Ironhand54
Member
I am thinking about working up some revolver (c&b) target loads. Wondering about filler material. What do you suggest and why?
Thanks
IronHand
Thanks
IronHand
Filler Options
- Thread starter Ironhand54
- Start date
- Status
SlowFuse
Member
Cream of wheat is what was suggested to me. It works, I've found accurate loads using it. Haven't felt a need to look further.
Also have heard of people using grits and a material called dacron. The grits seem like they may work as well as the wheat.
Edit to ask... What are you going to be using this in?
Also have heard of people using grits and a material called dacron. The grits seem like they may work as well as the wheat.
Edit to ask... What are you going to be using this in?
arcticap
Member
Edit:
In a youtube video by capandball, the MLAIC open top champ used a Walker with semolina as filler.
It's a type of flour made from durum wheat, a little coarser than regular flour. --->>> https://www.bobsredmill.com/blog/baking-101/what-is-semolina/
Last edited:
I wouldnt use farina because of ... dust explosion. Dont know if this really matters.
I have used bulgur, cream of wheat, coffee, couscous ... didnt notice any difference. The RO disliked the use of coffee because it looked like black powder and i had it in an open jar ....
I have used bulgur, cream of wheat, coffee, couscous ... didnt notice any difference. The RO disliked the use of coffee because it looked like black powder and i had it in an open jar ....
BullRunBear
Member
I know why fillers are suggested but I don't use them in my C&B revolvers because I've never had better results when I tried them. The guns are already more accurate than I can shoot them. My load of powder, 1/8" lubed felt wad, and ball does the job. If I were a better marksman, maybe fillers would make a difference.
Jeff
Jeff
TheOutlawKid
Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2018
- Messages
- 1,480
Ive nwver tried it...but you know that green foamy stuff used for flowe arangements etc? I read of some folks using it with greats results...aparently it combusts immediately. Might want to give it a try or if anyone has used it maybe give us some feedback. I know it comes in all shapes like cylinders, spheres , flat rectangles of all shapes. I read on someone using a bullet shell as a punch as well. Its really easy to punch out and im sure you can find a sheet at any thickness u want.
Armored farmer
Member
I use either c.o.w. or lubed felt wads. If I'm just plinking around, I use felt wads. If shooting for score, I like to use c.o.w.
I can adjust the amount of filler to seat the balls nearly flush with the chamber mouth. A quick smear of crisco or bore butter then seals the chamber, and lubes.
I use lubed felt wads, but they can have their drawbacks.
The lube can neutralize your powder charge.
The rammer on my '58 barely compresses the powder charge with a felt wad and ball.
Felt wads are a bit of a pain to make, or buy.
I can adjust the amount of filler to seat the balls nearly flush with the chamber mouth. A quick smear of crisco or bore butter then seals the chamber, and lubes.
I use lubed felt wads, but they can have their drawbacks.
The lube can neutralize your powder charge.
The rammer on my '58 barely compresses the powder charge with a felt wad and ball.
Felt wads are a bit of a pain to make, or buy.
OP
OP
Ironhand54
Member
Bob Willman
Member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2018
- Messages
- 166
Cream of wheat works in straight wall cases only. Many years ago I was loading cast bullets in a 30-06 and used it as a filler. The bolt face still has a flame cut ring around the firing pin hole. I have no idea what the pressure was but the primer was blown out of the case and rattled when placed back in the primer pocket. Any granular substance is not easily forced into a smaller diameter opening. At that time kapok fiber was another recommended filler which worked very well.
Bob
stephen cockerham
Member
- Joined
- May 30, 2020
- Messages
- 59
corn meal is by far the cheapest
Navy Six 2
Member
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2017
- Messages
- 196
Both corn meal and Cream of Wheat work well. However, corn meal is somewhat compressible while COW is not. It might make a difference if a chamber is a bit over loaded with the powder or filler and you try to seat the projectile.
TheOutlawKid
Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2018
- Messages
- 1,480
I will add that in the past when i would shoot lighter loads with roundball and wanted the ball to be closer to chamber mouth i would just use an unlubed felt wad. That worked great. I just no longer shoot roundball much anymore at all as i mainly shoot custom conicals. Also heard cork works great. You can get a sheet of it and punch your own wads to use as large "spacers" to take up space in the chamber between powder and ball.
