LF: Source for Shotgun Wadding and Advice

[Dreaded Platypus]

Hello All...

I bought a Pedersoli 12ga SxS a while back and would like to use it - should prove to be a laugh at the skeet range

Can someone point me towards a source of wadding material up here in Canada?

Are percussion caps all the same ?
If not, how can I tell what size my nipples are, (on the gun, that is).

Also, I read that one should use 11 ga wadding in the second firing barrel to hold things in place while thefirst barrel goes off.

Is this necessary ?

If so, should all three wads be 11 gauge ? (powder/cushion/shot retention) ?

Thanks in advance,

 

[catnthehatt]

Hello All...

I bought a Pedersoli 12ga SxS a while back and would like to use it - should prove to be a laugh at the skeet range

Can someone point me towards a source of wadding material up here in Canada?

Are percussion caps all the same ?
If not, how can I tell what size my nipples are, (on the gun, that is).

Also, I read that one should use 11 ga wadding in the second firing barrel to hold things in place while thefirst barrel goes off.

Is this necessary ?

If so, should all three wads be 11 gauge ? (powder/cushion/shot retention) ?

Thanks in advance,

First off, mike the bores, Pedersolis are normally 12 gauge, and but 12 gauge wads generally work fine with them.
I use an 11 gauge wads in my Berreta muzzle loader however.
Usually 1 guage larger will work.
Use about 75 grains of FFG, and the same measure for your shot - this will give you about a 1 ounce shot charge.
A nitro card wad goes down first, then I use only HALF of a lubed fibre wad on top. If you do not use this, you will half to clean the gun about every three shots .
A half a lubed wad is all you need to keep things soft in the fouling, and you can shoot the gun all day!
I then put a .035 overshot wad on top of the lubed wad - this keeps the shot from inbedding itself in the wad.
Now put your shot charge in , remember ,use the same measure of powder for shot.
Then slide you overshot wad in.
It helps if you start your wads on edge , then turn them before trying to run them down the bore.
Now, here's a tip - I take my nipple pick and punch a hole in the center of the overshot wads , this helps the trapped air to escape as you ram them home.
I also make sure my rod will bounce a bit when it hits home, this ensures it has bottomed out the wad.
Use #11 caps, I like CCI.

If you taalk to becky at Hillfolk Musket ( 306 228 2949 supplies in Senlac Sak. , she can sell you everything you need, ans can Will Bilozir at http://www.bilozir.net/.
Hope this helps!
Cat

 

[Dreaded Platypus]

Cat - thanks for the info and source.

I will check them out!

Do you buy lubed wads or lube them youself ?
If you DIY could you let me know what you use and how it's done ?

Thanks in advance,

 

[vagrantviking]

You can also get wads from Buffalo Arms or Track of the Wolf. Will Bilozir is good too.

 

[saskbooknut]

BP shotgun loading

ML shotgun wads are not the same diameter as BP cartridge wads - they need to be larger to be a tight fit in the bore of a muzzle loader. I do not know anyone who uses different sized wads in the same gun -doubt that you need to do so.
Use Blue and Grey ML wads from Becky at Hillfolk Muskets and you will not be unhappy with them for muzzle loading shotgun. The Middletons are great people to deal with. They are the primary supplier to Saskatchewan and Alberta Muzzle Loading enthusiasts.
Hillfolk also stocks Circle Fly wads for blackpowder cartridge loading at very good prices. I just took delivery of a few orders for my ML club members in Saskatoon.
Full disclosure - I consider Becky and Doug Middleton to be my friends, as would anyone who has experience with them.

