Paper patched bullets

Only problem with paper patching is that unless you are loading single shot, I don't think it would be durable enough to run through a magazine. I think sabots would be a much better option, especially if your gun is the same caliber as available muzzleloader sabots. I know MMP makes sabots in 36, 45, and 50 cal and you can also get 30 cal sabots sometimes that are designed for rifles. I imagine the muzzleloading sabots would be quite accurate. The 30 cal ones designed for 22 cal bullets were never known for being accurate so IDK how they would work.

If you know someone with or have a 3D printer, you could really come up with any kind of sabot you might need though. There's an idea! 

Tried both in my .457 Texan (which is only single shot) and did not have very good luck with the .357/45 sabots which I attribute to the rifles twist. 5" groups at 50 yards on a rifle that can do 1.5" at 100. Tried everything from 125 to 160 gr bullets, jacketed and cast.

I used to shoot 45-90 BPCR paper patch (and .458 Winchester Mag paper patch) at 1000 yards so I have several molds for that but they are all too heavy for air rifles as they are all 450gr and above. Since I had gotten better than jacketed accuracy back then, I did try it with a .454, 290gr heavy weight pistol bullet sized down to .452 and PP using Rooster Lube on the paper (which is not just regular paper but is best when it is long fiber 'rag' paper which is almost impossible to find today. When it started getting scarce I bought a lifetime supply, sorry, haha). Note I have found Rooster works fine all by itself on cast bullets in the Texan to keep the bore clean and has not been detrimental to accuracy like some lubes are. It also has the advantage that it is a dry lube and does not pick up dirt like the soft wax or wet lubes do in the field hunting.

I did get just as good of accuracy with PP as plain lead slugs if not a tiny bit better and the bore actually stays both clean and begins to appear more polished after several hundred rounds testing. I believe it has promise but perhaps needs a more custom weight and design shape more suited for PP than what I used to test with.

I would also recommend people interested in PP go to the CastBoolits forum (spelled right) as it is a treasure trove of information on this subject and there are some master shooters of PP there.

Kinetic45 said:

Tried both in my .457 Texan (which is only single shot) and did not have very good luck with the .357/45 sabots which I attribute to the rifles twist. 5" groups at 50 yards on a rifle that can do 1.5" at 100. Tried everything from 125 to 160 gr bullets, jacketed and cast.

I used to shoot 45-90 BPCR paper patch (and .458 Winchester Mag paper patch) at 1000 yards so I have several molds for that but they are all too heavy for air rifles as they are all 450gr and above. Since I had gotten better than jacketed accuracy back then, I did try it with a .454, 290gr heavy weight pistol bullet sized down to .452 and PP using Rooster Lube on the paper (which is not just regular paper but is best when it is long fiber 'rag' paper which is almost impossible to find today. When it started getting scarce I bought a lifetime supply, sorry, haha). Note I have found Rooster works fine all by itself on cast bullets in the Texan to keep the bore clean and has not been detrimental to accuracy like some lubes are. It also has the advantage that it is a dry lube and does not pick up dirt like the soft wax or wet lubes do in the field hunting.

I did get just as good of accuracy with PP as plain lead slugs if not a tiny bit better and the bore actually stays both clean and begins to appear more polished after several hundred rounds testing. I believe it has promise but perhaps needs a more custom weight and design shape more suited for PP than what I used to test with.

I would also recommend people interested in PP go to the CastBoolits forum (spelled right) as it is a treasure trove of information on this subject and there are some master shooters of PP there.

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I know this is an old thread but I’m just now getting into big bore and really like the idea of paper patching. Thanks for the tip about CastBoolits there is a ton info over there!