Teflon tape ?

[Wolfdog91]

Remember seeing somewhere someone was using some kinda teflon or lable maker tape for paper patching. Anyone try this ?

[missionary5155]

Some one has for sure. I think by now someone has tried every "tape" that was sold by last year.
The big question is.. Do you want the "patch" to remain on the slug ? Paper "generally discards" or "gets cut" by the rifling and falls off. Thus each slug flying along will have the same airodynamec resistance. Army called it a "discarding sabot".
A tape may stay "stuck on". But if only partially stuck on, slugs are not going to fly consistently..
That is why paper works so well. Powder Coating also. Consistent !

[barrabruce]

Ohh every type of tape.
Al foil ,fish skins and probably used frangers.
Some one did label stickers that mated the ends square to the bullet.
The adhesive was the problem in getting them stuck to the core and getting out of the barrel consistently.

You could try the chase patch and the muzzle cross patch.

The 2x wrapped paper patch works the best.
The 1 1/2 wrap patch is quick and easy but accuracy is not that stellar.

You are welcome to try anything you like.
Please report your findings here.
I nearly cracked it once.
I don’t do much hi velocity stuff these days but you can get up to an easy 17-1800 fps with nearly dead soft lead.
No special alloys or lube nor gas checks.
You only need some paper and something to cut it with.
And the right size core.

[mdatlanta]

I seem to remember an article about this in Handloader magazine from long ago. Of course, I can’t remember what I had for breakfast so I could be completely off base.

[salpal48]

I have used label Tap, and does work well. Adhesive stick well. On long Bullets You can even put your load on it, if you have a printer , But small to read

[Lead pot]

He is not asking about adhesive (sticky) tape. He is asking about a Teflon tape used for pipe threads.

yes Wolf Dog it has been talked about LOL.

[challenger_i]

One thing folks do not consider, when TEFLON tape is exposed to flame: when burned, TEFLON gives off cyanide gas.
Something to ponder.

[dtknowles]

One thing folks do not consider, when TEFLON tape is exposed to flame: when burned, TEFLON gives off cyanide gas.
Something to ponder.

Not cyanide, phosgene. Not as toxic but still bad, just don't sniff it and you will be ok.

Tim

[Winger Ed.]

I'd think it would not come off cleanly, and be drug along as a tail, at least for some distance.
If that happened, it can't be helpful.

[dverna]

I have a tough enough time wrapping Teflon tap on pipe threads. I cannot see getting a consistent wrap on bullets.

[barrabruce]

Dverna
First cut your tape end.
Wrap the with the thread pitch. 2.5 threads from the end.
The tape should unwind from the holder applying pressure like bandaging.half wide of tape to form an even layer
Cut the tape end and not rip it off.
Tighten by proceeding as normal.

Teflon tape wants to ooze and not grip.

[herian67]

The NRA tried teflon tape back in the 60"s and had no luck with it.

[BadgerShooter]

I've used it on minie bullets and fast twist, long 45 caliber bullets in a muzzleloader with mixed results. Haven't used it in metallic reloading. Two wraps of paper works excellent.

[John in WI]

You beat me to it. Teflon is a flourocarbon material. It gives off a material called Oxygen diflouride. I don't know about it's relative toxicity--but anything that decomposes to flourine gas is probably not a good thing to inhale! In larger doses it can cause something called "polymer fume fever". Serious flu like symptoms. That said, they do make teflon specifically for use in buckshot loads in shotguns. It might be a concern, but I'm not sure I would worry about the toxicity aspect. As far as it's usefulness as a patching material, I honestly have no idea. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer_fume_fever

[OverMax]

(Just a bit too old school here yet)
Pipe thread sealer: Never have tried to swirl a cast prior to firing out a barrel wrapped in teflon tape.
From my prospective the white tape may be a bit to fragile. Yellow tape on the other hand used to prevent L.P. leaks may be a bit to stiff for the purpose.
Green Bar and other proper patching paper so to turn into confetti at muzzles end requires the bullet be wrapped the same direction as bore spin. >So to shred properly. A bullet wrapped LEFT hand. Fired thru a Right hand twist likely will wear its wrap to its terminal ending.

[Maven]

Col. E.H. Harrison wrote about using teflon tape in the NRA publication, Cast Bullets. It works, but takes a bit of manual dexterity to do it right. Having said that, I don't think it superseded paper patching. I've tried it on occasion, but went back to paper (also on occasion). Coincidentally, I'd been thinking about the use of teflon tape early this AM, but won't try it again (too fussy for small gains). However, if you get the CB diameter right [for your bore] with teflon tape, it may be worth a trial run, say PP v. teflon tape.

[john.k]

You can geta very thick kind of teflon tape ...its less likely to tear into strings ...you can also get a teflon paste ,might be usable.

[popper]

According to Navy in the 60s, VIRGIN teflon caused several deaths when burnt and the gas inhaled. Burnt freon has the same result.

[303Guy]

I would be surprised to learn that teflon tape would get hot enough to decompose in the bore. Paper shows no sign of scorching, either that paper between the core and the bore or the paper forming the patch tail.

This patch remnant had 40 gr of H4350 behind it.


I don't know what this one was loaded with.


Of course, teflon might behave differently.

[john.k]

i wouldnt be worried about breathing fumes........however its just possible the teflon may decompose in tiny amounts .....producing tiny amounts of acid residue in the barrel..........its proved in bearing technology that teflon deposits on both parts of a bearing,which is where the superior antifriction properties come from.