Hi all.
I will start by saying i'm a newbie at paper patching. To date my paper patching experience is 3 "shootable" boolits.
I wanted to have a go at paper patching my .358 Win. I did a bit of research among these forums and learnt enough to commit.
I ordered a mold from Accurate Molds. It's the 35-225P which drops a .351 225gn bullet.
I found some 60GSM tracing paper at the local craft store which mic's at .002". Some locals here (i'm in Australia) tell me to find some 50GSM "bank pads" which are acid free archival quality. I'm still looking for some of that.
I cast some boolits and tried my hand at paper patching for the first time using the tracing paper. After 3-4 hours of trying different patch dimensions, soaking times and rolling techniques i had found the dimensions i needed and managed to produce a whole entire 2 bullets. Rolling the paper on was easy but i stuggled with the tail. Getting it to fold under and not unravel was challenging.
After drying overnight those 2 successfully patched bullets measured .359 - .360 which is what i was hoping for.
So here i am , a couple of days later and a friend was rolling a cigarette. I asked if i could have one of his papers. The paper measured twice the width of my required dimension and about 5/8" longer. It was also only .001" thick so i would need 4 wraps to be the right size.
Then it occurred to me that there's a natural fold down the length of the paper so it can easily doubled. Trimming the 30(ish) degree taper brought it down the to the correct length.
I grabbed a bullet, dunked the paper in water and tried wrapping it.
Wow, compared to the tracing paper the cigarette paper is a dream. I went on straight. Gripped well and the tail folds under flat. It's still drying but the patched bullet is right on .360.
So, is cigarette paper a good material for paper patching smokeless bullets? Please tell me it is.
Here is the 2 bullets with tracing paper.
And here is the bullet patched with cigarette paper.