I'm reloading some 44/40,s and want to use some fibre wads (.030) over 4 grains of bullseye to keep the powder against the primer, so the powder is not just laying inside the case. Is it safe to do this and will the affect pressures.

If you google "case fillers reloading", you will find a wealth of info. If you go to Cast Boolits - Dedicated To The World Of Cast Bullets! you will also find a wealth of info.

Never tried fiber wads. I have tried several natural fibers for case fillers. Kapok, bits of thin cheap toilet paper, & dryer lint. A lot of people use Dacron pillow stuffing.

In my testing, case fillers do work. There are some powders that are more "position sensitive" than others. Yes, they do increase pressure. You have to start low and work up, watching for pressure signs.

I seriously doubt that you need fillers or a wad with a fast pistol powder unless you're trying to get down to gallery load category. Here's some info you might find useful:

low-velocity load testing information

It is NOT safe to try to use a wad in smokeless loadings.

A wad loaded against the powder in a smokeless loaded cartridge will frequently result in a ringed.bulged chamber at the base of the bullet. This is exactly the same as firing a cartridge with an obstructed bore.

Bullseye is too fast burning to use with a filler, and too easy to ignite to be of any benefit.

To get the powder against the primer simply cock the gun with the muzzle up and then lower the muzzle onto the target. You can also cock the gun with muzzle down and raise the muzzle onto the target. Consistency of powder position is more important than where it is in the case. With Bullseye you won't know the difference.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

Ditto, Ditto, Ditto!!!! Don't do it!!

The only way I know to safely use a wad in nitro powder loads is with loads that fill the case, even are compressed a bit. I have done this with slightly undesized soft-cast bullets to stop leading -- sort of a soft gas check.

Niklas

Dangerous practise - fast powders such as Titegroup ignite very easilly and provide very small velocity variation.

I do have to agree with most of the posts. When I was trying to develop a load with filler I was using WW231 (about 3 or so grains) with a 148 gr. HBWC in 38 special. Using sandbags as rest I did notice better groups. I was using kapok as a filler. It does cause a pressure rise. I had to reduce the powder about 20% or so otherwise I had over pressure signs. I fired them in a 686 357 mag so it wasn't really a concern for me to blow my gun up. Every time I fired a round there was a "snow storm" of ejecta. The better loading practice I have found is to go to a slower powder to fill the case. The best loads that I have found is the ones that have no space left when the bullet is seated. I tried several 357 mag very light loads with filler and got some interesting results. Never ringed or bulged anything. I REPEAT, very light loads....... More gallery loads.... I didn't get crazy.

I humbly bow my head to the thread.

Thank you everyone for your input. I think I will scrap the fibre wads idea and go to a more slower burning powder like Trail boss so it fills up alot of the case as it was suggested by a member. I'll save by bullseye for my .38's. Thanks again

A fiber wad (as opposed to fiber filler) for your application would not be good for the reasons stated.

However, I have found the fiber wads useful when they are seated in the case simultaneously with the bullet. They act in much the same way as a gas check and nearly eliminate the leading that you get with bevel base bullets and warmer loads.

Using a .060" Walters Wad in .44 Mag or .44 Special cases, I will typically seat them just below the case mouth and scrape off a small amount of moly bullet lube around the circumference thereof. The bullet is then seated and crimped normally, with the result being that I have essentially added a grease groove and a gas check.

Effective, accurate and perfectly safe with 7.5/Unique + 240 BBSWC in .44 Special and 10.0/Unique or 19.0/2400 with the same bullet in .44 Mag.

If you're looking for a light load use Trail Boss. This is formulated for light loads in the older style large pistol cartridges. Check Hodgdon's web site for loads. Works great for me in 45 Colt.

Pecos

I've shot lots of .44-40 with powders like Unique & AA#5 (yes, and FFFg as well) with no fillers at all, and had zero difficulty. I'll second the recommendation of raising the muzzle between shots, if you're mindful of the issue, but it sure never made much diff in my SAA, Bisley, New Service, or Italian clones. By me it's a non-issue.

Larry

Bullseye is fine for this application (I like Clays better because it burns cleaner). The biggest problem is double-charging (another reason why I like Clays - big flunky green flakes). My only complaint with Trailboss is that it is expensive. But the upside with Trailboss is that you can't double-charge with the stuff - it's just too light and airy to have much energy.