45 long colt wads or filler

[TIMETRIPPER]

Try the rigid open cell floral foam. You will find it at most hobby stores and is very inexpensive. Cut a slab off of the desired thickness and simply press out a wad by pushing the slab down over a charged case, then lightly seat it against the powder with a rod. The eraser end of a pencil works.
The foam disintegrates on firing without melting so there is no chance of a residue buildup in the bore.
I used it in my large straight walled rifle cases, 45-70, 38-55, 32-40 etc when loading with smokeless powder powder charges that left lots of empty space. Found that Magnum primers worked just as well for improving accuracy so I rarely use such wads now.

John

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

please delete

 

[WR Moore]

Now I can tell I'm getting really, really old. All this mention of case fillers and no one mentioned Cream of Wheat. I've never tried it, but waaaaaay back when I got into shooting/reloading it was a common over powder filler. No clue after decades if a wad was involved or the CoW was just poured into the case over the powder charge.

 

[rockquarry]

Now I can tell I'm getting really, really old. All this mention of case fillers and no one mentioned Cream of Wheat. I've never tried it, but waaaaaay back when I got into shooting/reloading it was a common over powder filler. No clue after decades if a wad was involved or the CoW was just poured into the case over the powder charge.

I used Cream of Wheat when fireforming .30-06 brass to .375 Whelen Improved (and probably a few other Improved or wildcat cartridges). I don't know if this is still a common practice. I think I always used Bullseye powder, and got about 90% or better case fillout, but never 100%.

I never used Cream of Wheat as a case filler solely in a non-fireforming load and wouldn't. No doubt it could be done but I don't recall ever seeing any recommended powder charges. Filling a case with Cream of Wheat above a powder charge would definitely increase pressure. There would be no point in using a card wad or other wad with such a filler. It's a much better (and maybe safer) practice to use a suitable powder than didn't require a filler.

 

[Funflyer]

Do you make/cut the wads yourself or buy them pre-cut?

.

I make them myself. Spray glue two sheets together then punch them out with a sharpened piece of stainless tubing.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

When I was making 45 Colt shot cartridges it took some looking before I found something of the right diameter to cut the wads to separate the powder & shot.

Stainless steel tubing, which I assume can be found in varying diameters, sounds like an interesting idea.

.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

Here's an article you may enjoy, related to light loads in large volume cases.

Light loads in large cases can explode (2007 update) - Reload Ammo | Founded By M.D. Smith in 1996

I read that article years ago, shortly after it was first published. My conclusion is that detonation is a myth. In my opinion those kB!'s were caused by either a double charge or a squib. Positional sensitivity is real but the danger is a stuck projectile from low pressure, not detonation (Secondary Explosion Effect in the article). There is still an argument for case fillers, because keeping the charge against the primer ensures consistent pressures.