IS THE PAPER PATCH ROOM DEAD OR WHAT HERE????

[john777]

Darn,just as I was getting interested in this paper patch idea,it looks like the end of the road..

So whats up? Is everybody gone to shooting jacketed bullets again...Thanks

[Graybeard]

I wouldn't say it's dead but then it's never really been very lively as it just doesn't seem to be a topic of great interest to the folks here. It just kinda hangs on and gets a bit of action but never much.

[GregP42]

John777,

I still shoot them in my 45-70's, but there isn't much traffic in here, just post questions and the lurkers will pipe up.

Greg

[arnie19]

check out BPCR and Shiloh's site .Arnie

[Idaho Ron]

I have posted a couple of times about my Muzzleloader using PP bullets.  ROn

[Nobade]

I've been starting to learn about paper patching with smokeless powder. I t took a while, my first efforts couldn't hit the berm twice in a row. Now I'm hitting clay birds most of the time at 200M, with full speed loads in the 308 and 375 Taylor. I haven't been so intrigued by shooting in years, and now I have found something new to play with. The performance available using paper is simply astounding, and I am suprised more folks aren't into it, especially since jacketed bullets are so expensive and hard to get.  Time to get this room back into action!

[John Boy]

Nobade, going down the popularity tree, shooting PP bullets is somewhere in the roots of the tree.  Swaged PP's are even further down.  But the folks that take the time to learn to PP and find that they in fact are accurate ... swear by them.  Kenny Wasserburger shot a new record for the Pedersoli 5 @200 last year at Raton ... 1.38" with a  45-90.  He's got his recipes Fine Tuned.

Back in the 1800's PP bullets were the rage for long range shooting using BPCRs.  UMC and WRA rolled and sold them by the box ...


And here's a chart of the Sharps calibers that came PP'ed and loaded ...


I've even replicated an original PP bullet that used to be shot in a 45-75 Winchester '76 ...


And if interested folks are looking for molds, I offer up Fred Leeth at Pioneer Products.  He did an adjustable mold for me that is pure workmanship ...


So .... to get the forum active - post up the results, experiences and questions.

PS:  Your avatar is the cat's meow!

[Nobade]

Hi John Boy, thanks for the post! I agree with you, paper patching lead bullets is not too popular, and most folks just give you a blank stare when you talk about it. This weekend at the range was pretty funny for that. I loaded up some PP ammo for the 375, with the Lyman 265 gr. bullet (375477 maybe? I forget.) cast from air cooled wheelweights, Sized to .367, patched with notebook paper to .376, over 62gr. 4895. Chronographed 2785 fps. Some guys were shooting our 200 yd. gong with HK91s, and rattling it a bit. I shot it with my rifle and it swung through about 45 degrees. Everybody stopped and looked over. None of them could believe it was a puny cast bullet load that did that. I fired 35 rounds, bore is still clean. Accuracy was around 4 inches, or 2 moa with full power, soft lead, and no gascheck. I am hooked!

I am working on a push out type mould for that rifle, certainly nothing as slick as what you have there from Fred Leeth, but it's coming together nicely and should be done tomorrow. Not having to cut lube grooves makes mould making so much easier and I will be doing more in the future.

As for "The Lunger" Wasserburger, I correspond with him on the BP-L, and hope to meet him some day in person. If I recall correctly he's only the second person to shoot sub MOA in that pedersoli challenge match. The man certainly knows his stuff. 

[RMulhern]

There's two areas of PP; those that do it for the traditional usage through Sharps and Hiwall type actions and rifles using all-lead cast bullets and BLACKPOWDER and those that wish to do it for bolt rifles and other 'whatnot' using SMOKELESS POWDER!!

The two schools don't mix in my opinion!!

[sixgun_symphony]

Darn,just as I was getting interested in this paper patch idea,it looks like the end of the road..

So whats up? Is everybody gone to shooting jacketed bullets again...Thanks

 I suspect that many of the antique firearms afficianados are just not into using computers and other modern technology. I know one fellow that is stubborn about not using computers and he looks forward to disposing of his cell phone the day he retires from work.

[jhalcott]

  Heat, humidity and old age work against paper patchers! It gets harder to roll those papers on when arthritis and carpal tunnel set in. I rarely paper patch any more. I like SOFT recoil, the kind you get from cast bullets in the 7TC/U type of ammo. The gas checks are SO MUCH easier to put on also.!

[briarpatch]

Do you still use a brass case when you pp? What was the advantage of pp in the day? Is the powder completely encased in paper? If so, does the primer burn through the paper? Other than "because they used to do it" why do it?
Never fooled with it but it has a certain interest to it.

[Castaway]

Paper patching refers to placing wound paper around the bullet only, forming a jacket of paper instead of copper.  The bullet is loaded in brass just as if it were a cast or jacketed bullet.

[goofyoldfart]

to revive an ailing thread (keyboard CPR  ), many many years ago when I was in my early 30's, I was heavy into cast bullets and tried paper patch and Teflon tape--with surprisingly good results. Some how I got into the velocity game with the newest and baddest calibers and forgot about just having fun (amazing how terminal stupidity can strike when least expected  ). it became work. as I have progressed to older age and don't like getting beat to death on the shoulder end of things, I have regressed to my much younger years (before terminal stupidity) and am finding that lesser can be better. If the truth be known, it can be said that many of the smaller calibers, and not to denigrate the larger ones also, can be made into veritable "Sledgehammers" . Now I am starting to have some real fun using some of the old tricks that I've picked up and remembered from the old days  . starting to get the gear together and now that I'm retired (wonder if that should be Re:Tired) have the time to start having fun again. 'course, gotta give some time to my Crochet also . God Bless to all.