16ga.com ~ View topic - reloading with fiber wads...(without plastic)

....anybody have any experience? I have a bunch of Alcan wads, including some of the waxed "overpowder" sealing ones, which are then followed by a cushioning wad..... I would like to see if the patterns on Mod and Full chokes open any without the plastic cup, giving more of a true "old school" pattern....

I have some Win AA-type hulls.... also, black Rem, and some of those paper hulls coming.....

Any experience, advice, recipes would be greatly appreciated.... anybody else mess with this biodegradable stuff?

Are pressures generally higher or lower with this stuff ( compared to the same powder charges in plastic).... anybody know??

Thanks,

Duncan

Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 56 Location: tulsa

I don't have any data in front of me, but plastic wads are more efficient so powder charges are reduced with plastic wads. I am thinking 10 percent reduction with plastic wads, but that is from memory and could be off.
I personally would save AA type hulls for good loads and use less desirable hulls for your cardboard loads. Pretty much years ago once you had the data for the powder charge for the amoutn of shot you were using, you just used a cardboad wad over the powder and then whatever combination of filler wads to give you the right height. Your choke should be more open with the components you mentioned. If you are trying to get even more open patterns the Spread R insert is worth using. I will see if I can find some old data in some old books at home.,

I too am interested in finding out about this type of reloading. I'm new to reloading, but I have a fixed choked stevens which I'd like pattern with some Mild fiber wad reloads to see what it can do... I have also read that Spreader inserts can cause some irregularities in patterns, so was thinking this might be a better option. Alos like the idea of trying the O'le Fashion way!

I have just mailed my check to join the LPG, and was hoping there would be some data there. Also is it possible to remove the petals from a plastic wad and create a Brush wad? I ask because I noticed there are plastic brush wads availible in other gauges, designed to give even open patterns..

*Last edited by Slidehammer on Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:43 am; edited 1 time in total*

Member Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 76 Location: Denver

Interesting! I asked the same question a few weeks back and got no response. I should rephrase that, there were no responses that actually addressed my question.

There are a few loads listed in BP’s 16g Reloading Manual. Also, there are a few in the low pressure group’s data. Just the other day I sent off some 1 oz loads to Tom Armbrust for testing. PM me if you want the details when the test results get back..

PMP

Member Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 138 Location: Parma, OH

For those of you who don't know me, I'm one of the guys from the 16 gauge reloading group who's working on some "cup wad' loads that essintially duplicates the components from Winchester's Super-X line from the 1950's (the era before the plastic wad).

The thing I've noticed the most when using the fiber wad stack is more leading (whether using hard or soft shot) in the forcing cone area when not using a plastic wad or shot wrap. Other than this, they crush clays just as well as their modern counterparts. I'm thinking of lubricating my barrels with a wax based lubricant (like bore butter) to see if that will cut down on the leading a bit. I'm thinking the oil gets burnt off after a few shots, leaving lead to steel contact.

Other than this, they seem to work well. FWIW.

Mike Doerner

Member Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 665 Location: Louisiana

Duncan--Slidehammer's got it. Federal hulls will be a better 'fit
for those Alcan wads. Stick to one ounce loads and buy a couple of new phosphor-bronze or "Tornado" bore brushes. PM sent.

*Last edited by britgun on Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:49 am; edited 1 time in total*

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

Slide, I will be using the ring waxed wads by Alcan over the powder, then the fiber base (Felton Blue streak) over that (have various sizes for various shot loads and wad capacities), like 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2), then an overshot card, followed by fold crimp (for starters).... plan on using copperplate shot...

Duncan, why use an overshot card with a fold crimp, unless you need to take up space?

Member Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 138 Location: Parma, OH

Oh yeah...I know.

But Craig @ Circle Fly doesn't sell ring waxed cards directly to the public, just ammunition manufacturers (I know, I've conversed with him about this before.) I've also thought about melting some bore butter and lubing my own nitro cards (actually, that was Craig's Idea) to push lubricant into the forcing cone as each round is fired.

Anyhoo, I'm also thinking about coming up with a "pattern" or "template" to recreate the old Alcan "Kwik-Sert" polyethylene shot wraps of the late 60's/early 70's, but I'm also trying to eliminate as much plastic as I can from my loads over the grounds that I hunt as well. I would only use it as needed....FWIW.

Mike Doerner

Member Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 138 Location: Parma, OH