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 8-)

[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.:D 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. :kidding:

[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

[smkummer]

In the few blackpowder loads I use in an original Rem. 44-40 1875 revolver, I run them as full power. Same with 45 colt and balloon cases.

[sackettboys]

Just don't try dealing off the bottom of deck when using the playing card stock, you may not get your desired results.

[Sheridan64]

I've been running 25gr of 2f Pyrodex or Goex (until they shut down) followed by a veg / paper disk, then Ox yoke wad, pushing a 250gr LRN.

Using an Uberti Schofield and a Taylors '58 Rem 5in with Howell conversion cylinder. The Uberti leaks like a sieve. The BP would gunk it up very fast. So it eats Pyrodex now. The Remington is tight. Recoil manageable and smacks the snot out of the steel.

Cleans up fast with Windex and Ballistol.

[Larry Gibson]

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?

No wad or filler in either cartridge or any other handgun cartridge.

[Kosh75287]

If I was worried about keeping the powder near the flash hole, I'd try using clothes dryer lint. Wads and cards are substantial enough that they can act like "secondary projectiles" and ring a barrel.

[almar]

I use a 1/8" thick wad over a paper punch under a well greased thick grooved bullet meant for BP. 25gr of 3f is all I need for 10-15 yard backyard target practice in my 45 colt. When I up the charge to 30gr, I only use the paper to prevent contamination.

[toot]

never, none at all.

[bedbugbilly]

I don't load 44-40 but in my 38s and 45 Colt or Schofield BP cartridges I don't use anything - need had an issue to complain about.

[almar]

If I was worried about keeping the powder near the flash hole, I'd try using clothes dryer lint. Wads and cards are substantial enough that they can act like "secondary projectiles" and ring a barrel.

From what I read about ring formation, it happens when air compresses. You shouldn't leave any gap between the filler or wad and the base of the bullet. And the filler should be compressed.

[Buzzard II]

Shotgun Buffer from Ballistic Products in 44-40 No contamination of powder.

[georgerkahn]

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?

I do NOT use a wad in .44 handgun loading. But, for my rifle loading in this calibre I use both a paper punched from a business card and a thin extruded lub ribbon -- tools for both, pictured, from Buffalo Arms.294385294386
geo

[Castaway]

Depends on the bullet. If loading a Lee 255 RNPP, I find it doesn’t carry enough lube to suit me. I place the wad I use for my cap and ball revolvers, a Gato Feo saturated wool wad between the bullet and a waxed milk carton wad. With the RCBS 270 grainer, it doesn’t hold quite enough lube but more than the Lee bullet and I load it without a cardboard or or wool wad.

[toot]

never!. not needed!

[Savvy Jack]

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

Billy

Using a "caseload" of Reloder 7 with a deeper seating 220gr bullet for my 44-40......the full caseload of slower burning powder acts as a gas check and prevents, if any, gas-cutting.

Any wads or fillers will increase chamber pressures.

[DAVIDMAGNUM]

I've used cornmeal as a filler in .44 Henry-equivalent loads for the .44 WCF, but it's tedious.....294411

I have been using this "shotgun wad" for a few years. They are labeled as .125" but for me they measure at .140" thick. It is a tight fit in the case and takes up about 9 grains of Swiss 2F space. I just insert it in the case mouth and compress the reduced charge of powder with the paper wad. This way the top off the reduced load is at the same height as the top of a full load. The process adds maybe 3 seconds to each reload. I used to use Cream of Wheat, never again.

Interestingly, for 36.5gr of Swiss 2f and my cast 220gr bullet I use no card of any type. Accurate out to 200 meters, I don't see the need.

[DAVIDMAGNUM]

Using a "caseload" of Reloder 7 with a deeper seating 220gr bullet for my 44-40.......

This is Big Medicine for 1/2 scale and full size metallic silhouette animals!! I don't use it on the 40 meter chickens anymore. The target setters were taking up too much time "finding them " after being hit.

[Oyeboten]

In the few blackpowder loads I use in an original Rem. 44-40 1875 revolver, I run them as full power. Same with 45 colt and balloon cases.

Good for you!

Same here...


"Perfect"..!

[Savvy Jack]

this is big medicine for 1/2 scale and full size metallic silhouette animals!! I don't use it on the 40 meter chickens anymore. The target setters were taking up too much time "finding them " after being hit.

lol!!

[Outpost75]

Using a "caseload" of Reloder 7 with a deeper seating 220gr bullet for my 44-40......the full caseload of slower burning powder acts as a gas check and prevents, if any, gas-cutting.

Any wads or fillers will increase chamber pressures.

Hercules tested RL7 with a 240-grain bullet. Accurate 43-240F is my design for a heavy bullet in .44-40.

Larry Gibson has some for pressure testing to compare with Winchester .430" diameter, 240- grain JHP for which he has already established 20kpsi loads for Winchester 92, Marlin 1894, Italian Colt clones, post-1920 heat treated New Service and modern Colt Gen3 Single Actions.

319789319790

Test data from 8.4" Contender pistol with Oehler 43PBL interface. Starline .44 Mag. cases with Winchester primers, OAL 1.598" - Winchester .430" diameter 240 JHP:

7 grains Bullseye 935 fps @ 18,900 psi
7.5 grains Bullseye 992 fps @ 20,700 psi
18 grains IMR4227 1028 fps @ 19,200 psi
19 grains IMR4227 1089 fps @ 20,300 psi
24 grains IMR4198 1137 fps @ 19,700 psi.

Expected velocity for a 7-1/2" revolver -50 fps from above.
Expected velocity for a 5-1/2" revolver -100 fps from above.
Expected velocity for a 20" carbine + 100 fps from above.

Until Larry completes additional testing we cannot confirm whether it is safe to substitute a softer cast lead bullet for the jacketed bullet in these loads. The above data are provided for reference only.

[Electrod47]

wads punched from old playing cards work well.

ditto....

[Chill Wills]

Especially if you sort them by suit and arrange them in numerical order 8-)

Evidently the people I shoot with only use the jokers.

[BLAHUT]

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?

For me; I put a card wad over powder and a tight-fitting plastic wad over the card wad at/next to base of bullet; store ammo for a while with no ill effects.............