I've been thinking of using a portion of a cotton ball as a filler for some of my loads that have too much airspace left in them, namely everything I try to shoot with a Ball Powder. I can never seem to get the accuracy from ball powders and I kinda believe it's because of the excess airspace. Will cotton balls work? Or will they introduce some fouling problems all on their own? Is there a better material? Cream of Wheat is not up for consideration.

quote:

Originally posted by FC363:
I've been thinking of using a portion of a cotton ball as a filler for some of my loads that have too much airspace left in them, namely everything I try to shoot with a Ball Powder. I can never seem to get the accuracy from ball powders and I kinda believe it's because of the excess airspace. Will cotton balls work? Or will they introduce some fouling problems all on their own? Is there a better material? Cream of Wheat is not up for consideration.

Never use Cream Of Wheat especially if the loaded cartridges set for a long time. It gets solid then becomes a plug that can raise pressures dramatically.

Don't use cotton, if you want a similar product use Dacron. The proper way to use Dacron is to take your tuff of the material (I use to buy the Dacron batting at a quilt store and it's 1/2 inch thick. I would cut these into 1/2x3/4 chunks, depends on your case size and how much you have to fill) then use a jagged end little rod (you can burr up the end of it) to grab the Dacron and bring the end you grab down on top the powder. The most important thing is to have the Dacron (or any filler) fill the space from the top of the powder to the base of the bullet. If your Dacron sticks up into the case mouth it is okay to compress it with the bullet some. You never want to pack it down on top the powder as a wad leaving an airspace between it and the base of the bullet. A better filler is Puff Lon filler they use in shotshells. Any filler can raise your pressure a little so be aware of that. None of the two I described leave any residue in your bore. Before Dacron many use Kapok. Use it in the same manner as Dacron filling the space between the top of the powder and base of the bullet.

I use a hotter primer to facilitate ignition when using ball powders and have never seen the need for a filler.

Luckyducker brings up an important fact. One should only use a filler if the powder doesn't fill enough of the case and is up against the flash hole. Ball powders shouldn't be reduce that much or used in a reduced load. Think what they say about Win 296 in handgun cartridges....don't reduce the manual's load data.

Thanks for bringing that up Luckyducker.

Thanks for the replies! I have heard of using dacron, but had no idea of where to get it. I will look for some. This will be primarily for my .223 and .22-250. In the .223 I'm using the hottest primers I can get, and have tried them all without any particular one standing out as better than the rest.

This is more of an attempt to find out why I can't seem to get the same accuracy from these types of powders as I can with stick powders, even though they usually have better velocity and ES/SD. May be just keeping the powder column in a uniform state will help it. Even if the burn rate is too slow, most stick powders still shoot well if the case is full, even if the velocity is slower than you can get with the correct powders.

Dacron you can probably get at a Sewing Store where the woman buy their materials and sewing needles and stuff.

Hip

That's what I use. The Dacron Holofil that the ladies use to stuff pillows. One bag will most likely last a lifetime; + cheap. I use it exclusively when loading my large calibers with cast bullets + 5744 powder.

FC what ball powder are you using? Maybe you could might change brands.

I have used whatever is available.

Dacron from pillows.

Shot fillers used in shotgun loading.

Tissue paper.

All work equally well.

Dacron filler is best.

I know a guy that uses dryer lint. He owns a laundromat.

Dave

I use foam backing rod made for insulation. Easy to cut to length. In straight NE cartridges; wouldn't work in bottlenecked.
Way back in the dark ages I used Kapok; probably not even sold any more. It is a natural substance, replaced by man made stuff now.

quote:

Originally posted by nopride2:
I know a guy that uses dryer lint. He owns a laundromat.

Dave

Clever! Ha! I think I will just stick to pillow stuffing though

quote:

Originally posted by FC363:
I've been thinking of using a portion of a cotton ball as a filler for some of my loads that have too much airspace left in them, namely everything I try to shoot with a Ball Powder. I can never seem to get the accuracy from ball powders and I kinda believe it's because of the excess airspace. Will cotton balls work? Or will they introduce some fouling problems all on their own? Is there a better material? Cream of Wheat is not up for consideration.

Cotton works for me. I load 3.5 inch 10 gauge rounds to 12 gauge trap loads and use 2 cotton balls over the powder charge and put 3 in the shot cup to get the shot column the right height.
With black powder loads, I sometimes get the visual of a flaming cotton ball hitting the steel knockdown. I use these for cowboy action shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
I use foam backing rod made for insulation. Easy to cut to length. In straight NE cartridges; wouldn't work in bottlenecked.
Way back in the dark ages I used Kapok; probably not even sold any more. It is a natural substance, replaced by man made stuff now.

