wads in .357?

handofzeus

handofzeus

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I tried searching and found nothing. I've just reloaded 15 .357 with 158g cast lead SWC on top of a full charge of 14gn IMR4227 AND A WAD!!! Usually whenever I reload with lead I use a reduced charge, something around a .38+, but this time I wanted to use up some old 4227 and I was worried about leading so.... I figured that since I can use a wad in my .44 BP why not in a .357. Before I launch these babies though, is there any reason that I shouldn't?! The wads I made are from the same wool felt that I make my .44 BP wads from. I take a Princess Auto hollow punch that's near the right size and put it in the drill press. With a block of wood or old nylon cutting board under the wood I can do a wad per second...and yes the drillpress must be on, the spinning helps to cut. (sharpen the punch too) So any foreseeable issues?
 
I wouldn't experiment with using felt wads under any bullet with smokless powders!

There are other factors to think about if you are getting leading with cast bullets. Are they the proper size for the bore? Are they too hard/soft? How fast/slow are they going? If using a revolver, are the cylinder throats the proper size?

These are some of the main factors to think about. I would not shoot the ones that you reloaded, pull the bullets & start over without those wads.
Follow the data in the reloading manuals, & stay safe! Leave the experiments to the manufacturer, they have the equipment to do it in a safe manor.....
 
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I would think it should be fine as long as you haven't compressed the powder. I personally just shoot them with that powder and others (h110/296/lilgun/2400). I shoot full loads with lead SWCs with little to no leading.
 
Spawn-Inc said:
I would think it should be fine as long as you haven't compressed the powder. I personally just shoot them with that powder and others (h110/296/lilgun/2400). I shoot full loads with lead SWCs with little to no leading.
Click to expand...
I think you missed something in the OP's post...
DO NOT Fire those rounds.

handofzeus said:
Yes.
Click to expand...

Are you nuts?
(I realize this is "Canadian Gun Nutz" but that's supposed to be nuts about guns..)

Why would you put a wad between smokeless powder and a projectile inside a brass case?

If you want less leading, you use whats called a 'Gas Check'.

Please follow the information in your reloading manual.

And If you want to experiment, please make sure no one is around you, and you film it for our entertainment.
 
Why are people freaking out about using wads under a cast bullet? Go over to the cast boolits website and a lot of people do it. It isn't too common with smokeless since it usually isn't required but it does help sometimes. Just because you haven't heard of it before doesn't mean it's dangerous.

Using felt for a wad with smokeless powder seems odd to me as most of the time it's either card or cork. Also don't forget to add the weight of the wad to the bullet to work out the load data. If you are loading near max or at max without a wad I would start from the starting loads again.
 
I did some more digging and felt was usually used because they soaked it with lube to reduce BP fouling. With smokeless it's important to not press the wad into the case and to allow the bullet to press the wad in so the wad sits flush against the bullet. They are usually used to prevent gas cutting just like a gas check. They are used when the bullet mould in question doesn't support a gas check or in some of the olde tyme competitions when gas checks aren't allowed.
 
regardless of whether it's safe or not, it's seems like a major pain in the ass to make and use for every round.
 
Some are freaking out, but for the wrong reasons.

Will a wad do anything to the case, bore, bullet? No.

HOWEVER, there is a very significant issue, and that is case capacity. Depending on how thick the wad is, it could significantly reduce case capacity, and send pressures soaring. The same way a bullet pushed in very quickly raises pressures. I'm not talking a few percent, increase in pressure, but multiples.

A smaller capacity case, such as 9mm with a medium or fast powder, pushing the bullet back 0.1" can double to triple the peak pressure. To put that in perspective, a proof load is usually 30% above design pressure.

So in any straight walled case, anything done to reduce case volume under the base of the bullet, (including seating it deeper) can have a drastic effect on pressures. Work up loads accordingly.
 
Dont Shoot those Loads
Your loads are way over pressure ------->a big Big bang with flying metal

Dont shoot them
handofzeus said:
I tried searching and found nothing. I've just reloaded 15 .357 with 158g cast lead SWC on top of a full charge of 14gn IMR4227 AND A WAD!!! Usually whenever I reload with lead I use a reduced charge, something around a .38+, but this time I wanted to use up some old 4227 and I was worried about leading so.... I figured that since I can use a wad in my .44 BP why not in a .357. Before I launch these babies though, is there any reason that I shouldn't?! The wads I made are from the same wool felt that I make my .44 BP wads from. I take a Princess Auto hollow punch that's near the right size and put it in the drill press. With a block of wood or old nylon cutting board under the wood I can do a wad per second...and yes the drillpress must be on, the spinning helps to cut. (sharpen the punch too) So any foreseeable issues?
Click to expand...
 
Dont shoot those loads

Some of the Rules of reloading is

Never start with max charge

Work up loads when changing something

Smokeless powder does not require a wad

a wad will not reduce leading

So you have broken at least 4 basic rules
 
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just having some fun said:
Dont shoot those loads

Some of the Rules of reloading is

Never start with max charge

Work up loads when changing a something

Smokeless powder does not require a wad

a wad will not reduce leading

So you have broken at least 4 basic rules
Click to expand...
14grn of 4227 is not a max .357 load, smokeless does not REQUIRE a wad ( I see no 'rule' here), a wad may or may not reduce leading, again no 'rule'. Thanks for the advice anyway.
 
I'm don't have any reloading manuals handy as I'm on the road but I believe max load for 158 cast and IMR4227 is up in the 16-17gr range.

Oops, too slow!:D!
 
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