Cream of weat or Corn Meal?

[Mike 56]

I am going to shoot my 51 brass frame Colt and 58 Remington tomorrow and wanted to try filler both are 44cal. I normally load with 25gr fff Goex. How much filler do i use? I have a adjustable measure. Do you compress the filler with the loading ram before loading the ball?

Thanks, Mike

 

[jtmattison]

The amount of filler you can use depends on how much room is left in the cylinder after powder and ball space is accounted for. You'll have to either measure it or eyeball it to see how much it will hold.
Have you considered using felt wads?
BTW, I think corn meal is the preferred filler.

HD

 

[Jim/OH]

Depends on what you are trying to do. For quick not so precise loading, corn meal is best. It will compress some, so to get a tight load without critical measuring it is best. For most consistant shot to shot, cream of wheat is best. It does not compress much, so it needs to be measured the same as the powder. The powder and filler should come to nearly the top of the cylinder (maybe 1/8" below), so when the ball is compressed it just clears the top of the cylinder, giving the shortest "jump" to the barrel. Then cover the ball with a lube. Crisco, a mixture of bees wax and synthetic motor oil, wonder lube or something. 25 grains is plenty for target and plinking. A full charge of powder is never as accurate. I would lean more toward 20 or less, then make up the difference with the preferred filler. Hope this helps, Jim/OH

 

[bingo1952]

Give grits a go. They don't compress much if any more than BP does.

 

[William Joy]

I use grits in my ruger old army - have two containers one with fffg black powder and a 1.3 cc dipper and a grits container with a 1.6 dipper.
Works perfect! Just don't forget to close the container ( powder) before shooting.....

 

[SAJones]

Tried corn meal, but it was too fine. Hard to get exact amount & needed tapping to get it all out of the measure. Went to Cream of Wheat & like it much better. For the folks that like grits, heard that works well also, about the same consistency, & is probably the best use for grits. :wink:

 

[Mike 56]

This has to be the best BP forum you as usual you guys have lots of good advice. I tried corn meal yesterday and it worked good. I just eye balled it. Next time out i will give grits a go. I think next time i will bring my Lee dippers and find the right dipper for my gun and load.

Thanks for the replies,
Mike

 

[rafterob]

I've had the best luck with cornmeal. Load your powder charge and then fill the rest of the cylinder with corn meal. Place your ball and compress it down with the lever. Crisco on top and ready to go.

 

[Zonie]

Use the one you like the least.
That way you'll be able to eat the other one without any concern about running out of it.

If your like me and Cream of Wheat, Cornmeal and Grits don't sound real appetizing choose the one that pours out of a flask best. :hatsoff:

 

[CARBABY]

I use Corn Meal. I have a .38 Special Shell, with the top cut at an angle soldered to a wire handle for easy scooping and pouring. I don’t worry about overage, I just pour it in the cylinder over the powder. After the cylinders are full, and corn meal level with top of the cylinder, I tap the gun a couple times with my free hand, blow over the cylinders to take the corn meal down to 1/8 inch below the rim, then load the ball. I put a lube over the ball. I use pump grease as I got some years back and it just doesn’t run out. One could use Crisco for lube. {So if your pack’en Crisco for lube, Corn Meal for filler, you two-thirds away from Hush puppies for snack’en at the pistol range. :haha: } Don’t forget a rag to wipe the gun and your hands. After a days shooting one of those disposable towelets, (like you get with take-out at KF Chicken) cuts the greasy feeling on your hands, so your hands don’t slip off the steering wheel on the way home.

 

[Mike 56]

Sounds like you rigged up a black powder deep fryer. How many loads till you get enough for lunch.

Thanks for the tips everyone.
Mike

 

[rebel727]

I use Pyrodex with a Pyrodex filler. :thumbsup:

 

[Mike 56]

Isn't that to figure out how much Pyrodex filler to use. :haha:

Mike

 

[rebel727]

40 grs. is about right. :thumbsup: Actually I find myself using 35 most days with no filler. Pretty accurate too.
I don't think I'd want to do too much of that with the brass frame tho. :nono:

 

[renovato]

You'll need to tinker to figure out how much filler to use. Once you figure it out, make note of it. You can use your powder measure for it, or make a dedicated filler measure. I made one from a piece of cane.

Most anything will work as filler, but we all kinda find our favorites. So far mine is cream of wheat. It seems to pack consistently without being too compressible.

 

[Mike 56]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I tried corn meal, cream of wheat, and grits. All three worked well. I think i liked grits the best. All three made my guns shoot more accurate and shoot more consistent. I ended using less powder 18gr fff Goex and a forty cal case full of grits for my 58 Remingtion and a 9mm case full of grits in my 51 colt.

Mike