milk carton gc

13 December 2002, 08:40

54JEFF

milk carton gc

I really don't know where I heard it, maybe black-powder forums for a wad. Anyway, I cut some for my SBH .44 mag. I stuck them to the base of Lee 255 gr. bullet with liquid alox. My alloy is dropping them at 252. Charge is 18.5 gr. 2400. I guess what I'm looking for is asurance that this load will be ok. Anybody out there tried milk carton gas checks/wads? Hope you guys can help with this concern. Thanks, Jeff

13 December 2002, 14:15

aladin

quote:
Originally posted by 54JEFF:
I really don't know where I heard it, maybe black-powder forums for a wad. Anyway, I cut some for my SBH .44 mag. I stuck them to the base of Lee 255 gr. bullet with liquid alox. My alloy is dropping them at 252. Charge is 18.5 gr. 2400. I guess what I'm looking for is asurance that this load will be ok. Anybody out there tried milk carton gas checks/wads? Hope you guys can help with this concern. Thanks, Jeff

Your 2400 loading is probably making significantly more chamber pressure than a typical BPCR loading. Those wads really are designed to help with gas seal-- the hot combustion from going up the bullet sides and eroding lead off that slug's sides. I doubt a milk carton wad would do much for a pistol where the pressures run about double those cited in BPCR. But cut large enough and in a 100 % density loading-- who knows? Might help some depending on alloy hardness and bullet fit. All you can do is try some and compare to a load minus the wad.

Make sure they stay put. Loosely loaded their a problem... Maybe try some thicker cut so a snug fit into the case is made-- that thickness making a slight compression of the powder when the bullet is seated. Wads chg the loading density and will require somewhat less fuel to make a max loading.

16 December 2002, 12:43

Leftoverdj

Are we talking waxed cardboard or polypropylene?

20 December 2002, 00:35

54JEFF

The milk carton is waxed cardboard. The load is slightly compressed. I had hoped to get out this past weekend but things came up. I'll try again and keep you posted. Jeff

21 December 2002, 13:01

Flintski

I wouldn't glue the wad to the bullet, it may/will effect accuracy when it tries to come off. The black powder cartridge guys use them all the time. Some use milk carton, some gasket material and I use plastic ice cream cover tops. Just punch them out and set them on top of the power and seat the bullet. Simple and easy.
flintski