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Thread: Milkweed fleece as Case Filler

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    Milkweed fleece as Case Filler

    I had read somewhere that Milkweed Fleece could be substituted for Kapok as case filler. My Milkweed will be ready in a week or two and I have no Kapok. Does anybody have any info on this? THX

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    Got a Walmart near by ? By a bag of dacron for a couple dollars and at 1/2 a grain (what I use) you have a lifetime supply/Ed
    Last edited by Edward; 09-14-2020 at 10:04 PM.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master uscra112's Avatar
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    Do NOT use Dacron for light loads. It doesn't burn, it melts, leaving a hard and almost unremoveable residue in your brass and in your gun. Do NOT ask me how I know, I'll cry on your shoulder for half an hour.

    Milkweed fleece. Never thought of it. My first thought is that the fibers would be too short.

    I have lots of kapok. Shoot me a P/M.
    Cognitive Dissident

  4. #4
    Boolit Master Oyeboten's Avatar
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    For what Cartridge? And how much would the actual Powder charge be reduced?

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master GhostHawk's Avatar
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    Milkweed does burn as long as it is not in a solid clump.

    Milkweed seed stems have longer fibers than say dandelion. Pretty nice fluffy stuff with virtually zero weight to it.

    I'd doubt you would have any troubles with it.
    I truly believe we need to get back to basics.

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  6. #6
    Boolit Master veeman's Avatar
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    Use laundry lint from towels.

  7. #7
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    This being the Black Powder forum, one assumes you are trying to reduce the amount of Black Powder and hold it back near the primer.
    Chill Wills

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy
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    Well my thoughts were to use it in 577/450 Martini with smokeless. I've read that dacron has the potential to ring the chamber whereas kapok in this case is a better choice and maybe milkweed even better.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    Bullrush fluff anyone?
    I like the ideal of a cellulose fibre that burns vs a plastic base fibre that may melt if there is a lot of heat present. Maybe the cellulose fibre could be nitrated to insure burn up.

    To meet fabric flammability standards it possible that the plastic based fibres used for stuffing pillows may have been chemically treated to reduce their ability to burn.
    Last edited by greenjoytj; 09-17-2020 at 08:28 PM.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    That's a lot of milkweed...
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  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by uscra112 View Post
    Do NOT use Dacron for light loads. It doesn't burn, it melts, leaving a hard and almost unremoveable residue in your brass and in your gun. Do NOT ask me how I know, I'll cry on your shoulder for half an hour.

    Milkweed fleece. Never thought of it. My first thought is that the fibers would be too short.

    I have lots of kapok. Shoot me a P/M.
    20 yrs I"Ve used dacron as a filler IT DOES NOT MELT/ See Larry Gibsons sticky on use of dacron /how and why ! Try not to give bad info on dacron it makes it hard for the one asking!/Ed

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by BudRow View Post
    Well my thoughts were to use it in 577/450 Martini with smokeless. I've read that dacron has the potential to ring the chamber whereas kapok in this case is a better choice and maybe milkweed even better.
    See Larry Gibsons sticky on how to use and the well thought out/tested and proven /well documented facts on use and not opinion/Ed

  13. #13
    Boolit Master Oyeboten's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BudRow View Post
    Well my thoughts were to use it in 577/450 Martini with smokeless. I've read that dacron has the potential to ring the chamber whereas kapok in this case is a better choice and maybe milkweed even better.
    Why???

    Why not use Black Powder as it was meant to be Loaded?

  14. #14
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    Tom Trevor's Avatar
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    Once say a guy use dryer lint. It seemed to work as well as anything?

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    Why not just use a simpler and more consistent method like Circle Fly fiber wads? You can find them at trackofthewolf.com and many other places in many different sizes. That said, I don't think it would be ideal in a bottleneck like the .577/.450, unless you keep it strictly up in the neck.

    Dry peat moss would be another light, plant-based filler.

  16. #16
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    Cat tail fluff, ground up duck feathers, belly button lint all work. But drier lint is a mix of synthetic and natural fibers and may leave a hard residue.
    The ENEMY is listening.
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  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master uscra112's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Edward View Post
    20 yrs I"Ve used dacron as a filler IT DOES NOT MELT/ See Larry Gibsons sticky on use of dacron /how and why ! Try not to give bad info on dacron it makes it hard for the one asking!/Ed
    Guess I'll have to stop believing my lyin' eyes !
    Cognitive Dissident

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Edward View Post
    20 yrs I"Ve used dacron as a filler IT DOES NOT MELT/ See Larry Gibsons sticky on use of dacron /how and why ! Try not to give bad info on dacron it makes it hard for the one asking!/Ed
    I posted that the dacron I was using melted and left a hard plastic ring around the neck of 8mm casing I was shooting with IMR 4198 and cast bullet. I have used dacron for several decades too and was convinced that it did not burn, felt it pelting my face when shooting into the wind(think about that- you couldn't feel the fluff, it's melted dacron bbs), saw white flakes blowing after a shot. I will tell you that dacron melts with the Lee 175 bullet and 24-25 grs of IMR 4198 in 8mm and also in the 7.62x54R with 314-299 and IMR 4198. I thought it must be a problem of 4198 powder and dacron, so I loaded up rounds with Reloder 7 and dacron both cartridges, same thing melted dacron on case necks, and build up in the throat area. When I posted my results I got the reply by Larry Gibson, you don't know what your doing or how to use dacron. I was using 25 gr IMR 4198 and the Lee 175 cast bullet with a gr of dacron fluffed which filled the case from the top of the powder to the base of the cast bullet( actually filled to the top of the neck and compressed by the bullet) It melts plain and simple and I no longer consider it safe.
    Charter Member #148

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
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    Larry was not only right but proves it , and yup he can school you on why !Ed

  20. #20
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    Guess I too will have to stop believing my lyin' eyes!
    Charter Member #148

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check