 

[catnthehatt]

ML shotgun wads are not the same diameter as BP cartridge wads - they need to be larger to be a tight fit in the bore of a muzzle loader. I do not know anyone who uses different sized wads in the same gun -doubt that you need to do so.
Use Blue and Grey ML wads from Becky at Hillfolk Muskets and you will not be unhappy with them for muzzle loading shotgun. The Middletons are great people to deal with. They are the primary supplier to Saskatchewan and Alberta Muzzle Loading enthusiasts.
Hillfolk also stocks Circle Fly wads for blackpowder cartridge loading at very good prices. I just took delivery of a few orders for my ML club members in Saskatoon.
Full disclosure - I consider Becky and Doug Middleton to be my friends, as would anyone who has experience with them.

I thought I had explained the wad diffrences??!!
I use 11 gauge wads in my Berreta 12 gauge muzzle loader because they are in fact larger, and fit better.
I also use the same 11 gauge wads to load 12 gauge brass, becase they work and keep the load tight.
To the OP, I use both pre lubed Blue and Grey, and lube wads myself sometimnes, using Ox Yoke or TC lube.
Cat

 

[Dreaded Platypus]

So...

Here are the latest developments...

I went out to a local range and spoke with a couple of black powder shotgun types.
The claim they puch out cereal box cardboard for over-the-powder and over-the shot.
I queried them about fouling without lube and they guffawed at me, (yes...guffawed).

I went to the local hardware store they spoke of and they do, in fact, have a vast selection of suitable punches. I suppose if I hunted around I could likely find a source or felt for wadding.

Some questions now are,

WTF are they talking about?
Is cereal box cardboard OK?

If I was to buy a punch, what size should it be for 12 gauge?
Can someone mic a 12ga wad for me and advise ?

Or...If I mic-ed my barrel should the wad be the same size, a teeny-bit bigger, or a lot bigger...
I mean, does mic-ing the muzzle diameter give a good indication of what goes on at the bottom of the barrel (chamber area) ?
I would suspect the choke comes into play and it may not be accurate....

Thanks for all your help, guys.
With any luck I'll make it go "booom" one day soon

 

[catnthehatt]

So...

Here are the latest developments...

I went out to a local range and spoke with a couple of black powder shotgun types.
The claim they puch out cereal box cardboard for over-the-powder and over-the shot.
I queried them about fouling without lube and they guffawed at me, (yes...guffawed).

I went to the local hardware store they spoke of and they do, in fact, have a vast selection of suitable punches. I suppose if I hunted around I could likely find a source or felt for wadding.
Thoise guys likely swab between shots - I do not because i shoot the same loads at the range that I do in the field, and YES! I do hunt with my BP shotguns!!
Cereal box or milk carton works, yes, and a 3/4" punch will work in a jiffy.

Some questions now are,

WTF are they talking about?
Is cereal box cardboard OK?

If I was to buy a punch, what size should it be for 12 gauge?
Can someone mic a 12ga wad for me and advise ?

Or...If I mic-ed my barrel should the wad be the same size, a teeny-bit bigger, or a lot bigger...
I mean, does mic-ing the muzzle diameter give a good indication of what goes on at the bottom of the barrel (chamber area) ?
I would suspect the choke comes into play and it may not be accurate....

Thanks for all your help, guys.
With any luck I'll make it go "booom" one day soon

I hunt with my BP shotguns and do not swab between shots like many guys do, and the only time load at the bench is when working up loads - any other time it is from "pouch and horn" so I do not swab between bores, and I can kill pheasants and ducks all day without tight bores - which change patterns as well.
When it comes time to clean the gun, I take half as much time as when I was not using a lubed wad.
These guys that laughed have obviously not done a lot of BP shooting otherwise they would know that a lubed wad is not uncommon.
Now, milk carton and cereal boxes work , yes, with a 3/4" punch for 12 gauge, but this works only for overshot wads .
if you try to use is for over powder wads you will get inferior velocities, maybe enough to break a hand thrown clay, but I shoot ATA trap and skeet clays with my 1 oz loads and have no problems at all.
This is my experience garnered from shooting competition and hunting with muzzle loaders and BP cartridge guns since 1977.
Cat