Wool filler

[CHIZZ]

Can raw, unprocessed wool be used as a filler? l would like to try 3031 in my 45/70 for plinking and if I need to use a filler, I have a lifetime supply walking around the place. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[Scharfschuetze]

Chizz,

Hope all is well in the Land Down Under.

I've never used wool as a filler with 3031 in the 45/70. My chronograph results with 3031 in the 45/70 show that it is consistent enough without a filler when pushing either 300 grain jacketed or cast boolits at 1500 to 1650 fps out of a Marlin 1895 or Browning 1885 Hi Wall. Those loads use enough of 3031 to fill the case up pretty well.

For plinking loads or loads duplicating the original velocities in the 45/70, I generally like to use a faster powder than 3031 with 4759 being a favorite under cast boolits, but Unique works quite well too and neither really require a filler.

Of the fillers that I've used over the years, Cream of Wheat cerial, cotton and Dacron, I've come to like Dacron the best when a filler is called for. Larry Gibson has written a great article on the proper use of the stuff. Just search for his name and look for the thread on fillers.

Having toured Oz on a hunting trip back in 1970 while on R&R from VN, I can picture all that raw wool running about near you.

Victoria Bitter still the beverage of choice?

[RickinTN]

In my 26" barreled 1886 Browning I shoot a load of 36 grains 3031 under a 405 grains cast bullet which I purchased. I also use a Federal Gold Medal Match primer. Some years ago I chrono'd this load with 5 rounds. My results were an extreme spread of 1 fps. Four rounds went 1,225 with one going 1,226. This is with no filler. Based on what I know is a limited test I see no need for a filler with this load. I gained a new respect for 3031 and it's consistency in reduced loads.
Good Luck,
Rick

[CHIZZ]

Thanks gents. Looks like I'll buy a bottle and just suck it and see. Yes Scharf we still guzzle Vic Bitter like thirsty fish and life is good.

[Norbrat]

You might find ADI Benchmark 2 is the same powder as IMR 3031.

As for 45/70 plinking loads, I use 15 gns Trail Boss with boolits from 310 to 410 gns with good results. This load has no problems knocking down full size rams at 200 metres.

And you could load TB back even more. One of our members shoots a 45/60 with 8gns Tb and still knocks those rams over!

No fillers required.

The only issue with TB in Australia is you gotta buy 1.5 kgs of it; a bit expensive @ about $120 if you find you don't like it after all.

As for VB, having been spoiled living in Germany for 6 months, if I gotta drink Aussie beer, I can cope with Coopers ales, but that's about it.

[CHIZZ]

Thanks Norbrat. I have trail boss but was chasing 1400 to 1500 fps. Anyway time to fess up. When I said 3031 I meant H4198. Doh. Any experience with 2207? Pale ale is a fine drop ,I agree.

[Norbrat]

Sorry, no experience with 2207 in 45/70. Have used it in 7TCU many years ago, but settled on 2206 for that calibre.

Anyways, the ADI website has a few 2207 loads for the 45/70 http://www.adi-powders.com.au/handloaders-guide/rifle.asp?Calibre=45%2F70+Government+Trapdoor+Rifl e

Try it with and without filler. If you don't want to collect filler from your fences, a cheap pillow from Kmart will supply enough polyester filling to last a lifetime and then some!

[geargnasher]

I used wool filler a time or two, it did fine, but I've heard of at least one instance of it causing a grass fire.

Gear

[CHIZZ]

Good advice Gear. I would have put money on wool being the perfect materiel for filler as it wont burn under normal circumstances.

[eljefeoz]

Thanks Norbrat. I have trail boss but was chasing 1400 to 1500 fps. Anyway time to fess up. When I said 3031 I meant H4198. Doh. Any experience with 2207? Pale ale is a fine drop ,I agree.
Chizz,
I used 48-50 gr of 2205 with a local wildcat, .458 JCE (2 inch case off the 300 WSSM)
a 350 grain HP monopex bullet from THE BULLET FACTORY- 2340 fps.And the 300gr deep cavity HP made for the 45/70 from TBF- both Jaxeted
2 inches at 90m.

Smash most things down to 200m
And sambar legal too.
AND Pale ale is good- sometimes, its Little creatures ;)

[Pepe Ray]

As I understand the question, we're discussing the use of RAW wool. That is UNprocessed wool.
Isn't raw wool laced with lanolin? I would be expecting the lanolin to contaminate the powder.
Just my $0.02.
Pepe Ray

[JeffinNZ]

I used to supply 'wool wads' for reduced loads. They were 1/2 wide buttons of fluffy felt, fully processed wool. Fantastic product but I can't get them anymore.

[muskeg13]

In researching loads for the .577/450 Martini-Enfield and .577 Snider a few years ago, I ran across a note that wool was used in some British military loads to take up space in that large case. I loaded a few rounds*, but moved on to other projects and haven't fired them yet. I suspect that wool would act similar to the kapok fillers we used to sometimes see in old gunnotes. Within reason, you use what you've got.

*not having access to unprocessed wool, I used tufts of fluffy undercoat from a shedding Australian Shepherd (dog).

[dromia]

I use washed carded wool as a filler in BPC loads.

If it was good enough for original Snider loads then I have found it good enough for me.

I haven't tried raw wool for two reasons, firstly I think it wouldn't be consistent enough for the same weight to give the same volume due to dirt, clumping and such like in the wool. Secondly the lanolin, as has been said, could contaminate the powder but a card wad could sort that however unwashed wool is more springy than fluffy therefore would compact more whereas the fluffiness of the washed carded wool seems to have better filler characteristics.

At the end of the day a comparison trial would tell us more than my speculation from handling both types and only shooting one, what i do know is washed and carded works well for me and was used in original BPC loadings. Fire really isn't much of a risk when shooting here in the moist UK.