I've been loading up 12 gauge plastic hulls with black powder and Pyrodex. All have been 7/8 oz loads with charges ranging from 40-60 by volume. Mostly I've been using Claybuster gray wads with and without over powder card. I've also loaded and shot some with over powder card and wad of paper towel. I then loaded some with over powder card and oatmeal tamp down.
I patterned samples of all of these different loads and found no real difference in performance in my Stoeger coachgun. All are a blast to shoot.
When time is factored in, it's clear that plastic wads are the most economical and convenient way to go. But I don't like the wads littering up the place.
I've found that the oatmeal filler shot well and may well have produced a nice muzzle flame of about 3'. I suspect the oatmeal is burning as I didn't find any on the ground after a dozen rounds. The only trash left was the ground was the over powder card.
This got me to thinking about other homemade wads. I was thinking of melting paraffin and mixing in oatmeal as much as it would take. Then spreading out on wax paper like rice crispy treats. Then cutting out filler wads from same.
Anyone else have tried innovative wad material?
How about dowg food? Past date raisins? Popcorn?
I patterned samples of all of these different loads and found no real difference in performance in my Stoeger coachgun. All are a blast to shoot.
When time is factored in, it's clear that plastic wads are the most economical and convenient way to go. But I don't like the wads littering up the place.
I've found that the oatmeal filler shot well and may well have produced a nice muzzle flame of about 3'. I suspect the oatmeal is burning as I didn't find any on the ground after a dozen rounds. The only trash left was the ground was the over powder card.
This got me to thinking about other homemade wads. I was thinking of melting paraffin and mixing in oatmeal as much as it would take. Then spreading out on wax paper like rice crispy treats. Then cutting out filler wads from same.
Anyone else have tried innovative wad material?
How about dowg food? Past date raisins? Popcorn?