In loading shot shells I use pieces of cylindrical 'peanuts' that are used in packing items for shipment. Less dense than packing rod. Really cheap and disintegrates when fired.

Some people use hornet/wasp nests and the fluffy stuff in thistle bush pods.

I’ve got a gallon ziplock bag of kapok that has been in my reloading room for many years. Anyone interested in it PM me.

Three to five grs. of Dacron and it should come out as a plug btw if used with a bullet..

You can also buy filler plugs to fit caliber. I buy them at SCI or you can order them direct from London or NECG as I recall...

With most powders in the 223 you should be able to get 95% load or better load density. No filler needed.
In the 22-250, CFE223 gets you better than 85% load density, no filler needed there either.
I use the CFE 223 in a lot of cartridges. It get good velocity and accuracy and helps keep the copper fouling down.
Leo

Read an article years ago from a guy who was using/testing fillers in some large english calibres.He claimed polyester filler (Brand name Dacron) was the best.He wasn't sure if it was blown out or consumed by the burning powder but there was zero residue left in the barrel and zero pressure issues. I tried it in some light loads in my 458 with 350 gr bullets and it just plain works. Very consistent loads. You can buy it at a sewing store or at pet store. The polyester that is used in aquarium filters is the same stuff

What cartridge/bullet/velocity are you loading? Have you tried a fast burning powder and magnum primers? I have experimented with reduced loads in several cartridges with great success using Red Dot, Blue Dot, Unique, IMR4227,SR4759, IMR4198, and IMR3031 and never used a filler. I even reloaded my 338 W.Mag with 31g 4759/200g bullet for 2000 fps and accuracy was good. The only negative I have found is powder residue in the barrel is greater than standard loads.

quote:

Originally posted by oakrch708:
What cartridge/bullet/velocity are you loading? Have you tried a fast burning powder and magnum primers? I have experimented with reduced loads in several cartridges with great success using Red Dot, Blue Dot, Unique, IMR4227,SR4759, IMR4198, and IMR3031 and never used a filler. I even reloaded my 338 W.Mag with 31g 4759/200g bullet for 2000 fps and accuracy was good. The only negative I have found is powder residue in the barrel is greater than standard loads.

Powder residue or unburned flakes is due to low pressure. Decron could help to increase pressure, so does 'n good crimp. I had powder residue in my Marlin .357Mag rifle with some powders even when using Decron, a good Lee Factory Crimp and at maximum loads. The solution is to try another powder. In the end Lil Gun and IMR4227 had solved the problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Reloader270:

quote:

Originally posted by oakrch708:
What cartridge/bullet/velocity are you loading? Have you tried a fast burning powder and magnum primers? I have experimented with reduced loads in several cartridges with great success using Red Dot, Blue Dot, Unique, IMR4227,SR4759, IMR4198, and IMR3031 and never used a filler. I even reloaded my 338 W.Mag with 31g 4759/200g bullet for 2000 fps and accuracy was good. The only negative I have found is powder residue in the barrel is greater than standard loads.

Powder residue or unburned flakes is due to low pressure. Decron could help to increase pressure, so does 'n good crimp. I had powder residue in my Marlin .357Mag rifle with some powders even when using Decron, a good Lee Factory Crimp and at maximum loads. The solution is to try another powder. In the end Lil Gun and IMR4227 had solved the problem.

Pour ignition of the powder is one of many things that can cause it to leave residue or unburned powder granules.

quote:

Originally posted by oakrch708:
What cartridge/bullet/velocity are you loading? Have you tried a fast burning powder and magnum primers? I have experimented with reduced loads in several cartridges with great success using Red Dot, Blue Dot, Unique, IMR4227,SR4759, IMR4198, and IMR3031 and never used a filler. I even reloaded my 338 W.Mag with 31g 4759/200g bullet for 2000 fps and accuracy was good. The only negative I have found is powder residue in the barrel is greater than standard loads.

The only thing I'm trying to do with a filler is keep the powder in one position to get better accuracy out of it. Ball powders never shoot as well for me as I hear all these others talking about, and I'm trying to find out why. I think having the powder in the same position for every shot will help. I'm not using reduced loads.

I see no use for fillers in most of the cartridges mentioned, particulary varmint calibers like kthe 222, 223 and 22-250 just not needed.

Actually the only cartridges that need a filler are the big nitro express rounds, and then only in some cases..the rest is just fun and games and unproductive..