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Travelor
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Wad over powder in breach seating
Oct 11th, 2016 at 7:32am
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I am new to this form of loading so please bear with me.

I have an original 28-30-120 and a CPA 32-40 both are Stevens 44 1/2 actions and throated for breach seating.  Both shoot exceptionally well with the bullets seated in the cases, but I want to breach seat the bullets.

My question concerns putting a card "wad" to hold the powder in the case while transporting the charged cases from home to the range and to assist in not spilling powder when chambering the loaded cases.  I have read two methods of seating the card wads, one is at the mouth of the case and one is down on the powder.

My concern is in the possibility of ringing the barrels.  What is the proper method and any chance of damaging the barrels?
  
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40_Rod
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Re: Wad over powder in breach seating
Reply #1 - Oct 11th, 2016 at 8:46am
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Never put a wad down on the powder. If you are using a wad just to prevent spilling powder into the action just seat the wad in the case mouth. If you want to use the wad to control powder placement in the cartridge place the wad at least .050” off the powder. This is problematic with 32-40s at the taper won’t hold a wad all the way down the inside of the case. You will have to use a larger wad and let it spring back inside the case. I am not sure about the 28-30 as far as wad placement goes, as I have not used one.

40 Rod
  
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calledflyer
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Re: Wad over powder in breach seating
Reply #2 - Oct 11th, 2016 at 10:49am
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I load at home for .32-40, and use foam "caps" that I remove before shooting. Unless using black powder the loads won't spill from that case, since they are pretty small charges. I only use the caps to prevent spills during transportation to the range.
I have never used a wad anywhere over the powder for fear of a ringed barrel, or worse.
  
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RSW
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Re: Wad over powder in breach seating
Reply #3 - Oct 11th, 2016 at 11:26am
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As you asked about transporting charged cases to the range, a method that has worked well for me is to put a cork in them. The illustration explains it better than words.
Putting a card wad in the case mouth works but in my experience, does not add to accuracy. Shooting without any sort of wad has proven most accurate IMO. Others may not agree about that however. A cork in each charged case keeps the contents in place until you are ready to chamber them. Take along a small baggie or box to hold the corks as you load. 
Buy corks online by the 100 and they are not expensive. Buy them at your local hardware store and they are priced each and are expensive.
Remember; remove the cork before chambering a cartridge. The case won't fully chamber and when you pull it back out, all the powder dumps in the open rifle action because the cork is stuck in the chamber. Don't laugh too loud, you will do it ONCE.
Hope that helps
« Last Edit: Oct 11th, 2016 at 11:36am by RSW »  

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Re: Wad over powder in breach seating
Reply #4 - Oct 11th, 2016 at 8:05pm
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One of my first Schuetzen matches drove 150 miles with pre charged cases. 14.5 4227 in 32/40 . Opened the car trunk and a good half had bounced tipped and lost powder. One of the guys on this forum helped me clean up dump all the powder in a jar then loaned me his Harrell's measure.

Way home I stopped by Lynnwood Harrell's shop and bought one. You can make pre charged work but better to throw at the range. Added advantage is you can varry charge to suit conditions.

Transport one thing. No good reason to use a wad when firing the case, lot of good reasons not to.

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bpjack
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Re: Wad over powder in breach seating
Reply #5 - Oct 11th, 2016 at 8:36pm
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I have tried wads in my 32-40 and they don't seem to help much.  My new 32 Miller short on the other hand needs a wad to help keep the powder from spilling in my High Wall.  I took Dave's advise and tried the foam pipe wads (along with floral foam and cardboard) yesterday and the foam was the clear winner.  Under poor wind conditions with totally unpredictable directional changes I shot this target at 200 yds (yes..it was upside down)  I lost one to the right when the wind swapped quickly but I am a foam wad guy in the Miller from now on.  Why do I ever doubt Dave Smiley

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Re: Wad over powder in breach seating
Reply #6 - Oct 12th, 2016 at 12:02pm
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Travelor,

I wanted to share a good tip I received on wad material.   

As stated before, with the taper case design it is not effective to push the wad down into the case.  You only need to plug the case mouth unless you are using a powder that needs consistent placement.   If you are shooting 4227, there is no need for an over powder wad.

As for material, I have found the easiest to use and most effective material is "Wet Floral Foam".   Use a cheap electric carving knife to slice the block into 1/4" - 3/8" thick sheets.  If you are like most, you probably have an electric knife in a kitchen drawer you have not used for years.  If not, Walmart $14.00.  Simply push down over the charged case, done!    needed.

The "Wet Floral Foam" can be found at any craft store. 

Herrschutz
  
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Re: Wad over powder in breach seating
Reply #7 - Oct 12th, 2016 at 12:22pm
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Quote:
(yes..it was upside down)


Upside down is OK but, you posted it a little to high to get the shots in Wink

Frank
  

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Re: Wad over powder in breach seating
Reply #8 - Oct 12th, 2016 at 8:32pm
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I think a gravity well moved through the range while I was shooting.  Almost as bad as the wild winds!

JacK
  

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Re: Wad over powder in breach seating
Reply #9 - Oct 13th, 2016 at 1:07am
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Jack, Too bad it was up side down.  The gravity well would have pulled the into the 25 ring  Grin
  

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John Boy
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Re: Wad over powder in breach seating
Reply #10 - Oct 13th, 2016 at 8:26am
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* One bag of 200 cotton balls for a couple of bucks
* Unroll a ball - pull off some
* Place in mouth of case
No powder spills in the chamber
  
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