Wads for 44-40 or 45 colt?

[djryan13]

Do you run a wad in your 44-40 or 45 colt black powder loads? Only if you want to reduce load? What if you are storing them a while and are worried about contaminating BP with lube?

[Don McDowell]

I usually use a thin card in the wcf's and the 45 colt.

[djryan13]

I usually use a thin card in the wcf's and the 45 colt.

Like overshot cards or vege?

[Walks]

I used the dry lubed felt wads. Can't remember the brand.
Shot ammo as much as 6months old without problems.

[Outpost75]

Ox Yoke lubricated felt wads or Buffalo Arms.

[Froogal]

If you want to reduce the load, replace some of the powder with cream of wheat.

[Don McDowell]

Like overshot cards or vege?

wads punched from old playing cards work well.

[Outpost75]

wads punched from old playing cards work well.

Especially if you sort them by suit and arrange them in numerical order

[DaveM]

If you want to reduce the load, replace some of the powder with cream of wheat.

I've used cornmeal as a filler in .44 Henry-equivalent loads for the .44 WCF, but it's tedious. I recently picked up a bag of Ox Yoke wads to try as fillers. I figure they'll be easier and quicker to put in the cases than measuring and dumping in 0.5cc of cornmeal.

[Dave T]

I have never used a wad in either 45 Colt or 44 WCF black powder cartridges. My idea of a reduced load will still fill the space available, just not compress as much as the full loading (duplicating the original performance). Because of age and arthritis in my hands I am currently loading 32g of 3F Olde Eynsford behind a 250g Big Lube bullet. That's my reduced load. (smile)

Dave

[country gent]

I use playing card wads in 44-40 also I punch them out at .435 for a snug fit. Protects the bullets base and seems to seal well. he playing cards are plastic sealed on both sides. I also add a tracing paper wad between bullet and playing card wad to insure release

[djryan13]

I actually bought some overshot cards years ago for 44-40. It was when I first started loading it and didn’t know better. Seems to be the same type of material as playing cards so maybe I will try that. I have been using wads but I have read nothing is needed. I normally load in bulk and it can take me a year to get to the loads (or more).

[Don McDowell]

Best thing is to just try them and see what the target says. I don't know as it's as necessary to use a wad as it is in larger cases, but it does give a bit better accuracy. So even when loading so called "plinking" ammo I am prone to err on the side of accuracy.

[sharps4590]

Always. I use those rare and expensive florist boxes...or anything approximately close to the same thickness. Cereal boxes, wax milk cartons, playing cards....I've found that with playing cards you only need to sort them numerically and by suit if you're striving for best accuracy. Birds of a feather seem to flock together...

[Don McDowell]

I only use the spades and clubs, as they are black , therefore will attract the bullet to the black on the target. I only use the hearts and diamonds if loading for someone else I'll be competing against as the red wads and bullets won't be attracted to the black on the target.

[djryan13]

I had no idea the printing on the card mattered. Maybe I will just draw a small bullseye on my cards. Or the picture of an animal if I plan to use hunting.

[Don McDowell]

Now you're cookin with gas. LOL

[Yellowhouse]

I only use Joker cards for wads. They are wild with everything!

[djryan13]

Thanks for everyone’s response. Just waiting on my 550 shellplate order for 44-40 and I will get started. Haven’t loaded this round in many years and anxious to get back to it.

[NMBill]

I use .030" veg. wads in the 44-40. They eliminated my flyers resulting from gas-cutting.

Billy