While attending a recent match a very experienced shooter was watching me load cases for my 32-40. I use the breech seating method of shooting so there is no  bullet in the case. Normally I prime the case, charge with powder and press a 1/4" thick floral foam wad in the mouth of the charged case with the cookie cutter method. The experienced shooter told me that I should push the floral foam wad down in the case till it came to rest on the powder charge. So I took his suggestion and did so. I pushed the wad down gently till it was in contact with powder charge as directed. I had already been firing my rifle when I test fire 7 cartridges with the wad set the way mentioned. Shot one was about 3/4" high, and the next 4 shots cut each other at a distance of 100 yards. Then I noticed the cases. I have provided a photo here for you to see the cases used with the wad  seated on the powder charge and what was happening to them. The only difference was where the wad was placed. Would like to hear your thoughts about this. I went back to loading with the wad at the mouth of the case and the problem stopped.

                    Sendaro

I use the wad to help prevent the accidental spilling powder in the action when loading the charge case. Also I've been in the habit of per-loading the cases before I go to the match. The wad helps prevent spilling the powder in transit. 

Sendaro

John hopefully you did no damage to your chamber. Placing a wad down on the powder has been known for ringing chambers. I would suggest you follow Joe's recommendation and I think your accuracy will improve by not having the wad in the mouth of the case. 

JLouis

   What happens with a wad on the powder is that symmetrically confined powder will form a uniform front, which, when it impinges on a stationary object, forms a high pressure ring.   This wave reflects back down the bbl, with some of the high pressure gas passing on the outside of the now-relaxed cartridge case.    WHen the pressure wave progresses to the rear, the gas that has gotten on the outside of the case collapses the case.  A known way to prevent this is to slightly bell the neck of the case for each shot, so it is in contact with the chamber.
     When the powder is not symmetrically confined, this phenomenon will not occur.  This can be achieved by not putting the wad clear down against the powder.    Reading the experiments of Dell and Helbert will make this clear.    Charlie, e.g., found that the effect could be produced WITHOUT any wad at all, simply by firing the rifle straight up.  Charlies' practice was to seat the wad close to, but not touching the powder, thus promoting uniform ignition, and also placing a cork wad in the mouth of the case to prevent damage from powder grains impinging on the base of the bullet.  Whether the powder grains peening the base of the bullet is a problem or not is a whole 'nother controversy.

CHRIS
RGChristensen

I was speaking to Paul Shuttleworth a few weeks ago and he stated," that he goes to the range to shoot not reload cases" ! He told me it is a waste of time reloading only one case at a time . Some guys even clean the primer pocket between shots . I load several hundred pre primed and pre powered cases before heading to the range . Paul stated" there is no real advantage to the one case theory as far as accuracy goes." I figure we just shoot these rifles and Mr. Shuttleworth builds them so I guess he would be the final authority on that , period . Also Gail his daughter told me they use no wads, waste of time and effort . The 32-40 case is plenty long to not worry about spilling any powder . I'am using 14.2 grs of IMR 4227 and have yet to spill any powder in my CPA's action . Thanks

I have the upmost respect for both Paul and Gail but as far as being the final authority on what he feels is a waste of time those winning matches accross this great nation would probably not agree with his perssonel opinon based on their personnel exsperiances including myself. What most people do not have any knowledge of is Pauls home range matches are shot at 100yds. as the range does not have the capabilities to shoot out to 200yds. and that is a completly different ball game where the little things just simply don't have as much ill affects as they would at 200yds. There are at times self induced faults by taking the advice of others without knowing all the particulars and one simply needs to get out and spend the time and effort to figure out how to get everything out of what their rifle has to offer. The odds of having a competitive rifle that will perform exactly like another of similar design probably does not exist and I have seen several leave their cards on the table while thinking that is the best their rifle has to offer based on someone elses opinion when in fact they haven't even come close to achieving what their rifle actually has to offer.

JLouis

I'am new to this Schuetzen game so naturally I go towards the Preeminent authority and I considered Paul and his daughter in that arena . Yes 100 yards compared to 200 yards is a different game  for sure . A member on this forum was kind enough to invite me to his home range several weeks ago and gave me some great advice, such as make a small mark on your mold so you have a small mark on the bullet and can insert the bullet into the same position each time . The guys I was shooting with were using a single case . I have learned that consistancey each time is the key . I'am not saying I will never go the one case route. I first need to buy the capper/decapper tool for 100.00$ when I get the funds and I will try the one case method . As to the spilling of powder while in transport Gail told me she uses a rubber or cork test tube stoppers to plug the cases until she gets to the range . My 200 yard groups are now under a 1/2 MOA and I'am very pleased . Just whish we had some Schuetzen Bench matches closer to Western PA . Thanks

Post script to previous post:
The old fixed cartridge advice is "Muzzles Up" to position the smokeless powder charge against the primer flash hole for uniform ignition

Seating a breech seated uncapped smokeless case, the complete powder charge is not positioned next to the primer flash hole when the rifle is leveled