doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Blackpowder hunting loads

I'm about to load up some bp hunting loads for the 16. In the past, I have lubed my fiber cushion wad (circle fly) in part to deal fouling issues, but also to minimize smoldering wads that may cause grass fires.

Do any of you who shoot real bp in shotguns for upland birds (esp pheasant or quail) worry about fire issues?

Brent

First, are you talking about cartridges or muzzleloading? If you're talking about muzzle loaders, you can eliminate the "cushion" wad. Just damp wipe after each shot and use only the over powder wad and the over shot card. If you use anything greasy on the wads, you're more likely to have smoldering than if there is nothing on them. Lubing the "cushion" wad with something containing mostly water will kill smoldering but I don't think you'd want water in cartridges. The so-called cushion wad is mainly useful as a filler or a cleaner in ML shooting. It won't do anything else for you. If you're talking about cartridges, use the wad column (dry) you need to fill the shell. Spray the bores frequently with "moose milk" or your favorite concoction containing mostly water. This will minimize fouling.

This is a 16 gauge William Evan's cartridge gun.

Brent

sorry to Hijack but this moose milk what is the go with it spray the bore than shoot it out?

Some guys that shoot black powder cartridges believes it helps to spray your barrels with a few squirts of water or mOOse milk...lets say between stations on a Skeet Field.

About the most I've seen it dO is make your SxS drip nasty black water on the tOe of your shoe...

Spraying water or whatever down the bore is great for cleaning. But it's impractical in the field so far as I'm concerned. I clean my guns at the truck but not in the cattails.

So, anyway, it appears there is not much experience with the question I posed.

Sorry I wasted so much of my time answering your unclear question! The lack of experience is evident but you're confused about who is lacking.
Usual negative comment from Hopeless Joe, no surprise there.

Jim,
Sorry to up-end you so early in the day. Spraying water is not practical. Lubed fiber wads do not flash as quickly as unlubed wads - though they are not fire resistant per se, and fire is a real problem some years, not others.

I have been shooting bp cartridges for many years. That does not mean I know it all - hence my question.

Let's hope your day improves.

Brent

Lack of experience...

I shoot every Wednesday with one of the most distinguished black powder shooters in America....

I borrow from his experience....

Jim...Only thing negative in my post was that I didn't agree with yOu.

First, if Jim Legg has a suggestion, I'd believe it. Second, there's not much chance of a fire from wads. You see that problem when a muzzle loading patched round ball is patched too loose and there is blow by, thus setting the patch to smottering [ burning ]. Third, how many shots do you take hunting where fouling will be a problem ? Fourth, if someone doesn't agree with another, would it be too much to ask that you give a polite reply ? So, from my hunting experience with BP [ 37 years ], I don't worry about fires, or cleaning till I get home. Paul