I use cork wads occasionally. When I preload duplex in 38-55 cases for my breech muzzle loader. Excellent results, no loss in accuracy.

There have been reports of cork wads staying in the bore after firing. They simply turn sideways like a butterfly valve. 

Only use vegetable fiber wads in BP fixed ammo. Something to push on when compressing powder. No difference in accuracy with or without the wad.

I usually use cork but I have experimented with felt wads. I see no difference.

40 Rod

Ive heard that from some others but I can honestly say I have never seen it my self. Twice I have had a cork wad stay in the case so I admit that it might be possible however i don't belive there is enough mass to do any damage with cork. When I am shooting bench I shoot heads up I can see the wads blow out the end when the light is right.

40 Rod

JLouis wrote on Jul 13^th, 2020 at 5:51pm:


I’m not sure I would count on the cork wad burning up in the barrel. I have recovered bullets with wax on the base that did not melt. It would be worthwhile to glue a wad to the base of a bullet and see for sure. We’re talking a few Milliseconds of exposure to heat.

Not sure what is on hand, but maybe this weekend I can give it a go.

Smokeless or black might also make a difference.

much like mr. w's finding, yrs ago i shot a lot over the winter here in wi checking and trying different lds, i would find quite a few spent veg wads that could've have been reused, rifle was bp 45/70 530+ postell style, later i did start putting a newspaper wad between the bullet and veg-wad one theory being the veg-wad would sometimes stick to bullet base and cause occasional flyier can't really confirm that but it made me feel a little better, never really tried any other wad material,,  hold hard   rich

I use the LDPE (polywad) wad material. My theory is that since its is a tight fit in the case, and also the bore, that it is therefore providing a tight seal to prevent gas cutting. At 0.060" thick it should also be protecting the base of the bullet from powder grain denting. I have no leading or plastic depositing issues in the barrel.

I've experimented with veggie wads only briefly but did not see a benefit and possibly a detriment. If you need to stack up wads in your case to take up room then using other types of wads is probably a necessity but I would still use a polywad against the bullet.

I use the polywads with BP and I wipe any bullet lube off the base of the bullet. I have tried using a newspaper wad between the bullet and the polywad but did not see a difference and therefore stopped doing this. Of course, YMMV.

Plastic might not be the better for the environment but when competing you want the best performance. Lead is also not good for the environment but we use that too.