Your TMA Officers and Board of Directors
Support the TMA! ~ Traditional Muzzleloaders ~ The TMA is here for YOU!
*** JOIN in on the TMA 2024 POSTAL MATCH *** it's FREE for ALL !

For TMA related products, please check out the new TMA Store !

The Flintlock Paper

*** Folk Firearms Collective Videos ***



Author Topic: wads for a Brown Bess  (Read 1686 times)

Offline wwpete52

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 201
wads for a Brown Bess
« on: September 24, 2009, 05:14:30 PM »
Would anyone know what size shotgun wads work with a Pedersoli Brown Bess (11 gauge or 10 gauge)?
Member #420 Expires 3/1/13

Offline Mitch

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 665
(No subject)
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2009, 05:27:44 PM »
wasp or hornet nest works real good.....can be made to fit any smoothie!!
Ride the high trail....never tuck your tail

TMA#211 renewal date 01AUG08

Online Bigsmoke

  • TMA Contributing Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 4286
  • TMA: Charter Member #150
(No subject)
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2009, 06:43:43 PM »
What Mitch said.

For factory stuff, I think I always used 11 ga wads in my Bess.  That was a lot of years ago and the memory could be fuzzy.  If you were to measure your bore, it could give you a bit better idea of what size you need.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest Up to God.

BigSmoke - John Shorb
TMA Charter Member #150  
NRA - Life
Coeur d'Alene Muzzleloaders - Life

Offline Mitch

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 665
(No subject)
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2009, 06:49:13 PM »
I also use thin cardboard(think cereal box) for wads-not to hard to cut out a few while relaxing or find a "cutter/punch" and knock out a few...FWIW, I quit using cushion wads a few years ago-the wads were blowing holes in my patterns(lots of shooting/testing) and I get better results without the cushion wads and it's so much easier to load!! have even used leaves/grass to hold in powder/shot-it works too!
Ride the high trail....never tuck your tail

TMA#211 renewal date 01AUG08

Offline Loyalist Dave

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 687
  • TMA Member: 800
  • Location: MD
(No subject)
« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2009, 01:04:09 PM »
Under no circumstances use plastic modern shotshell wads.  They are not designed to take the heat from the BP, and they will leave a mess inside the barrel that is dang tough to get out.  I use tow, or news paper.  In fact I make paper cartridges to hold the powder, tear, pour, and simply ram down the empty cartridge tube on top to form the wad.  I then load a second cartridge that holds only shot, only I don't tear it open, I simply load it as is, and seat it on the previously formed wad.  Works like a charm.

LD
It's not what you think you know; it's what you can prove.

Offline wwpete52

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 201
(No subject)
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2009, 02:49:42 PM »
Thanks Dave! Man, I would NEVER put anything plastic down my muzzle.
Member #420 Expires 3/1/13

Offline hawkeye

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2154
(No subject)
« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2009, 03:07:16 PM »
I use 11 gauge overpowder and overshot cards and 12 gauge fiber wads in my Pedersoli Bess.  I soak the fiber wads in olive oil, then cut them in half (thickness wise) and I can shoot all day without fouling build up.
David M. Ely
Charter Member #141 Exp 1/11
=======================
"Third ball, haul..." Etherington's Coy 60th RAR