fillers for nitro express

[SStomcat]

5/8" or 15.5 mm punches...https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-1271G-Punch-8-Inches

 

[Andrew NOLA]

Thanks very much - I will buy a roll of the 5/8 open cell backer rod and try that first

 

[metricman]

does the foam break down over time or is it stable?

 

[MacJenkins]

Backer Rod for the win! I don’t have Will’s OCD problems however.

I’m 2-5 SD typically 4 shots. For me it’s consistent.

I’ve not noticed the black residue before but maybe just not paying attention. 5-10 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner and they come out very clean. I’ll keep and eye on that going forward.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Backer Rod for the win! I don’t have Will’s OCD problems however.

I’m 2-5 SD typically 4 shots. For me it’s consistent.

I’ve not noticed the black residue before but maybe just not paying attention. 5-10 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner and they come out very clean. I’ll keep and eye on that going forward.

Very true, Mac is no where near as weird as I…albeit that holds true for most.

The lunch I ordered that kicks out 1/2” wads essentially identical to Kynoch #2 is:

General Tools 1271G Arch Punch, 5/8-Inches​

If I take 4 Kynoch wads and 4 I’ve punched out, I really have to look close to tell which are the Kynoch. The foam is also all but identical in appearance and function.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I’ve used Dacron and Kynoch Wads in my 450. I have a solid load using Kynoch wads and a soft load with Dacron and the Kynoch wads

 

[Rare Breed]

Not if you fill the case to the bottom of the bullet. If you do it correctly, you fill all the empty space on top of the powder column, but don't compress the powder charge.

I would not use anything but a firm soft filler no type powder with the chance to mix with the gun powder

 

[Rare Breed]

This is a very easy process using fillers nothing whatsoever hard about it. I have easily gone to Home Depot and bought soft backer rod insulation rod 3:8 inches cut to size and no problem. Easy peezy. People over think this and should not

 

[frog stealer]

Loading for my 577, I use open cell foam backer rod and also circle fly (Balllistic products) fiber wads. Both work equally well, but I find the fiber wads to be quicker to use.

 

[SStomcat]

I wonder whether open vs closed does or does not make a difference. I do see many forum members mention open cell, like the Kynoch wads, but curious if anyone has tested or experienced the difference?

 

[Rare Breed]

It is about stiffness. open is softer does the job with least resistance versus closed

 

[SStomcat]

Understood, I guess the whole purpose is to keep the powder as close to the charge as possible. Specially in cases where the powder does not come in contact to the bottom of the bullet and leaves a gap. So, even Dacron for that matter should work well as I believe is equally soft. That make me wonder, I have used both though not much, and did notice the difference, I did not have the capacity to measure Pressure though.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

I wonder whether open vs closed does or does not make a difference. I do see many forum members mention open cell, like the Kynoch wads, but curious if anyone has tested or experienced the difference?

The closed cell vs open cell is something the backer rod manufacturers also make both for reasons over just how squishy it is. Closed cell is noted as better suited for cold and wet applications, and not over 200 degrees. For any higher heat applications, open cell is recommended.

Where I’ve seen those with more experience than me state open cell was of importance I leaned that way, but wanted to know why and looked at the manufacturer and companies selling the sealants used with them. Hot applications say open cell. So between that and Kynoch choosing open cell it was a no brainer for me.

 

[zephyr]

When I first got my 450NE it came with a 3031 load using a poly filler.. I was not happy with the load and the poly filler was finicky ...
When I purchased the 1st addition of Wright's book I started using RL15 and poly but was still not happy using the poly, switched to H4831 so as not to use a filler then to H4350 to reduce recoil some..
When I started to reload for my 505 I decided to use RL15 and a Foam filler to help with Recoil management which was very noticeable compared to the powders with heavier charges listed in the loading manuals ...

 

[zephyr]

The data compiled using various types of Filler by Michael McCorry and Same Rose

used Foam Backer Rod

 

[SStomcat]

Wow, 10 k psi difference over Dacron is a huge difference so is the velocity.

 

[MacJenkins]

Wow, 10 k psi difference over Dacron is a huge difference so is the velocity.

Yes I think Michael and Sam noted that often. It’s been 15 years or so since they were doing all that testing.

It makes sense to me, if you jam enough Dacron on top of the powder and under the shoulder of the brass I could see that acting like an obstruction and creating higher pressure as it tries to squish down and enter the neck. I can’t remember on that huge thread if they did any straight wall cartridges. Sam if I remember right was into 577’s so possibly they did some Dacron/foam tests with that. The thread was over a 100 pages so lots to go through.

 

[deewayne2003]

Wow, 10 k psi difference over Dacron is a huge difference so is the velocity.

Yep that’s the graph that helped me switch to foam, I use 3031 and had no velocity loss or regulation change.

Easier, faster and 10,000 psi less pressure.

 

[MacJenkins]

Yep that’s the graph that helped me switch to foam, I use 3031 and had no velocity loss or regulation change.

Easier, faster and 10,000 psi less pressure.

I had switched before that just for ease of loading. Was surprised to see their results when they published them.

If I recall they also got some goofy pressures or inconsistencies with 3031 powder as well in the Nitro cases.

 

[Rare Breed]

The data compiled using various types of Filler by Michael McCorry and Same Rose View attachment 768639used Foam Backer Rod

Thanks! This what I was referring to but could not find.