Thread: Addicted to Paper Work

Interested to hear if you've tried paper patching yourselves.

A while back I read an article in a NZ shooting mag about some guy with a "hollow" 1895 303 and he managed to seal the gas cutting with paper patching like the old cowboys used to do. Thought it was kind of cool so did some googling and lurking on forums. Some of those yanks (and Kiwis) are quite clever buggers.

Anyhoo this is some of my 45/70 experiments:


Started with some TL452-230TC's, wrapped "cut to size" wet paper parallelograms and let dry for day or so.
I've already had the sermon read to me that 230gn 45 colt projectiles will never stabilize in a 45/70 so I was wasting my time and had to get some > 300gn.


I've got an unemployed 6 banger mold from when I had a 45LC and was dreaming of a 1911. The lead is from soft old leadheads, fine to use though as it doesn't touch the barrel.


To fit easier in the case and a bit of peace of mind I like to run them through a 0.457" sizer with a bit of lube . Sizing lube works good but not catastrophic if you don't lube.
Used no crimp but rather used the 45/70 sizing die with decapper out (seated way out on the press) so that the case is gently sized around the projectile till the desired amount.


I don't trust using the mag in case of "stove piping".


I've loaded with Trailboss as I'm only punching paper and who needs all the recoil eh. The masking tape is for patching the target here but some have used it and probably not successfully.


@50 yards it's hardly MOA but still minute of pig. I blame my eyes more than anything.
You got to love those big holes.

The paper should confetti at the muzzle and not stick on the bullet to the target.

It was quite scary trying this out at the start.