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Author Topic: Light Load "Filler"  (Read 585 times)

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Offline 1895GG

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Light Load "Filler"
« on: December 13, 2004, 06:10:07 AM »
When loading a light or reduced load, what do you use for a filler?  I remember Dacron being used many years ago which is what I believe quilt batting used to be made of.  My wife is a quilter, but all she has now is 100% polyester.  I have heard of cornmeal being used, but have also heard reports of it solidifying upon firing and causing problems.  Anyone use the profuct Puff Lon?  If so, what do you think of it?
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Offline PaulS

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Light Load "Filler"
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2004, 05:30:55 PM »
When I load reduced loads I choose a powder that is made for that use - without filler. The one that has always worked for me is Unique. 10 to 12 grains seems to be an almost universal load for rifle cases from 270 to 358 Win. - I don't have any calibers larger so I have never looked at the larger calibers. Filler is not necessary with Unique and it is accurate and very consistant.

PaulS
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Offline jgalar

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Light Load "Filler"
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2004, 02:06:48 AM »
ditto what PaulS said...
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Offline New Hampshire

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Light Load "Filler"
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2004, 11:48:50 AM »
At the suggestion of a member here (Iowegan) I am using the 100% polyester, the same exact stuff used by quilters (heck I even bought it in the craft dept. of Wal Mart.)  Just for giggles I took a little and put a match to it.  That stuff dang near vaporized into almost nothing.  Ive been told its possible some residue can build up after a while.  But I dont notice anything appreciable yet.  Now all this has been in straight walled pistol.  Iowegan has told me in one of his e-mails that he has tried it in some bottlenecked rifle (.30-06 I believe) with mixed results.  Straight walled rifle I would assume to act just as the pistol.
Brian M.
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Offline jd45

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light-load filler
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2004, 02:38:53 PM »
A shootin buddy of mine uses XMP-5744 for light loads...no filler necessary, as it fills the case pretty good. I agree, you should use a powder that's designed for light, low-power loads, rather than another that would require a non-powder filler to take up a bunch of space. jd45.
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Offline JBMauser

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Light Load "Filler"
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2004, 03:32:51 PM »
I use kapok.  It burns and doesn not melt though it most oftens flutters forth in the breeze.  Some use a small ball of toilet paper for the same reason.  My loads with filler group just a bit tighter than those without.  A filler will protect the base of the bullet from gas cutting.  I for one have a concern about a melted gob of liquid trying to get past the bullet.  JB
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Offline Trapper-Jack

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Light Load "Filler"
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2004, 05:41:47 PM »
I've use some of the fiber fill from Wal-Mart as a filler in light loads for my 45/70 and so far I havent seen any ill effects.  However I've also read about the melting issue connected with it causing problems like ringed barrels and build up.  I've read also about some using plain old cotten as a filler.  Any thoughts or experiences with it?
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Offline Dusty Miller

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Light Load "Filler"
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2004, 09:48:03 PM »
I think that with cornmeal you can weigh it and know exactly how much is going into the case.  With polyester, kpok, etc., its much more difficult to get the exact same amount into each case.
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Offline Dand

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some other ideas
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2004, 10:30:57 PM »
I have been corresponding with Brushbuster who posts on here now and then.  He sent me some load data for the 348 win using PSB - he loved the stuff and had good results.  I've used dacron a little with ok results.  Then there is the Pufflon material advertised in Handloader - haven't tried it.  Seems like I read an article somewhere that showed Pufflon working pretty well.

I bought some steel shot buffer material from Balistic Products but haven't gotten around to trying it.
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Offline JBMauser

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Light Load "Filler"
« Reply #9 on: December 15, 2004, 06:24:44 AM »
As for the question of variation in weight with a fluff filler.  Since the weight is only a few grains I do not think it makes a significant variable if one tuft is a bit larger than another.  the material, I am sure is compressed to the thickness of a piece of paper on ignition against the base of the bullet.  Its sole purpose is to locate the powder over the shell base for a more consistent ignition.  It is not to add volume to give better load density.  It stands to reason that powder lying the full length of the cartridge has a different surface exposed to the primer flash than a load where the powder is flush against the primer hole.  One will fire over the powder and the other will fire into it and blast the whole mess forward in an even eruption. puflon and COW or grits will have a ballistic effect as they have substantial mass and now we are talking about load density.  Burn rate and exposed surface to primer discharge are properties of each powder.  It is a fact that all powders are designed and measured to be burned in a stacked column like a cigarette lit at the end.  This is why consistency improves with a greater load density and why wildcat shooters will shrink the cart to the load volume to achieve a high load density.  They are simply trying to get the powder to burn to it's spec and consistently as well.  Their goal is to have the powder fill the case to the base of the bullet without compression.
There is a lot to fillers and lord knows I don't have all the answers but there are times when nothing beats them.  JB
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