Wad for BP Shotgun Loads

[Two-Bits]

What kind of Claybuster/Winchester plastic wads do you use in your 12 gauge BP (not sub) loads?

[Noz]

I shoot 51 rs of FFg and an ounce of shot in plastic hulls with a pink wad.  Claybuster CB1100-12.  Makes a nice crimp in STS and Nitro Gold hulls.

[hellgate]

I can't remember if it is  50gr (or 45) by volume equivalent of whatever BP or sub I have on hand at various times: Pyro-P, RS, Pinnacle, Goex, Black MZ, APP, 2F or 3F etc. under the AA white wad in a Remington compression formed case (STS, Black, Blue, or green Gun Club) and any primer that will fit. I'll even take the old Remington sized primers #57 & 157s and wedge them in with a tiny piece of paper. Works great and the off size primers are a bargain ($0.50-$1.50/100) at gun shows 'cause they no longer fit anything.

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[Cemetery]

When using plastic wads in regular sized 12g shells, what's the maximum load of black that can be put it?

I normally use 80g and fiber wads.

[Waddie Bill]

 I use the red wads (WAA-12R or CB1138_12) they have the most space for powder that I have found. I use them in my cowboy loads
 (70 gr black 1F or 2F 1oz shot ) and hunting loads (80 gr black 2F _11/8 oz shot usually #6 ) in AA cases. ( needs some compression )
 The cowboy load works in a variety of cases.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I found 80 grains is a pretty stout load. It's OK if you like daylight flames! the recoil is not cas friendly and may lead to blown patterns in Sawdoffs. I dropped to 60 gr of FFg or 50 gr. of FFFg in 12gauge and a bit less in my favoured sixteens.

I consider 70 to 80 grains are suitable for hunting.

[Abilene]

For a number of years, the most popular BP load was a 4.3cc dipper (approx. 65gr) of FFg, a red wad, and 1 oz of shot in a AA or STS hull.  I use a bit more shot and bit less powder for tighter pattern, approx 60 gr of BP and 1 1/8oz shot with the red wad (formerly Winchester, now Claybuster, as mentioned by Waddie Bill).  I use the exact same load in brass hulls with the addition of an 11 ga. .125 nitro overpowder card to give a good seal since the plastic wads are a little undersize for brass.

Some people shoot at clubs with easy knockdowns and are able to use less powder and shot.

[Coffinmaker]

Well HEY!! 

Were we talking about REAL shotgun hulls ..... you know ...... 12Ga All Brass ...... I could actually contribute some useful information.

However, since we're (youz guyz) are all talking about those new fangled FAD (plastic) hulls, I can't be of much help.  However, rest assured, those Heathen Fad Plastic thingies will never catch on.  True shotgun hulls are made of BRASS!!   

Coffinmaker

[Two-Bits]

Thanks all for your replies.
I am also talking about those new fangled plastic hulls in case anyone is interested!  I wanted to know what wads others were using because I was thinking about changing my reloading parameters.  I can get a very nice load with a good looking shell with a nice crimp if I use 2 1/2 DRAMS (just over 68gr.) of BP, a RED Wad and about an ounce of shot.  Except for the red wad, this is the make up for a LIGHT Load as shown on this web page:

http://www.tbullock.com/bpsg.html

I want to cut down on my powder (maybe to 50 grains) while still maintaining about an ounce of shot or maybe down to 7/8 oz. and was curious what wads others were using.

I noticed that lower in the website it says:

Wad Pressure. Black Powder should be packed pretty tight but that is not critical. Even if left slightly loose it will not give 'squib loads' like smokeless sometimes will.

Has anyone found this to be true about air space between powder and wad?  That a little air space is OK?

[Dick Dastardly]

Primer, powder, over powder card, fiber wad, shot, over shot card, roll crimp.  Do that with an equal volume by measure of powder and shot, roll crimp and your're ready to let fly.

Let 'er flicker!

DD-MDA

[wildman1]

85 gs 3f and 1&1/4 oz shot is a good thumper load. wM1

[R.T. Rangebum]

For cowboy shootin, I use the CB0178-12 (WAA12L). It's a 7/8 oz. wad and I load it into range pick up federal hulls (tons and tons and tons are available). I load 50 grains of whatever black powder is the cheapest, add 7/8 oz of shot and the federal hulls crimp beautifully. One advantage to using the federal hulls is that that so many smokeless shooters use the federals that the supply of hulls is almost unending; I load them once and throw them away.

RANGEBUM

[Coffinmaker]

SEE !!!  I wasn't kidding    Those newfangled fad plastic hulls are such a fad folks throw them away by the ton.  Never see that with REAL Shotgun hulls.  Nanny Nanny Poo Poo 

Incidentally, I shoot somewhere around 55Gr 2F APP, Over Powder wad, 10Ga Plastic wad cut down for a 1oz pay load then over shot cards.  Very nice load.  My antique J P Sauer Hammer Double has 2 1/2 inch chambers and is some kind of super light.  With "normal" loads it kicks like a mule.  So I use the above load but without the Over Powder Card.  Nice soft load for a light gun.

I see no reason to leave air space in a shotgun hull with either BP or Subs.  I know some folks do it, but I personally think it's really bad JU Ju.  Compression however, is no issue.  as long as the Over Powder wad or the bare 10Ga wad set down on the powder, it goes BOOMBA.

Coffinmaker

[FuriousFritz]

At my last match, i had some issues with my plastic wads.
I use 2.2cc BP, a 1/2 " fiber wad, a plastic wad with 7/8 lead shot, overshot card.
These plastic wads melt down in the barrel after 50 shots. When i clean my gun a thin melted layer is in the barrel 
Scrubbed it out and everything was fine.

[wildman1]

No need to scrub. Just spray the inside of the bbl with a 30-1 solution of simple green and let set for 15 mins or so, run a wadded, wet paper towel thru the bore with a cleaning rod and it all pushes right out. wM1

[Cemetery]

No need to scrub. Just spray the inside of the bbl with a 30-1 solution of simple green and let set for 15 mins or so, run a wadded, wet paper towel thru the bore with a cleaning rod and it all pushes right out. wM1

I shoot smokeless the following week, and it all blows out.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

If you use a OP card between the powder and plastic wad it doesn't snot.

[Coffinmaker]

Oh yes it does       I was loading a shot cup (cut from a Remington plastic wad) on top of an OP wad topped with a cushion wad.
got Snot.  Easy to clean, but ... got snot.  When I switched to 10Ga Plastic Wads ....... no snot.  Go Figure.

Coffinmaker

[hellgate]

IMO the snot comes from the shot cup & wad sides and not the plastic OP wad. Look at a fired wad and there is no sign of melting of the OP part of the wads that is in contact with the powder.

Here's my explanation: After the first shot you've got BP fouling left lining the bore. Next shot sets the shot back and outward against the cup wall as it travels down the barrel smearing/scraping plastic from the cup into the BP fouling. The flame of the charge melts the shavings into the prior BP fouling. Repeat multiple times and you get a nice layer of plastic scraped off the cup and melted into barrel wall fouling.

[rickk]

Like Dick said... cardboard and fiber wads for me as well.

I use 50 grains of 1F, and ounce of shot, beat up hulls that no one else wants with 1/2" of the crimped end removed, roll crimp instead of star crimp.  It is super easy on the shoulder.  I use them once and toss them as beat up hulls are easy to come by.