Wad thickness

The extra punches really don't fill much of a need for you. However, if you bought only the punches you needed, then you would have spent about as much for a punch as the entire set. So, being cheap means you keep the entire set. Being frugal means you keep the punches you need and dispose of the unneeded ones. I'll loose track of the unneeded punches and have to buy new punches anyway. The 3/4" and 5/5" punches are good for shot gun wads, 12 and 20 gauge.

Once upon a time, I found an assortment of punches at a rendezvous for individual sale. I bought some 3/4" punches for the unit artificer to use in making cartridges. I already had a set of punches.

My question remains unanswered. What practical purpose do the unused punchs serve? Have any of you found a use for them? I realize you either "dispose" of them or find some use or need of them So far I havent found that purpose. Thats the thing with specialty tools when you need them you need them, when you dont they're just taking up space.

$9 for 3 puches you can use and throw (recycle) the others away, still a good price. Use them for punching the bolt holes in the gasket material the next time you make one for your car. The smaller ones can be used punching holes in belts or straps for the buckle tonuge. Since they are cylindrical and have a sharp edge they aren't good for paerweights.

Eutycus said:

My question remains unanswered. What practical purpose do the unused punchs serve?

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You can use them to practice making wads.

Right one can't have too much practice. Actually if you leave them in the box they came in the left over punchs do make a fair paperweight. Not good just fair! Maple trees in South Texas?

Seems you need to buy more guns.
Use the 3/8 inch punch for making .36 caliber wads and the 5/16 punch for .31 caliber wads.

Earlier I mentioned that only about 3 of them could be used for wad making. The ones you mentioned are already in the planning stage, (Hopefully). That still leaves about 5-6 that could possibly be used but not for any caliber that I had in mind.

A Good excuse to have some guns custom built, don't let those punches go to waste.

I could use a good excuse to buy another "toy", but I dont think the wife is gonna fall for that. She handles the finances in our household and she has tight purse strings!

Mr. Eutycus- I am happy to learn of your start in cap & ball revolver shooting, and of your determination to experiment with the guns. This should guarantee your success!. I believe that your old hat wad material is the traditional way, and that this thickness of wad is the best ( I usually slice the commercial 1/8" thick wool wads in half down to 1/16" thickness to approximate the hat felt). Also, I have read and tried the methods of Mr. GeoJohn and I have been convinced of their value for my personal shooting. As to the cornmeal fillers, I reckon that it is only there to eliminate any air space in the cylinder with light powder charges so that the ball does not act as an obstruction (= burst cylinder). Best of luck with your shooting!

Thanks all of y'all for that bit of encouragement. Almost all I know about cap and ball shooting I learned from videos and forums such as this. Once again thank all of you, a slap on the back sure beats one across the face!

Eutycus said:

Thanks all of y'all for that bit of encouragement. Almost all I know about cap and ball shooting I learned from videos and forums such as this. Once again thank all of you, a slap on the back sure beats one across the face!

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Use the corn meal and forget the wads. No punches needed

Well I do have a bunch of wads to use up, now that I desyroyed that hat. Wads do serve the purpose of "greasing" the barrel though dont they?

Eutycus said:

Well I do have a bunch of wads to use up, now that I desyroyed that hat. Wads do serve the purpose of "greasing" the barrel though dont they?

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Just oil the barrel once in a while

What I'm saying if a person uses a filler only ,What is the point, trouble and expense of wads at all?

Eutycus said:

What I'm saying if a person uses a filler only ,What is the point, trouble and expense of wads at all?

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Filler only no wads needed.no grease at the end of chamber.

I had no intentions of using grease at the end of the chambers.It sounds like its not only messy but also unecessary.But I still have a hundred or so wads to use up. I had planned on using those to lube/ grease the barrel and to keep the fouling soft. That is one of the purposes of grease isn't it?

Have been using corn meal and tight caps for over 20 years with no chain fires. You can load it the way you want.

Hard to believe a thread has gone so long over shooting a simple cap and ball revolver. Powder and Ball with the right fitting caps, That was the direction's Sam Colt put on his boxes, but what does he know.