Leather Wads

[Freedom]

I just wanted to share some info that was given to me after I provided some vegetable skirting leather to a fellow black powder shooter when he tested my heavy leather wads. I posted in the Howdah thread about how well the skirting leather wads worked in my smoothbore howdah. This info is a good supplement to that info... I believe this was 8-10 oz leather (1oz=1/64")

I just wanted to share some data with you that I obtained when comparing leather wads VS no wads. I made some leather wads from the leather that I got from you a few days ago. I punched them out using a half inch hollow punch. The rifle was a .50 cal Hatfield. I was using 50 grains of Goex fffG. My patches were .015 light denim that were lubricated with Bore Butter. I soaked the wads in Balistol and let them dry on a towel for about three days. I made five shots over a chronograph using no wad and five shots using a leather wad. The average muzzle velocity without the wad was 1289 ft/sec with a standard deviation of 21.35. When I used the wads, the average muzzle velocity was 1317 ft/sec with a standard deviation of only 7.00. This proves to me that the wads significantly improve performance.

I had fired several shots using the wads for another project prior to firing the shots to see if the wads made any difference. After 10 shots, during which loading was very easy, I ran a cleaning patch moistened with Rusty Duck cleaner down the bore and was amazed at how little gunk came out. There is no doubt that the wads improve combustion and lower fouling. After doing my test shooting, I went on a woods walk with my club and shot over 25 shots using the wads for each shot and never once needed a cleaning patch. When we finished, I started cleaning my rifle and there was more manure around the nipple than there was down the bore. I am absolutely sold on using the leatherwads with the Balistol on them. My patches were lightly lubed with Bore Butter. A wonderful combination!!

Bill

 

[AZbpBurner]

Leather wads may have been practical in years gone by, but, today, unless you have a steady source of leather, other alternatives work every bit as well, and at less expense. Circle Fly vegetable wads are available in a multitude of sizes at ToTW, and I use them extensively in smoothbore muskets for both ball and shot loads. For Cap & Ball revolvers, I use lightly greased paper wads - accuracy is great.