Shootin' Shot

[butterchurn]

I'm going to try shot outta my smoothie.  I decided to try two over powder cards then shot then over shot card as my first load combo.  Do you lube the cards?

[Minnesota Mike]

Not sure about others - but I was recently taught - first overpowder card is dry, second overpowder card is lubed, over shot card is dry.

Caution when pushing down the over shot card. With the powder and over powder cards in place, there is no where for the air to escape to that you are compressing as you ram the over shot card. So your ramrod can come flying back up the barrel at you - very . . . interesting . . . the first time it happened to me. Got a chuckle out of it.

Have fun.

r/
MM

[Gambia]

As MM said keep the first card dry as for the second it is not really necessary but if you have set your mind on a second one  yes it can be lubed ,this can be done by putting  spittle on a dry card before you enter it in the muzzle.The main cause of compression when ramming home the wad is first the wad is over size and also the bore is fouling up.this can be overcome if you cut a small V in the edge of the card wad.
Feltwad
                    ----------------------
A Flint Lock will not secure a chicken house door

[Uncle Russ]

I agree with Feltwad. I'm not totally sure of the need for lube on the second card, but I don't see where it could hurt....I also use spit quite a bit.....unless I'm chewing my Red Man!

I cut both of the first two cards, just cut about 1/16" on the corner of the card with a straigth cut in about three places with a razor blade, that seems to aleviate most of the pressure problem of the rod coming back, and being hard to seat, yet it seems to maintain enough pressure to keep everything well seated.

I do like the feel of a fairly "tight" fit on the OS card, as it kinda gives me the assurance that the shot is not going to come loose and just fall out when hunting.  

Uncle Russ...

[chuckpa]

What I do to relieve the air pressure when ramming is to punch a small hole in the cards with an ice pick.

[62flint]

The lube on the second card is simply a effort to keep fouling soft.

[Minnesota Mike]

Russ - Don't let the anyone catch you shootin shot at critters with Redman juice on it . . . you'll get in trouble with EPA, SPCA, and anyone you invited to dinner . . . that stuff is just plain nasty!

r/
MM

[Uncle Russ]

Russ - Don't let the anyone catch you shootin shot at critters with Redman juice on it . . . you'll get in trouble with EPA, SPCA, and anyone you invited to dinner . . . that stuff is just plain nasty!

r/
MM

 :rotf

Uncle Russ...

[Capt. Jas.]

The lube is to help keep the fouling soft as stated above. I think it helps greatly.

I have recently had good luck with a cushion wad cut in half and lubing both, one for over powder and one for over shot. Patterns were good with no holes but I have not tried it for penetration. Sure does keep from folling with a bunch of extra stuff.  

You only ned to lube the sides of the cards or wads.

[Gambia]

A lubed felt or cushion wad is a shooters own choice ,personally I do find that they are unnecessary all I use is a 1/8 card over powder wad, and a 1/16 overshot card wad,this is all I use when engaged with pest control and shooting big bags,this can be  100 shots or more per outing.  A coked barrel will shoot better the only time you will need to remove fouling is when you have difficulty in ramming home the wads.
If a lubed felt wad is used it should be between two card wads other wise it will blow your pattern ,it can also become a projectile if shot is forced into the felt wad, this will travel a greater distance than shot,I have seen both wing and ground game shot in half when this occurs.
Feltwad
                     ------------------------
A Flint Lock will not secure a chicken house door

[mario]

I use a "turd".  

Simply a bore sized paper cartridge with my shot charge in it. When rammed down, a little pop spreads it enough that it stays put. Dip it in lube beforehand. It also helps keep your pattern tighter.

Or I just use some grass over the powder and over the loose shot...

Mario

[butterchurn]

Thanks for the info, everyone.  I'll give your advice a try.

[No Rod]

for the over shot card I just give it a little bite to keep it from popping out. that will work for those of us with at least 2 teeth!  :lol:

[Minnesota Mike]

So how did things work out?

Just bought a sizable amount of shot . . . only comes in 25lb bags . . . need oxygen . . .

----------

Seems that shooting shot fouls up the barrel pretty quick. End up swabbing out about every three shots. Any advice on how to cut down the fouling?

r/
MM

[rickevans]

Where do you guys get the over powder and over shot cards? I am still looking for #5 or 6 shot and can only find 7 1/2 or 8s.