Brass shotshells: why the preference for BP?

M

MarineCorporal

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What is the actual reason that one cannot load full brass shotgun shells with smokeless powders and plastic wads? I'm seeing a lot of cautionary articles warning about the use of smokeless powders in brass casings.

I dont see what possible issues would arise from such a loading. The long brass walls should give a better seal and containment of any gases than plastic or paper hulls. The plastic wad may have a looser fit inside the casing but thats about it.
 
The plastic wad may have a looser fit inside the casing but thats about it.
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That's the biggest problem.

Improper gas seals (or plastic wad base cups) mean performance is dismal, if not dangerous by creating a bore obstruction.

The single most important part of getting any cartridge or shot shell to perform is getting a good gas seal.
If you use undersize wads (or gas seals), it isn't going to work properly.
 
My understanding is that brass shot shells have a larger interior diameter than the plastic-paper variety.

Look to Ballistic Products for correct wads and perhaps loading data for brass shotshells.

Perhaps a work around to get a good seal in an otherwise too large case is what Ballistic products calls Pagoda loading. They use 2 gas seal wads on top of one another to get a good seal in very cold weather.
 
You are not going to be using standard one piece plastic wads.
Your powder will migrate past and around the wad.
Erratic and unsafe ignition IMHO.

Been loading 00 buck loads for years in brass hulls for shooting in G.I. trench guns.

I load Herco with over powder card/ felt wads and a thin card wad over the buck before crimping for full loads.
Wads available at most stocking BP shops.

Nine 00 weigh right around 1 1/8 oz., so,
I also put some together with Promo at light trap load levels so that
smaller frame shooters can experience the lack of a disconnector in a Winchester pump.

Although it is a PITA timewise, the 'ching' of a brass hull being ejected (and the smiles it creates!) makes it all worthwhile.

I do not recommend my loading practices to anyone, JT
 
Nothing to add that hasn't already been said but I want to follow the thread. I started loading 410 about a year ago. I think I'm pretty much through the learning curve. BP cards and fiber wads work great for me. I haven't mastered shot dripping yet but I'll get there eventually.
 
First and simplest is that BP and SP are different. Smokeless requires a certain high level of internal pressure before it will burn properly. Black powder burns very efficiently all on its own, and requires minimal back pressure. A plastic wad and no heavy crimp will not provide sufficient back pressure for smokeless to work with ease. It needs a heavy crimp and full seals. BP will go bang even if you stuff the shell with tissue paper.

That is. A gross simplification of the issue, but that's it. Back pressure is important. When plastic wads came out, lots of shotgun barrels blew out when reloaders substituted the tight seals of plastic wads for the old, loosely fitting cork or paper. Not enough leakage meant that every bit of the energy of that charge was retained in the barrel and chamber.
 
Didn't even notice that. I hate using my kindle. So much trouble. I will not resort to net speaking, but I use abbreviations if I can.
 
Considering the points made, would I be safe to first use a tight fiber wad over the smokeless powder, followed by a WAA12 plastic wad?
I figure it will prevent the powder from flowing past to the plastic wad and theoretically be safe.

Such high brass walls really shouldnt be an issue with smokeless.
 
Elephino. Nobody can advise you but those who are experienced, and even they can only effer their own experience. Their experience may reflect what happens when you try. Something like this is kinda uncharted territory for you because there isn't a lot of Verifiable and totally reliable information that would absolutely fit your situation. I read an article advising that700 x was the absolutely worst produced.
 
I think what you're trying to do is just a bad idea...

....and the bigger issue -- is why try it ??....its not like there is a shortage of reliable plastic hulls...where you have all the published component recipes you need...
 
I just use fiber wads and pack in as many as needed. I bring the shot up to a level in the hull where I have room enough for an over-shot care and a ring of glue.
 
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