wadding for rifle loads

[243winxb]

Filler for 223 irregular triplex load

I'll try almost anything once,

Only takes 1 time. H414 in a 223 with 82 and 90 gr bullets, maybe. At least Hodgdon has data for it. Not for your 1-12 twist barrel.

 

[spitballer]

Only takes 1 time...[/COLOR]

...roger that, and that post this morning with the graphic pictures really drove that home. I've ruined a box of cases trying to figure out how to maintain obturation with boat tails down this extra-length barrel. Now I'm kicking around ideas like using a sabot at base of the boat tail to wedge into the crack to hold the much-needed pressure of the small 26.7 grain charge. Sure beats the idea of using something fluffy like polyfill wadding, which will just...


wait a minute!

 

[RecoilRob]

Do you think the 223 has enough case volume to make that long barrel work for you? Everything I've seen on it says about 26" is all it can use: http://rifleshooter.com/2014/04/223...gth-a-man-his-chop-box-and-his-friends-rifle/

If you want to keep the long-long barrel...how about 223AI? Another couple/three grains of powder capacity to play with might help keep the bullets accelerating down to the end. As it stands right now, your bullets might actually be slowing at the muzzle and for sure that could play hell with accuracy. At the least the 223 isn't making good use of the last 4" or so of barrel so maybe two ways to go: cut it down to 26" or increase the case volume to better match the tube. This does sound like a fun problem to sort! Good luck.

Edit: Wait a minute....what was this thread about in the first place? Using a filler to keep the powder back against the primer? For sure, some rifles will blow up if the reduced charge is shifting around but you surely can't be talking about a reduced charge of ball powder with that long barrel? H335 fills to the neck around 26grns and much slower you're going to be running compressed or running out of room. Sorry...I'm just more confused now than when I started. Carry on...been a long day.

 

[spitballer]

Obviously safety comes first, but I don't argue with success when it comes along because methods depart from orthodoxy or worse, simply because someone else achieved it.

As I suspected, the H4895 turned out to be a little hot with this barrel:

Starting load, 24.22 grain velocity:

3182
3356
3366
3350
3323

In fairness the initial use of the wadding may have led to the 174 fps jump with the second shot. Nevertheless the third shot continued climbing, indicating to me I that I can at least afford a slight increase next time out. Other powders showed marked improvement as well.

Sincere thanks to members who've shared their tips.