Going to make my first effort at reloading some .470NE rounds this weekend. Will probably be using between 85 to 89 grains of RL-15 behind a 500 grain Woodleigh SP with a Federal 215 primer. I intend to use dacron filler, but would like to know how much filler should be used, 3 grains, 5 grains?

Weight does not matter, just use enough so there is absolutely no air space left between the bullet ( when it's seated and the powder charge.-Rob

quote:

Originally posted by Robgunbuilder:
Weight does not matter, just use enough so there is absolutely no air space left between the bullet ( when it's seated and the powder charge.-Rob

And that amount of Dacron fiber would weigh about 4 to 5 grains in this loading situation.

Seyfried often mentioned the weight of the fluff needed as a guide to the various cartridges.

I weigh mine when I do it. Exact weight is not critical, but approximate weight is helpful as a guide to what it takes for consistency and ultimately accuracy.

Rip off a wad and add more until it is in the 4 to 5 grain range, then wad it up and poke into the case with a pencil eraser or wooden dowel.

When you get the hang of the amt needed, you don't need to weigh, but I do weigh each fluffy fiber ball before I tamp it in over the powder, to make sure it is in the 4 to 5 grain range.

I should add that I've really begun to shy away from using any fillers. There have been enough reports of ringed chambers by knowledgeable and experienced reloaders using various types of fillers ( yes including dacron)to make me want to avoid this practice whenever possible. This problem occurs much more frequently when people use cork, vegetable or styrofoam wads and has been speculatively attributed to the existance/creation of an airspace between the bullet base and the wad. The use of loose Dacron should minimize this potential, but who knows for sure? Certainly in the .470NE you can avoid fillers easily. with that said, I have used Dacron in just about everything over the years with no problems, however, it just takes once and no one really has defined satisfactorily why chamber rings occur when fillers are used. Thus, I have deceided to avoid this whenever possible.-Rob

Rob
Like you when I first started loading for my 450 No2 I was leary of fillers. howefer because the No2 case is so big/long a filler is required even for IMR 4831. I did a lot of research on the subject of fillers and ringed chambers.
In EVERY instance of ringed chambers I found, the common demonator was the use of a "small" amount of dacron.
THE KEY TO NOT RINGING A CHAMBER IS TO USE A COMPRESSED AMOUNT OF DACRON. OR use a foam filler that is COMPRESSED between the bullet and the powder.
I have fired over 3000 [three thousand] rounds through my 450 No2. All with filler [except for 1 round of 81 grains of IMR 3031 and 2 rounds with 100 grains or IMR 4831. All 3 were Hang fires].

The best loads in my No2 use RL 15 and filler.

My experience and feelings about fillers are pretty much the same as Rob's.

I prefer H4831SC with no filler, over RL-15 with filler, in the .470NE.

I get better results all around in the .470 NE, with The George Hoffman Load of 110 grains of H4831SC.

The NE 450 No2 hangfire experience is a quandary ... looks like he is stuck with using fillers ... or Cordite.

I use Pufflon in the reloads for my double rifle.

Fill the case normally with whatever smokeless powder you are using. Then, fill the case to the top (over the powder) with Pufflon.
Load the bullet normally.

Velocity may increase by about 20 fps, but they also become more uniform (i.e. lower standard deviations).

Garrett

I use 89.25gr RL-15 with 5gr of dacron II filler and a tight crimp. Have had no trouble with it at all. I pulled the bullets on 5 factory Federal rounds and the powder appears to be RL-15. It also mikes the same as far as grain size and length. The weight of the 5 rounds was 92.7gr each with NO variation on my electronic scale. These were factory 500gr Woodleigh solids which is what I load although my Merkel was sighted in with TB. Cases are mostly Federal or Mast Engineering (BeLL). Accuracy is excellent. Only thing disconcerting is you SEE the dacron filler come out of barrel and it's wierd.

zimbabwe
I have shot my 450 No2 with dacron and foam filler side by side. I can tell no difference in the results. The foam is easier to use, you do not see it and it does not look like a pillow fight took place in front of your bbls.
I cut our the foam woth a 50 BMG case sharpened, and kept sharp with a CH chamfer tool.

When I started to research load development for the 470NE I ran into questions concerning the use of filler ie what to use, how much to use, etc...the more I read, the more I wanted to avoid filler....just one more thing that could go wrong.

When doing some searches on AR about loading for the 470, I ran into an old post by George Hoffman. Mr. Hoffman advised using H-4831...good enough for him...good enough for me! Picked up an A-square manual, H4831 was a listed powder for the 470, and that provided a good starting point..I decided on H-4831sc instead of the regular H-4831...I just like the short cut version better.

I settled on 110grains of H-4831sc, no filler and it works....very accurate, low pressure, and it seems that every bullet I have tried shoots well with this load and very close to same POI/POA...It works well in Searcy, Merkel, Chapius from what I have seen...not sure about other DR or vintage guns....

RIP named it the George Hoffman Memorial Load...very fitting.

Now fillers have there place, as 450#2 stated, but in a 470NE I see no need to go that route...

Good luck and let us know you see shoots...

I have seen targets shot by jjs, and I have shot his double. His loads are spot on and accurate in his double.
I do not use filler in loads in my 450/400 3 1/4" with IMR 4831. However with RL 15 in the 400 I use filler.
As long as the filler is compressed, either in full Nitro loads or Nitro for Black, you will not have a problem IMHO.

I am curious, do they still make Grex? That was the granulated plastic buffer for shotgun loads to stop pellet deformation. Did anyone use it for doubles and what were the results?

Number two (2) Kynoch Nitro-Express Wads weigh 1 grain.