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
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
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.
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
For what Cartridge? And how much would the actual Powder charge be reduced?
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.
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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
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.
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.
That's a lot of milkweed...
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Once say a guy use dryer lint. It seemed to work as well as anything?
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.
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.
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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
Larry was not only right but proves it , and yup he can school you on why !Ed
Guess I too will have to stop believing my lyin' eyes!
Charter Member #148
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