Silk as wadding?

CactusLaCroix · November 8, 2001, 01:41 PM

Ok, so I know it's only a movie, but in The Last of the Mohicans, they claim that using a silk wad gives an extra 30 yards as far as effective range. Has anyone else ever heard of/tried this? It's basically just a curiousity as to whether or not it actually has any positive/negative effects. Thanks.
-Matt-

jpm63 · November 9, 2001, 09:35 AM

Remember that the "last of the Mohicons" was a fictional book and the movie was even more so. Although I really loved both

Silk was used as a patching for Hawkeye's round ball, not as a wad. From everything I know of ML shooting, it would be a negative factor in shooting. Silk is very thin and usually a thicker patch gives better results.

Bottom line is any given rifle has a load of powder, patch, ball which works best for it. Any deviation from that usually results in lost accuracy. That said, the line sure sounded good in the movie.

JPM

PS. Go to walmart and buy some blue/white striped pillow ticking. It works really good and is cheaper than silk!

CactusLaCroix · November 9, 2001, 11:49 AM

Yeah, patching; I'm sorry for misusing the terms, you can tell I'm not a hardcore muzzleloader (yet) . Thanks for the info though!

Wildwilley · November 9, 2001, 07:36 PM

It's a myth...
I mean that. If you use it you'll myth what your shootin' at.
I love the movie. (The uncut version.)
So I went and did it. I didn't myth by much, but I did.

Scott Evans · November 13, 2001, 09:08 AM

Love the movie and the sound track but the book is better. Far more gruesome then the film in its descriptions and gives a historical perspective that is for the most part forgotten. Native Americans most certainly were the masters of unconventional warfare in their day.

Wildwilley ... thanks for the chuckle

November 8, 2001, 01:41 PM	#1
CactusLaCroix Junior Member Join Date: November 30, 2000 Posts: 13	Silk as wadding? Ok, so I know it's only a movie, but in The Last of the Mohicans, they claim that using a silk wad gives an extra 30 yards as far as effective range. Has anyone else ever heard of/tried this? It's basically just a curiousity as to whether or not it actually has any positive/negative effects. Thanks. -Matt-

November 9, 2001, 09:35 AM	#2
jpm63 Member Join Date: March 26, 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 75	Fiction Remember that the "last of the Mohicons" was a fictional book and the movie was even more so. Although I really loved both Silk was used as a patching for Hawkeye's round ball, not as a wad. From everything I know of ML shooting, it would be a negative factor in shooting. Silk is very thin and usually a thicker patch gives better results. Bottom line is any given rifle has a load of powder, patch, ball which works best for it. Any deviation from that usually results in lost accuracy. That said, the line sure sounded good in the movie. JPM PS. Go to walmart and buy some blue/white striped pillow ticking. It works really good and is cheaper than silk!

November 9, 2001, 07:36 PM	#4
Wildwilley Member Join Date: September 29, 2001 Location: Southwest Pennsylvania Posts: 51	myth It's a myth... I mean that. If you use it you'll myth what your shootin' at. I love the movie. (The uncut version.) So I went and did it. I didn't myth by much, but I did. __________________ Wild Willy

November 13, 2001, 09:08 AM	#5
Scott Evans Staff Alumnus Join Date: December 7, 1998 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 1,380	Love the movie and the sound track but the book is better. Far more gruesome then the film in its descriptions and gives a historical perspective that is for the most part forgotten. Native Americans most certainly were the masters of unconventional warfare in their day. Wildwilley ... thanks for the chuckle __________________ “This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine …” MOLON LABE ! I’m a G-CODE holster fan ! www.range5.com

November 9, 2001, 11:49 AM	#3
CactusLaCroix Junior Member Join Date: November 30, 2000 Posts: 13	Yeah, patching; I'm sorry for misusing the terms, you can tell I'm not a hardcore muzzleloader (yet) . Thanks for the info though!