Cornmeal??

[traceywalker]

Years ago I heard that using 10-15 grains (volume) of cornmeal on top of the powder charge:

1. Provided a barrier to lube moisture seep from patch to powder.
2. Helped in cleaning the powder residue from the last shot on the way out.
Also heard that it increased chamber pressure and wasn't a good idea.
Best to leave it for muffins and chicken scratch?
Rangertrace

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

The only real problem I see with corn meal is for new shooters that may inadvertantly load it under the powder, kind of a pain to clear it out.

 

[BrownBear]

I tested it pretty thoroughly. The only possible good it did was to fill up space for really reduced loads which did not fill the patent breech, in order to avoid an air space under the ball.

Just one more useless step for me. There's enuff stuff to carry and remember alreddy. Probably just dandy for standing around jawing at a range, but not where and how I shoot.

Now make me sum muffins with it and I'll gladdly add them to my possibles bag!!!!!! :thumbsup:

 

[paulvallandigham]

The bit of advice you received that is wrong is that it raises chamber pressure to some dangerous level. Not true.

Corn meal does make a good sealer, if used properly. The small amount you describe will work for guns up to 54 caliber. Anything larger, and you should increase the amount of corn meal( by volume) to 20-30 grains. I use a 50 grain volume measure for my 12 gauge smoothbore, just to see how well the gun would shoot PRB. I got consistent velocities, and close POI, but the sights would have to be changed, and I didn't want to bother with that gun, as I had other guns for hunting deer.

 

[tg]

We tried it back when TC's were new and didn't see much use except in revolvers to take up space when using a light charge.

 

[arquebus]

I use it in my C&B revolver primarily to bring the ball up to chamber mouth when using reduced loads. However, I also it use it in my rifle-musket between powder & minie, as I find it keeps fouling at a pretty consistent level, which is important as the competitions I shoot in don't allow wiping between shots with R-Ms

 

[bc9339]

I started to use grits as a filler for my BP cartridges. It actually made my loads more consistent compared to when there was a gap between the powder and the bullet.

What application would you use cornmeal? As mentioned earlier, my understanding is that cornmeal is used as fillers for BP cartridge or C/B for lighter loads.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Corn meal, like grits, or Cream of Wheat, hornet's nest, wasp nest, etc. can be used as fillers in both rifles and shotguns. YOu want to use them in conjunction with some kind of card wad to act as a burn barrier, keeping the gases behind the card wad so as not to burn up the corn meal, but it works. I put the powder down, then an OS Card, then corn meal, then another OS card, then my shot, and then a couple of OS cards on top of the shot, in my shotgun.

 

[rebel727]

Corn meal is for eatin, powder is for shootin. :thumbsup:

 

[Robert Egler]

Corn meal is for eatin, powder is for shootin. :thumbsup:

yeah, them biskets made out of 4f ain't that tasty! :grin:

 

[Maestro]

As I was reading this thread, I couldn't help but envision stuffing a carrot and broccoli down the barrel as well before shooting a deer... "instant meal"! "Smoked" venison, cornbread & veggies! :grin:

Sorry for the waste of bandwidth... :v I'll get back to work now.

 

[renovato]

Corn meal or other filler (grits, cream of wheat, etc.) pretty much do the same thing that a wad would do. It helps protect the patch, reduces bore fouling a bit, and in many cases will increase the accuracy somewhat. Try it and see if it works for you. It doesn't cause any problems that I've ever seen, other than adding another step to the loading process.

 

[JackAubrey]

Yeppers,go to the lubed felt wad and forget the fillers.Best regards,J.A.