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Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1837 Location: Central ND

BPI is having Claybuster make the wads for them. They really aren't Claybuster wads. From what I heard BPI owns or owned the molds.

Not a real BPI fan but at least Claybuster is doing the work and not DownRange.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2346 Location: West MI

Wish I had more to do with it but stumbled over their availability on the 24hr campfire 16ga section.

Oddity is that they don't show up in the "wads by gauge" drop down, you have to click on the BP/CB wads drop down. Just got off the phone w/Eric@BP and he said they are in stock and mine are shipping by the end of the week and should have them soon. Eric did reiterate the need to respect the new data as these are molded from a different plastic than the PT's.

Cudo's to BP for resurrecting these 16ga non-tox wads, I like them way better than the CSD wads. The VP80/PT1680's fit very well in Fed & Ched cases I'm assuming these follow suit. Flaring is not technically needed on those but do flare mine as SOP now, I see it as cheap insurance for low volume hunting loads.

Also skeptical toward BP data BUT perusing the available data sheet the numbers almost make sense from an intuitive powder/grains/pressure/FPS comparative. AND they reference (supply chain/covid issues aside) currently available & not old obsolete powders; will wonders ever cease...

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/LD16BP1680.pdf

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2346 Location: West MI

Received a bag of the BP1680's, visually no obvious difference compared to PT1680/VP80. Going over both with a caliper they measure the same in every moment I measured. Fingernail scratch test on either noticed no soft/hardness difference. They both fit (un-flared) in Fed's & Ched's the same re; perfectly. In a very un-scientific slump test, convection oven 350* 2 minutes, slumped more or less the same, BP might be slightly more resilient.

Loaded the last recipe #11529 on the BPI data sheet, 5- PT1680 & 5- BP1680 as the only difference and sent to PR for testing.

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/LD16BP1680.pdf

We'll see what we see.

According to my dial caliper in my 85 year old trembly hands, the base skirt on both the CB100 and the SP16 is .635. On the DR16 it is .657.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2346 Location: West MI

PR test results,

From the BP1680 PDF load #11529, only sub was a 24ga OSC under shot and no OSC finish, re; wouldn't fit as listed.
Ched209, 25.5 Asteel, BP1680 & PT1680 3 slits, 24ga OSC, 7/8oz #5 steel, 6 fold.
Powder drops on a RCBS Chargemaster, loaded with a Sizemaster in several times fired Ched/Herters.

BP1680
FPS PSI
1464 10980
1447 10240
1459 10840
1478 11660
1469 11190
Avg 1463 10982
SD 11 518
EV 31 1420

PT1680
1455 10710
1455 10720
1418 9330
1412 9010
1430 9720
Avg 1434 9898
SD 20 787
ES 43 1710

Thanks for the results. Trying to find a7/8 oz steel load in the 1400 FPS area. This may do it.

Joined: 09 Mar 2016 Posts: 753 Location: Mn.

Thank you for taking the time and money to do this!

Not surprised that a BPI load does not fit as listed. Surprised that it is as close in speed and pressure as they say it is. Maybe they really are getting better with published data.

They have HW15 listed and I have a lot of it to cut out of shells to try in the 16 ga. Picked up a couple pounds of Blue Dot from a friend couple of weeks ago for it. Don't plan shooting 1 1/8 oz. of it so will need to make some adjustments. But after seeing your results I'm feeling better about doing it and will in a month or so. Thanks again.

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1307 Location: Western WA

I found BP1680 to be a very versatile and effective wad for notox loads. I used the hull trimmer to shorten the wad when needed. Worked great with either fold or roll crimp. Too good actually with ITX. Local game officer couldn’t believe it wasn’t lead, always was suspicious and had to test it. So I gave up and switched to standard 12 ga Kent Bismuth retail loads. That made him happy, and simplified things for me, one less hassle.

B.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2346 Location: West MI

You're welcome, enjoyable en-devour that's usually an eye opening exercise. And this case being no exception, comparing a similar published BPI load on the spreadsheets where the difference is using the VP80, 27.5g Asteel & 10gr (of unspecified) buffer, listed at 1550, #10.5k..... 2gr more powder + buffer = 90fps more speed and 480PSI less pressure....

Good stuff, this new published BPI load should play out well if wanting to use 7/8oz non-tox/steel.

Also agreed. very versatile wads, glad to see them back in action, messing with a Turkey load with them and they're doing their part very well, thank you BPI.