case filler

[PHATINJUN]

What should I use as case filler between the powder and bullet if there is to much room after seating? Kurt

[John Traveler]

It depends on the caliber and the load.

For full-charge smokeless, jacketed bullet rifle loads, USE NO FILLER!

For full charge pistol caliber jacketed and lead bullet loads, normally use NO filler.

For reduced charge lead bullet rifle loads, kapok dacron fiber was used.  However, the American Rifle Technical Advisor has stopped recommending dacron fiber for this, as there have been some reports of "ringed" chamber and bore damage to rifles.

For BPCR blackpowder lead bullet loads, some shooters use cream of wheat cereal or cardboard wads to obtain a compressed load.  Others use cotton ball tuffs.  For BP loads, it's very important to get 100% load density.

[PHATINJUN]

What I have is a .32 H&R mag case with lead bullets near max of 2 different powders and with bullet seated near max I still have nearly 1/4" of space between powder and bullet and this is a .98gr cast bullet. The powders are H110 and Herco. Will say like Lilgun or unique fill the case any better...I have worked very little with pistol powders. This is for a rifle load. I know I could probly use shorter 32 brass but that kind of defeats the longer chamber of the mag. Or am I going about this all from the wrong angle. I am just trying to be carful as I don't want to get to high of a pressure going while I try and find a good load for this bbl.Kurt

[MnMike]

I won't claim to be a expert, but I think you would be best off not using a filler. I use a filler on only one round, a .500 SW when I download to 1300 fps for plinking. Using Blue Dot, I have almost an inch of open space on this load.

Without filler, I have over 200 fps difference between muzzle up and muzzle down.

If I use Dacron, and the velocities are about the same.

A quarter inch should not cause accuracy problems. If you want to experiment, either shoot over a chrono or shoot two groups at at least 50 yds. One group should be shot holding the muzzle up and slowly bringing it down to shoot. The other should be shot holding the muzzle down and slowly bringing it up to shoot. If the velocities/groups are the same don't worry about the empty space.

mike  
 

[Grumulkin]

If there is a published load, you might try Tightgroup.  According to Hodgdon, that powder doesn't have to fill the case to ignite reliably.

[John Traveler]

You use an H110 and Herco DUPLEX load in that .32 Magnum???

Is it from a standard powder manufacturer's loading manual or something that you developed?  I hope it's safe!!

AFAIK, the only acceptable duplex loads are for for large caliber blackpowder cartridge rifles and use a small (10%) charge of fast pistol powder to primer the main charge of blackpowder.

[PHATINJUN]

Traveler if you are referring to me those are the 2 powders that I have test weighed to see how they fit .As you can tell by what I'm asking you can see I am yrs if not ever from going duplex thanks for your concern. Hell I'm scared of not being able to fill the case with NEAR max load let alone 2 powders I know nothing about   ;)Kurt

[stimpylu32]

Kurt

If you want a powder that fills the case more , you may want to look at Trail Boss or Unique as both are very fluffy and fill the cases well .

stimpy

[Graybeard]

Forget your plan of filling the case. IT is NOT NECESSARY or even desireable in all cases. If it's black powder you do if it's smokeless you most times don't need or want it to be. With the powders you are planning to use in your applications NEVER EVER use a filler.

[PHATINJUN]

Thanks for the replies being new to the straight  wall reloads it appears I was letting paranoia set in thanks again. Kurt