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Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

Over the past 2 years as I've been learning to reload without a strong on hand teacher, I've tried to share a few lessons others in my shoes might find helpful. Today, was another lesson. I thought my crimps were fine, yeah they didn't really look like store bought and pretty shallow but hey I'm no expert.

A few months ago I went to use up some of last seasons loads at the range and to my surprise experienced my 1st wad jam (followed during the day by 2 more). A post trip investigation suggested powder migration.

So today I was going to make up loads for pheasant next week with a focus on addressing migration. After messing around with both crimp stations on my mec I discovered setting my starter crimp near depth limit resulted in improvements to final results. I also learned that setting my final crimp cam top screw to the deepest edge resulted in a crimp damn near factory. Through this lesson I also learned my shot column was slightly short (a osc fixed, but I might work on usc instead).

My advice, if it doesn't look damn close to factory, keep testing.

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2169 Location: Florida

What do you mean by wad jam , wad was stuck in the barrel ?

Fine grained powder can sometimes migrate past some wads. Yours is the first I have heard in 16. There's a BP wad which has holes in the gas seal in 20 gauge that caused bloopers in turkey loads with 296 powder. The culprit was the holes. Sealing the holes with glue helped, but I avoided using both the wad and load. Gil

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

Pull trigger, shot slings out of barrel leaving your plastic friend half way down the pipe.

Pretty sure the migration was a result of too much column wiggle space in a load that has some migration risk if not done properly.

Cheddite hull / sp16 wads / 800x powder.

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2169 Location: Florida

wow , never had that happen , sounds dangerous , I would s**t can that load , pull apart the ones you have loaded apart and salvage the components .

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

I don't blame the load, I blame the greenhorn making em!

Not to mention it helped me discover a problem in my work.

Member Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 1338

I agree with Mike. I'd check all the loads done on that session.

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

Mike, to be fair it could have been poor gas seal however I would suspect the cause was my piss poor very shallow crimps either way. Would you not agree?

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3177 Location: NCWa

I have used SP16 wads in Win Poly hulls with W540 (fine grain). and the result can include powder migration, but since I load on a single position press I make sure that the wad is seated firmly enough against the powder that the skirt flares out against the side of the hull. then comes a full load of shot and a firm enough crimp to keep things tight. These are fairly heavy field loads and I've never had a problem in their performance. there may have bee a few grains slip up past the wad but it had no discernable effect. For lighter loads I find wads such as the DR16 much better suited.

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2169 Location: Florida

Mike , not trying be to argumentive , just trying to learn something . But is it not possible for enough powder to migrate past the over powder cup to cause enough of a blooper to get a stuck wad ?

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

Am, I agree with your theory. These 1st year loads were very shallow crimps and push dropped wads. I figure short of using a fine powder I did every thing I could to assure failure.

All lessons learned.

Member Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 1338

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

I'm very greatfull for all the help I get here. It would be great to have a mentor around but based on my experiences with those around here I'm surprised no one has been hurt. I've listen to:

What, all primers are the same, just need to say 209 on the box.

If there is extra space just add more shot.

I use what ever wad/primer I can find, all that matters is knowing a safe powder load for the hull.

If the wad is a tight fit just use some vasiline in the hull.

You forgot the breakfast cereal, and using a hammer to crimp the hull.
He he he
Mike