I was told before that Buffalo Ball-ets do not need a wad. How do you know when to use one? What is the purpose of them to begin with? May seem dumb to ask but I am clueless on this.

The rule of thumb is never use a wad on a hollow point projectile. If you are getting gas pressures releasing past a hollow based projectile, fill the hollow with a solid type bullet lube.

Wad are used on flat based conicals or under the patch of a roundball. The wad will protect the bottom of the conical and the patch from the heat of the ignition. Patches you recover in many cases look like they could be refused.

Also no wads under any sabots. The sabots themself act to protect the projectile. Although some people are finding excellent results using sub wads (they look like half a sabot) under some sabot loads. Again, this is usually when using some real hot powders or magnum loads, to protect the sabots.

I like the vegetable wads, and I use 'em whenever I think lube might work its way past the projectile and contaminate the powder. If my rifle is gonna be loaded for a couple of days I use a wad, when I'm gonna shoot in inside of 5 minutes I don't bother.

Caygad
Did you mean to say hollow BASED projectile or is your reply correct as written?

Slamfire..
You use them to keep the lube from contaminating the powder, correct?

So if the base of Buffalo Ball-ets is concave.. I don't need them then, right? The lube on the ball-ets is going to contaminate my powder, yes or no?

You are correct. I mean't to say hollow based.

You would NOT use a wad on a ball-et. I use them on the flat based R.E.A.L. conicals and the T/C maxiballs but not on ball-et and there were some other hollow based conicals that I did not use them on. For instance on my minnies, I fill them with lube but being hollow based they do not get a wad. The skirting on most hollow based conicals need to expand a little to engage the rifling in some cases....

As for the lube on the Ball-et it is real sticky and stays in place. I have hunted with ball-et and shot lots of them because my Hawkins Flintlock really likes them. They will not contaminate the powder. I just wish I could figure out what kind of lube that is. I'd make some at home and try it on my REALs....

the wad is a gas seal.

Yes when using my own lube formula on hot days I think the wad keeps the lube from getting to the powder, I wouldn't worry about the commercial lubes on swadged bullets that has been applied by tumbling it has a pretty high melting point.

Huge fan of using wads for PRB and Conical.
Been doing so for many years since the 70's.
Excellent accuracy, velocity, consistancy and less bore fouling.


My .002

Cayugad;
I use 4 weights of REAL bullets, I lube with either liquid alox, tumble lube style, or LBT soft blue applied in the sardine can method, both work fine for me and both are solid and dry with no powder contamination.
Don

drinks.. I tried that liquid alox and had a devil of a time getting it applied properly. The REALs that I did manage to get lubed with it shot terrible. I am sure it was because I did not do it right. What method do you use when you apply the liquid alox?

I figured when I run out of this current lube I use, I am going to mix up a batch of Junior Lube and see how that works. It taked alox to make which was the reason I bought the stuff in the first place.....

thanks