Winchester Red Wad Substitutes Too Hard

[howdy doody]

I didn't see in a search where anyone has had any issues, but I have.

I have been using Winchester red wads for years over BP and one once of shot. This works well for my purpose (cowboy action shooting) and since the shorter wad over the large amount of powder (65gr) makes for a nice factory looking crimp on my Mec Sizemaster, I wanted to stay with the same wad, but Winchester decided not to make them any more. I need a good looking smooth hull to be able to shuck them quickly out of a double.
I ran out of my supply of the Win red wads and bought some of the Ballistic Products red wad repros. Today I ran out of my win wads and started in on the repro wads and even though they look to be the same as the old, they are of a different plastic and harder. I noticed the hardness as I rammed the wad down over the powder. Mostly as the wad went over the old crimp edge of my once fired hulls. Then in the final crimp stage I totally ruined 3 shells trying to get 50 loaded. They wrinkled badly and are actually bent. Totally unusable and now have to be taken apart to salvage shot and powder. Most of the rest, which are still usable, show a slight bulge at the over powder cup portion of the wad. I can use them though.
Not my idea of a factory looking reload. I guess I will have to see if I can find another wad that will work in my column of AA hulls, amount of powder and shot. I could go to fibre wads and over powder cards, but with no chokes the shot spread is such that I have real issues knocking down steel plates. The load I use works more like a rifle than anything at the close distances I shoot at, but the heavy plates must go down.
Anyone else have any kind of issues like this? Could I have gotten a batch that the plastic is harder or all those win repros hard plastic? What other Win wad would be about the same height and all to suit my purpose?
Thanks for any help or advice.

[Graybeard]

Actually what you probably need to do is to replace the wad guide fingers on your press. If they are in good shape they go down into the hull and prevent what you mention from happening. When they wear they don't always do that and replacing them usually corrects the situation.

If you find that doesn't work for you get back with me via PM and ask me to hunt up the supply I should still have of the old Winchester red wads. I never did find a load I liked for them and while I don't wanna say for sure I think I should have close to three bags of them left over some where around here.

[.45 COLT]

I haven't had any problem with the Claybuster clone of the 12R. I think that's the one BP sells. I just finished up a bag of them loading some ancient Winchester paper target hulls and some All-Americans that are about the same age. I didn't notice any difference between them and the original Winchester wads. Doesn't mean there isn't any difference though.

If I got a bag that I knew was wrong, I'd get hold of Claybuster and complain. I'd guess they'd make it right with you.

DC

[howdy doody]

Graybeard, I think the fingers are OK because I loaded the last of the Win red wads before starting in on the substitute ones. Mostly my problem is the bulge of the lower portion of the wad used for over powder. Then there was the 3 shells that are unusable due to crushed. I had never had an issue like that with my Mec at all. Sometimes a crimp that was a little rough, but not a kinked loaded shell.

.45 Colt I wasn't sure who made them, but I will contact them and find out if they have any bad batches or anything. They are noticably harder plastic than the winchester ones. Which maybe is why I had the crushes. If the legs didn't fold, well then maybe the leverage just folded my three really bad one. They don't look right and I think they are not going to work for me. It is a speed thing I do with them after all. Shells after firing that hang up are a problem.