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Joined: 12 Sep 2010 Posts: 1973 Location: Maine

Recently we were having a discussion about reloading at my gun club, wads in particular, when one of the members recalled how another member used newspaper for shotgun wads for many years (and shot very well at trap using them).

So, has anyone used newspaper for wads? Is there any literature on this? How does one go about making them? Is there a recipe or formula for how much to use for each gauge and wad thickness? Do they work?

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3177 Location: NCWa

I've not been reduced to cutting newspaper for wads- I'd need to subscribe to a newspaper first- but it seems like it ought to work- main thing would be to learn how many layers of newsprint are needed to equal a fiber wad in height, and then to check the weight so that it doesn't change the mass being moved. Smile

Joined: 12 Sep 2010 Posts: 1973 Location: Maine

Ayuh.

I got the feeling that using newspaper for wads is the reloading analog (sorta) to the running commentary on Maine, wherein the Official State Roofing Material is a blue tarp Shocked

(from Marden's, where all sizes are always in stock). Rolling Eyes

In my mind's eye I could see newspaper wads making for entertaining displays if used in black powder loads.

I have a set of tools called arch punches, or stirrup punches. They come in standard sizes like 3/4" ,5/8" 1/2" etc. I reamed them to wad sizing for each gauge and the correct dimension for shot cup filler wads for each gauge. Now here is the cool part.-I go to MARDENS and buy various thicknesses of hard felt carpet padding,The gray stuff made of hair and wool fiber. I get a yard at a time and make all the felt wads I can stand. I am Still on my first batch of pieces I bought 6 years ago but I rest easy as there is a Mardens in Calais not far from here.

I do some of my most current thinking at 2:51 AM.

Newspaper wads can be made by soaking newsprint in water until then get soggy. Some ordinary flour should be added to the mixture to encourage the gluing of the strands of pulp together. If you've ever made a piñata you know the consistency of the papièr machè needed to retain the shape.

So you dry the paper pulp on a half sheet baking pan at a level you decide is the thickest you will need for wads. Put the pan in a low, slow oven (225°) and dry the pulp. Using a plant water sensor to check the dryness, bake the pulp until perfectly dry. When dry you invert the pan on a flat surface and stamp out the wads using a hollow punch and collect eject them into a carton.

Or you go to the trap range and pick up all the wads you need for free.

Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 603 Location: Victoria BC Canada

I have tried wads made from paper towel (6 inch square is about right) soaked and tamped into a cutoff deprimed shell. then allowed to dry on top of an electric radiator. A quick dip in olive oil before loading over BP. They seemed to work but I found quicker things to produce.

When I was muzzle loading, a 4 inch square of newspaper, given a light dunk before ramming, in the shottie seemed to get birds broken.

At 4:00 AM, as I was reveling in the joy of living by one's self - and still tasting the dram of Single Malt I had used to help me get back to sleep, a thought came to me.

Life is too short to be making one's own paper wads when a trip to the gun club in the Spring will uncover scads of used wads for the taking. I suggest bringing a finely made bamboo grass rake for the job and a large size empty dog food bag.

Since there are those that revel in the chance to cast aspersions upon their fellow man that exhibits a fondness for getting stuff for nothing, I suggest avoiding the time when raking the used wads during the daylight hours, when the buffoons are afoot. Try to get onto the shooting grounds during the wee hour of the morn, say just before sunup.

Before sunup is the scrounger's high noon where getting stuff for free is concerned.

I recently ordered some card wads from a supplier who has a bad name with some folks here. The wads were cheap enough it hardly makes sense to me to make my own. Unfortunately, the shipping was more than the wads, but that's a fact of life if you have to order stuff. Still, I consider the total cost a good investment, I can use the time I might spend manufacturing wads looking at the 16 ga. site.

It also pays to keep you eye open at gunshows. Yesterday, a fellow had nine cartoons of 1/4" 16 ga. fiber wads, Federal and Alcan. I got them for $3/carton. Smile

With what I already have, I won't need to buy wads probably forever.

Circle Fly in Pennsylvania manufactures really good wads and sells them direct in bulk packs for very reasonable prices, shipping included. The cost will be far less than what you paid to those bad, bad doobies some of us aren't exactly in love with. Laughing

CIRCLE FLY WADS, LLC PRECISION CUT WADS

P.O. BOX 36, AIRVILLE, PA. 17302 P/F: 717.862.3600

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Web Site Copyright 2013, Circle Fly Wads, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Your access to this site signifies your consent to, and agreement with, the terms stated on the disclaimer page.

Circlefly does not have free shipping. One bag shipped for $9.00
As far as their wads, they are same ones sold all over the internet. I've had both Circlefly's and BPI's over the years and they are the same.
I don't understand some of you. You cal yourselves 16 gauge people, but all you can do is cut down the one company that has done more then any other to help the 16 gauge.

Geez old hunter. Maybe it's time for you to have your spectacles checked. Laughing

Of course CF doesn't ship for free. Nothing stated as such. However, their web site shows shipping rates go down as more packs are purchased. Also, if asked over the phone or perhaps if contacted on line, they will sell bulk packed shipments of 5K or more at some excellent prices. If my experiences from buying direct from them are typical, the total cost including shipping will be less expensive by quite a margin over any price offered from those bad, bad doobies you've mentioned ( who probably get some of their wads from CF) Laughing

Member Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 601 Location: Virginia

To the point of the OP: newspapers make acceptable wads. I just crunch up a half page or so and stuff it on top of the powder charge, followed by the shot charge, then another half page of paper. Of course, this is with my muzzleloading shotgun. It's what folks did back in the day...

However, now you've got me intrigued. Maybe I'll try the same thing with a cartridge.

Dan

16gwhatever. You said shipping included. To anybody else that would mean shipping is included in the price. Which comes out as free shipping.
You have no ides of the prices at BPi so why don't you look it up. Instead of shooting off that mouth of yours.
I'll keep after you as you make your stupid statements. You've chased others off of this forum. Good luck in trying it with me. You are just an old blowhard. Get off of that cheap wine and maybe you'll see things differently.

I just ignore him its not worth the effort