about shooting muzzleloaders and other guns". "Give him some time and see if he re-learns anything."
Actually, I am still waiting.
