Wad Pressure and primers

B

blackpowder

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Does wad pressure make that much difference on reloading shells. Should wad pressure change from one hull to another and should it change from one kind of gunpowder to another or from wad to another. I shoot promo powder and chedite and federal 209A primers and claybuster wads. Right now i have my wad pressure set at 30 p.s.i. on all my loads
 
I have run into the statement that wad pressure isn't crucial with modern plastic shells and basewads a number of times. Apparently some of the older types of shells were an issue. One place I have modified wad depth of seating a bit, which would certainly change wad pressure, is in correcting dished crimps on one load I was trying. I didn't perceive any effect on ignition, but I didn't look at patterning or chronograph the load. Dished crimps can be dealt with in a number of other ways, of course, and changing the wad seating depth may not be the best way. It will be interesting to see if anyone else has anything to add here. Fred
 
I've given up worrying about wad pressure many years ago now. I don't have much faith in the accuracy of those little wad pressure indicators on the reloaders anyway.

If I can get the wad in deep enough without collapsing the shot cup posts which can sometimes create a little bulge in the sidewall of the shell....and I can get my shot in and complete a nice clean crimp, I'm good to go.

Many of the old reloading gurus down south on the Shotgun World site....some of whom can be quite anal about reloading practices also disregard wad pressure.

I reload and shoot something in the order of 10K - 15K rounds a year in 4 gauges (all though I have slowed down some the past year or so) and don't pay attention to my wad pressures on any of my 4 PW loaders anymore.

BP:

If your pressure indicator says you're getting 30 pounds....and you're getting all of your components in nicely and finishing with a good crimp....I'd say you're doing just fine with that.
 
bobsonofbob said:
I agree with BCFred and Neera . I use enough wad pressure on each different type of wad just to ensure a uniform pressure on the powder and a good looking crimp.
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Ditto. I find I use zero wad pressure when laoding a federal hull but I use some pressure when loading a winchester, but that is just to get good crimp.
 
Since plastic wads and hulls, I have never paid any attention to was pressure. If it fits and it is in a recipie book and looks good it usually works.
 
I agree with the other guys here.Wad pressure requirements date back to the days when wads were actually a cardboard plug.Those days are long since gone for todays reloader.
Dave
 
With modern plastic wads, wad pressure is not an issue. The wad has to be seated to a depth where the hull will crimp without expanding the case mouth at the crimp. I have a 20 gauge load that I had to increase wad pressure slightly and reduce the crimp pressure so there would be just a bit more room for shot and the case mouth wouldn't bulge with the crimp.

If you are loading the old shotshell recipes that require solid wads, then wad pressure and crimp pressure can make a real difference as to whether you get good patterns, bloopers, and good crimps.
 
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