Filler...

[harricook]

I don't know how many times this has come up in my club!!! .

I've ben shooting BP revolvers even before they took my cartridge pistols off me. I've experimented with all sorts of fillers, powders, wads, ball and conical andcome to a firm conclusion.

Don't use an inert filler. So many conditions, as mentioned above, affect a filler. Moisture, density and quality from batch to batch all destroy the main factor for accuracy..... consistancy.



Some will say that a filler has to be used to seat the ball as close to the chamber mouth as possible....... again, I say no. In the experiments I did using differnt seating depths, it made no difference. The ball still travels down the "tube" of the chamber whether a tenth or a quarter of an inch. It has to cross the cylinder gap and then enter the forcing cone. The forcing cone is what aligns the ball down the barrel not the seating depth. As long as your revolver is timed correctly there's no problem.

Seating depth in revolvers is aptly demonstrated with the .38spl or .357 revolver. Generally, the most accurate round in these revolvers is the 140 wad cutter. That bullet is loaded level with the case mouth! How much chamber does that travel before entering the forcing cone?

Use an accurate flask/spout or indivdually weigh your charges. If using cast balls with a nib from the sprue plate, orientate the nib so it's at the front. Use a felt wad between the ball and powder and remeber the ignition time for BP and it's substitutes is slower than cartridges, so concentrate on correct hold, sight picture, trigger press and follow through. Your results will be shown on your target.....

I totally agree with Simon on this one - and I also have lost count of how many times this has come up both at my clubs & on various forums.

1. Why would you want to add to your loading process.
2. Why would you want to have to carry yet something else to the range with you
3. Why would you have to bring in yet another inconsistent factor
4. ...... and in these days when prices for shooting are skyrocketing ......WHY would you want to add in another cost .....very

Why take 2 bottles into the shower ..... when you can just Wash N Go !


....and as Simon says - concentrate on your shooting/hold/follow through as we did in pistol shooting years back & spend the 'semolina' money on powder ball & caps.


Like TAC - I do use a lube on top of the ball - but this is to prevent leading (if anyone wants pictures of a 'leaded' gun - PM your email to me as I don't have a file host)


ATB

Roy

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