Filler in light 45-70 loads

[Iowahunter]

I have several 45-70's and have always loaded for hunting in my Encore
single shot handguns around 1700fps w/ 300gr Hp but, would like to try some lighter loads for plinking ect. I have noticed written in various books, web forums ,ect that with light loads of smokeless powder
(ww231,unique,ect) not to use any type of filler and in others they mention using TP,dacron, cotton ect for filler. Just wondering who does what and any tips to pass on. I can see the reason for a filler and wonder why some say not to use it with smokeless powder. I just picked up a NIB Winchester 1886 EL and would like to try it out soon as the weather here gets above 0 ! Thanks.....
 
 :roll:

[Haywire Haywood]

Have a gander here.  There is an ongoing discussion on using pistol powders in large capacity calibers over in the NEF forum.

Ian

[jgalar]

I don't own a 45-70, but I use a lot of Unique in military rifle loads. I don't use any fillers and don't see much of if any difference in powder position. I have started using 2400 and have had good performance with it also, but haven't used it enough to say it works as well as the Unique without the fillers. When I say powder position I am just refering to running the rounds through the gun normally without tipping the barrel up etc. It works well enough for plinking or informal target shooting that I don't bother using fillers.

[Vern Humphrey]

The general consensus seems to be, use rifle powders in large, rifle cases.  Dacron filler in rifle powder loads isn't connected with any chamber ringing that I know of.

However, I like to experiment without the filler -- and if I really can't see that it makes the load better, I don't use it.

[jgalar]

I think that I should add that the rounds that I load using Unique are very light and low velocity cast bullet loads, 1200-1400 fps. For higher velocity loads I would rather use a slower burning powder.

[Lone Star]

The Cast Bullet Asssociation goes over this topic every few years.  Most of the time the consensus is to avoid fillers - even Dacron - if at all possible.  Chamber ringing is not well understood by the experts, kinda like the overpressure caused occasionally by light loads of very slow burning powders in rifles.   It doesn't need to be high pressured loads either - light loads (9 grains of Unique in a .45-70) have reportedly caused ringing.

Chambers have reportedly been ringed by card wads, Dacron, kapok, Cream-of-Wheat, etc.  This ringing condition is nothing new and is very rare...but if it happens to you, it becomes important.  I've used  of BlueDot in .45-70s, etc. without fillers and no problems....but I know that it could happen.