Pistolero_Libre
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2012
- Messages
- 12
Corn meal for me in the Remington 1858, both original and Pedersoli reproduction. These are loaded with target loads for MLAIC competition, so less than 20grains of black powder. The compressibility is an important factor for me as it gives me the ability to apply a consistent seating pressure.
foureyeshenry
Member
Cous cous, fine grade, no dust and meters well
Mike OTDP
Member
Cream of Wheat for me. I find corn meal is too compressible for my tastes.
arcticap
Member
I edited my post above.
I went back to the video of the MLAIC open top revolver champion and found that he used SEMOLINA in his Walker and not farina.
It's a coarse flour that's made from durum wheat that can often be found next to all purpose flour in the grocery store.
Mea culpa.
I went back to the video of the MLAIC open top revolver champion and found that he used SEMOLINA in his Walker and not farina.
It's a coarse flour that's made from durum wheat that can often be found next to all purpose flour in the grocery store.
Mea culpa.
skeeterfogger
member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2019
- Messages
- 1,280
Tried the COW in my 1858 target. Loaded 4 cylinders with and 4 without. Blindly selected cylinders when changing. Found no difference in accuracy.
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy
In CAS grits are the preferred filler material in cartridges loaded with Black Powder. I made up some 45 Colt and 44-40 loads with a bit of corn meal as a filler years ago, but it was more trouble than it was worth, so I went back to a case full of lightly compressed powder.
Let me add, the purpose of adding a filler in cartridges is to reduce the amount of powder, and thereby reduce the amount of recoil. It is not to enhance accuracy.
In CAS grits are the preferred filler material in cartridges loaded with Black Powder. I made up some 45 Colt and 44-40 loads with a bit of corn meal as a filler years ago, but it was more trouble than it was worth, so I went back to a case full of lightly compressed powder.
Let me add, the purpose of adding a filler in cartridges is to reduce the amount of powder, and thereby reduce the amount of recoil. It is not to enhance accuracy.
SlowFuse
Member
@Driftwood Johnson would you agree in cap and ball revolvers using filler to reduce jump to the forcing cone is a waste? This versus just putting the ball directly on powder (or thin wad) deeper in the chamber.
That's the main thing I've read regarding accuracy with fillers, the ball position/depth in the chamber.
That's the main thing I've read regarding accuracy with fillers, the ball position/depth in the chamber.
No, it helps to keep the powder against the nipple for ignition in addition to lessening the "jump" to the forcing cone.
Russell13
Member
The last time I went shooting I had what I believe is called a gang fire. Pulled the trigger, the cap went off and a half second later the gun fired. Was this because I did t have the ball seated on the powder. It was In my .44 Rem new model army(1858). I don’t use any filler. I’m running 25 grains of pyrodex with a felt wad.
^^^^ THIS ^^^^
Easiest/controllable compression
arcticap
Member
That's possible since the powder should be compressed all of way down in the bottom of the chamber.
But there could have also been some residue blocking the nipple hole or just a weak cap.
Pyrodex likes compression which gives it more power.
Have you considered using a loading press? --->>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cylinder-L...600259?hash=item2d0e30b083:g:F7cAAOSwxs1do8-8
https://rmcoxyoke.com/product/rmc-revolver-loading-stand/
Driftwood Johnson
Member
No idea.
I have never used filler with a C&B revolver. Always seated the ball right against the powder. The rounds with filler I was talking about were some Blackpowder 45 Colt rounds. It was a long time ago, but I think the reason I put some filler in was to reduce recoil in my 1858 Remington with its cartridge conversion cylinder. The section of the frame where the loading lever passes through the frame is quite thin, and I did not want to stress the frame with my normal loads of about 38 grains of FFg and a 250 grain bullet. So I loaded up some rounds with about 26 grains of FFg topped with a bit of corn meal to take up the extra space, and then seated a 200 grain bullet. It worked, recoil was reduced, but adding filler on top of the powder was more fuss than I wanted to bother with. So instead I now shoot 45 Schofield brass in my Remmie with about 27 grains of FFg topped with a 200 grain bullet. Less recoil and less punishment for the Remmie.
- Status
