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David577

32 Cal
Joined
Nov 10, 2018
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Read that someone was using card bored cards cut from cereal box between powder and bullet. I want to make a cutter to try this. What diameter should I aim to cut for a 50? Don't you want the card to be a little larger then bore size? What type of felt do you cut for a felt wad. Seems felt is classed f1 - f9. And I assume 1/8 inch felt is enough. No reason to have thicker then that. Trying to ring out accuracy from Maxi's and these seem to be 2 things to try. Thank you
 
Wads need to fill the grooves.. deeper the groves, bigger the wads. Tighter the fit, better the seal.
 
I have a hollow punch set (similar to these TEKTON Hollow Punch Set (12-Piece)-6588 - The Home Depot) that I use for felt and cards. Typical go up about 1/32”-1/16” in diameter over bore size for best seal. I use 1/2” diameter 1/8” thick hard felt in my 45s, and 5/8” diameter in my 58s for example. I would suggest starting with 9/16” diameter in a 50 caliber.
 
Our member ohioramrod makes punches and advised me to go well beyond the groove depth for felt wads, something like .003-4” over (correct me if I’m wrong). I’d think .001” for cardboard, though I use the punch he made me for my revolvers on cardboard cereal boxes and it works great in my chambers, so I’d guess it should be ok down a muzzle.
 
For felt or leather I recommend .025 to .030 over bore. I have used leather for over twenty years simply because I have a lot of leather scraps. I stated with the over powder wads for deer hunting with heavy lubed mini's and liked the results so well that I use leather over powder wads on all of my rifles both round ball and mini's.
 
Harbor Freight sells a set of round punches for around $10. The group includes a 1/2" punch. If you want one slightly larger, just use something like a demel to slightly open up the business end of the punch. I've used them to punch felt wads for revolvers and paper over powder cards from cereal boxes.
 

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