RepackboxTitan ReloadingMidSouth Shooters SupplyInline Fabrication
WidenersLee PrecisionLoad DataRotoMetals2
Reloading Everything
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 36

Thread: Poly Wads

  1. #1
    Boolit Master Castaway's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Dade City, Fl
    Posts
    779

    Poly Wads

    I’m wanting to try poly wads in my loads. Currently, I’m using a waxed milk carton wad, topped with newspaper. I’ve had good luck with this combo but I understand there’s a bit of base deformation with the cardboard that the poly wads don’t have. Probably not a big deal at 100 but might at longer ranges. I know they’re available at BACO already cut, but is there somewhere I can buy a sheet and punch out my own? Looking to start with 0.03” thickness to match my current wads
    Last edited by Castaway; 11-13-2022 at 08:40 PM.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    May 2022
    Location
    MPLS
    Posts
    1,486
    I was using a 1/16" poly punched wad, under bullet, with cork punched wad, with a solid bleached cardboard cut wad over powder to take up air space.
    Made a nice cleaner round. Now use a punched poly wad from coffee can covers, under bullet, with solid bleach card ( milk carton ) over powder.
    Google the thickness of poly you want, there is a machine supply here in Minneapolis that sells it, name of company, Granger. The news paper is what is causing the deformation, I tried backer rod, that caused problems, went to the poly, cork, solid bleach, end of problems.

  3. #3
    Moderator


    Minerat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Jefferson County, CO
    Posts
    9,545
    Try Buffalo Arms. They have 0.030 and 0.060 bulk sheets here's a link to the 30

    https://www.buffaloarms.com/2-sq-ft-...y-030poly.html
    Steve,

    Life Member NRA
    Colorado Rifle Club member
    Rocky Mtn Gun Owners member
    NAGR member

  4. #4
    Boolit Master Castaway's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Dade City, Fl
    Posts
    779
    Am aware BACO has them. Interested in what’s available to punch my own

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    May 2022
    Location
    MPLS
    Posts
    1,486
    Quote Originally Posted by Castaway View Post
    Am aware BACO has them. Interested in what’s available to punch my own
    You can get the punch at track of the wolf.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master Castaway's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Dade City, Fl
    Posts
    779
    Grief! I didn’t know this would be that complicated.

  7. #7
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Wyoming
    Posts
    15
    I buy the .03/.06" ldpe or hdpe sheets from Grainger
    kw

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    1,941
    You can definitely buy 0.030" and 0.060" LDPE sheets at a number of industrial plastic supply places. I can't recommend any because I'm in Canada so not likely local to you. BACO does also sell the sheets separately which is often what I use. I have a number of press mounted punches ( from BACO ) that cut very nicely. If you can find one of those you'll probably like them. I don't like the ones you strike with a hammer.

    Chris.

  9. #9
    Moderator


    Minerat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Jefferson County, CO
    Posts
    9,545
    Quote Originally Posted by Castaway View Post
    Am aware BACO has them. Interested in what’s available to punch my own
    That link was for bulk sheets so you could punch our own.
    Steve,

    Life Member NRA
    Colorado Rifle Club member
    Rocky Mtn Gun Owners member
    NAGR member

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Gillette Wyoming
    Posts
    970
    If you use anything less than a .060 wad thickness, you run the risk of base cutting. Lee Shaver proved this some years ago with his bullet catch box, no matter the material. Card or poly, ldpe is commonly used material. HDPE is also used by quite a few top shooters. It’s available from McMaster Carr and Grainger, the 1 inch wad strips are very handy in the press mounted wad punches I own.

    Kenny Wasserburger

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Posts
    3,702
    Downunder I havent been able to buy the proper stuff so I cut HDPE from disposable 10 litre water jugs. If you pay attention you can keep around 50 thou thick - I reckon diameter fit matters - a lot of fellers use wads that are an easy fit in the case - mine are cut .460 same as bullet sizing. Cut it into strips first so can be sure of even thickness. Getting good chrony numbers and nice groups (for me) at 100 & 200.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master Castaway's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Dade City, Fl
    Posts
    779
    Thanks to all. Ordered 0.06” wads from BACO

  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master uscra112's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Switzerland of Ohio
    Posts
    6,314
    If you've got airspace above a solid wad, you're asking for a ringed chamber, as the late Charlie Dell proved conclusively several years ago.
    Cognitive Dissident

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    May 2022
    Location
    MPLS
    Posts
    1,486
    Be careful of the card stock you cut wads from ? If it a shiny or coated stock it may have a clay coating, that's dirt under pressure in your barrel, use only uncoated stock or milk carton stock..

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Gillette Wyoming
    Posts
    970
    Quote Originally Posted by BLAHUT View Post
    Be careful of the card stock you cut wads from ? If it a shiny or coated stock it may have a clay coating, that's dirt under pressure in your barrel, use only uncoated stock or milk carton stock..
    You do realize that the edge of the wad is the only part in contact with the barrel?

    KW

    Lord help us.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Posts
    3,702
    Quote Originally Posted by Kenny Wasserburger View Post
    You do realize that the edge of the wad is the only part in contact with the barrel?

    KW

    Lord help us.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Gillette Wyoming
    Posts
    970
    Quote Originally Posted by indian joe View Post
    Exactly.
    KW

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy steveu's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Posts
    142
    I have some.070” vinyl I am going to try in the trapdoor and 1885 rem-Lee as soon as I get a .45 cal wad punch die

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    1,606
    vinyl, isn't that the same a plastic? and I would be Leary of having it melt in the bore from the heat generated with either BP. or smokeless powder. I use wads cut out of old felt hats that I get from local thrift shops, also card board and wads cut / punched out of milk cartons & milk cartons. jmho.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Gillette Wyoming
    Posts
    970
    Quote Originally Posted by toot View Post
    vinyl, isn't that the same a plastic? and I would be Leary of having it melt in the bore from the heat generated with either BP. or smokeless powder. I use wads cut out of old felt hats that I get from local thrift shops, also card board and wads cut / punched out of milk cartons & milk cartons. jmho.
    Been shooting poly wads in all my Sharps Rifles since 1994, 28 years worth never found any plastic in the bore, and I have recovered hundreds of wads down range, they show no signs of melting.

    For one thing, they are never exposed to enough pressure, and secondly never enough time to melt.

    Expressing opinions are fine, however when done so without any experience to back them up? This does the group as a whole nothing, nothing worth value at least.

    KW

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check