Cheap .45 cal wad cutter

[Duckdog]

Maybe someone has already done this, but... I took a nickel 45 ACP brass and drilled out the flash hole.  I then tooh a small bolt and put it through the brass and left enough of it sticking out to tighten into a drill.  Then I took one of my LEE champfer tools and sharpened the brass and.. walla, a pretty skickwad cutter. I had some 1/8" felt/wool laying around, so I started cutting.  It works pretty good.  I lay the felt on a peice of wood and use a drywall screw or needle to get the wads out of the shell if they stay inside.
I must have cut 50 or more wads and it's still sharp, but it would only take a turn or two with the champfer tool and it would be sharp again.

[hogship]

Now there is a terrific idea, Duckdog.....

Are you using the 45acp case to cut wads for 44cal?

Where did you get the wool felt originally?

Good one......I'll remember that.

[Duckdog]

Yes sir... iamb using the 45 ACP for the 44 cal.  A person could undoubtedly use a 45 long colt, 45/70, or any of the 45 cals for this.  I went with the 45 ACP because I just happened to have a nickel plated brass laying around that I had culled out because I don't like to reload them because they're too hard on the dies.

The champfer tool is only $3 or $4 bucks tops at Midway or any sporting goods store that has reloading supplies, (assuming they stock it). I melted some Rem lube and dipped the wads and squeezed out the excess.

As far as the felt, my wife sews a lot and she had it laying around, but from what she tells me, almost any fabric store would have something close to it.  I could have also got it at www.durofelt.com too, as they have a VERY large selection to choose from, but being the tight a!! that I am, I figured id use what I could get my hands on.

Hope this helps.

[Rustyinfla]

I wonder if it wouldn't be faster if you were to wrap something around the outside of the case to hold it by and drill out the primer enough to punch the wads out thru that hole. I'll have to try it myself. I do have an abundance of .45 cases.

               Rusty <><

[Shorty]

I've done that, by hand-turning.  It got old very fast.  Twenty wads and your fingers will be spent! :lol:

[Duckdog]

I cut about 75 of them in about 5 minutes with my drill, so it does work out pretty good.  I could see that a person's hands would get darned sore in no time without the drill.

[tomhargrove]

that could save a lot of dollars over the commerical wads any suggestions on the proper way to lube them ,and would an old wool blanket work for this---tom

[russianblood]

that could save a lot of dollars over the commerical wads any suggestions on the proper way to lube them ,and would an old wool blanket work for this---tom

Heat up some brand of wonderlube and pour it over the wads in the bottom of a cookie sheet or something like that. Let them soak for a bit and when the lube hardens up again, they're done.

[Dalton Masterson]

Great idea!! Another good source of felt is hat maker scraps. I asked a maker at a SASS shoot, and he gave me a pile of scraps that he normally throws away. Its  a good hard felt too. DM

[Dalton Masterson]

Great idea! Another cheap source of good felt is from a hatmaker. I asked a local maker at a SASS shoot, and he gave me a big pile of scraps, that he normally would have thrown away. Its good hard felt, perfect for scraping out fouling as it goes down the barrel. DM

[gmatov]

You can also go to Harbor Freight and buy a set of 9 punches, up to 1/2 inch, hollow, punch out as many as you want, they fall out the top end when it gets filled up. I think they are like 3 bucks right now.

Was down at the local store last week, forgot them, will go soon and let you know if they are worth buying.

Cheers,

George

[Duckdog]

I got my grubs on some 100% wool felt for about 7 bucks a yard.  It cut really good and stiffened up perfectly after dipping the new wads in bore butter.  I think I'll buy up the rest
of the bolt of wool felt and have a lifetimes supply.