Does anyone know about paper patching?Is there any books I can buy or web pages that might help?What I have is an 1889 swiss 7.5x53.5 it has .304 bore.I know what the original load was,but I have no idea how paper holds a .304 bullet in a .308 case?
I'm not new to reloading but this is new to me. any help will be appreciated

Here's what I know about Paper Patch Bullets. A guy named Paul Matthews wrote a book about the paper patch, and he wrote a series of 4 or 5 books on Black Powder Cartriges. They are available through Wolfs publishing (same people from Rifle and Handloader. Also check out http://www.public.iastate.edu/~codi/PPB/PPB.html .......Ray

[This message has been edited by Jn316 (edited 04-20-2001).]

Several "Black Powder Guide" type books available. Gun Digest press puts out these offerings, among other presses.

I'd start at the library. Sam Fadala is a big name in the BP stuff.

You could try my forum. That might get you some links too.

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TY
The Paper Jacket by Paul Mathews
I saw a listing for this book used $13.50 US
Ray Riling Arms Books 215-438-2456

RR

Ty; I paper patch .45ACP pistol bullets and shoot them in my .45-70. They are .451 to start and with two turns of paper they end up .459.

I use telephone book pages. Soak them in water and wrap them around the bullet. I then push the bullet into a hole drilled in a wood block to dry.

You have to pre measure the strips and have them wide enough to go from the front driving band, all the way back and curl around the base of the bullet.

When loaded, a little of the paper is above the brass. The bottom is neatly formed around the base of the bullet.

They shoot very well and leave the barrel clean. The optimum paper thickness is when 1/2 the rifling depth cuts into the bullet.

Redd

To be brief, it holds it very well! : )
Seriously, get the book mentioned. To load for such a bore you will want a bullet of about .298" diameter. I am thinking of a Carcano non gascheck mould here. You could even make a mould. The book gives ideas. Basically you can make a mould for a smooth sided bullet. It will end up being a tube with a sliding nose punch and spru cutter on the tail end. Something like a 20:1 alloy would be good. Softer is better for paper patch. To patch the bullet use trapazoidal patches. They should make two wraps. Onionskin typing paper is good. Thinner is better. Put them on damp and twist the tails. Let dry. Lube with a hand applied mixture of bee's wax and vaseline. A moderate, 2000 fps., load will be likely to give good accuracy. It is all in the book. Have fun.

I agree, Mathews' book(The Paper Jacket) is the one to get. I paper-patch for 8x56R Hungarian. A Lyman 323471 205 gr. with two wraps of Eaton Air Mail paper gives me a dia. of .331. Perfect! I also paper-patch a 358315 with two wraps of the same paper for my 9.3x57mm. This gives a diameter of .368. I lube the patches(after they dry) with SPG lube applied with my fingers. Good luck!

It's sure nice to see that I'm not the only one using patches! I also shoot 45 pistol bullets in my 45-70 as Redd does. I use masking tape (paper tape) as my patch. It's very easy to use, just wrap and load. It stays attached to the bullet though, even after passing through two inches of oak backstop.

Thanks for the info guys!

Thank you for the info,I found the book and ordered it so now i'ts back to waiting.Another question,would it be ok to use a .284 bullet in my .304 bore,or would it not be big enough?

Phil Sharpe's book has a big section on paper patched bullets as well.