Range Report: .62cal Circle Fly cushion wads

[roundball]

August 18, 2007 - .62cal Cushion Wad Range Report

Muzzleloader:
GM .62cal (.20ga) Flint Smoothbore drop-in barrel on a TC Hawken stock (Barrel Jug Choked ”˜Improved Cylinder PLUS’)

80grns Goex 3F
1 full Circle Fly prelubed cushion wad
90grns chilled #6s (1+1/4oz)
Circle Fly OS card

Outstanding 30" pattern at both 25 & 30 yards tested. Excellent load for crows, late season doves, long range squirrels, etc.

NOTE 1:
1/2 of a cushion wad was OK”¦patterns were usable, but slightly thinner than with a full cushion wad

NOTE 2:
Tried 90grns 2F instead of 80grns 3F, patterns were unacceptable, 3F is perfect

 

[roundball]

NOTE 1:
1/2 of a cushion wad was OK”¦patterns were usable, but slightly thinner than with a full cushion wad

Clarification in case you may not be aware of it:

Having a Jug Choke in a barrel causes the opposite effect when using different amounts of cushion wads.

Normally in a smoothbore, too large of a cushion wad tends to thin out a pattern...often a half wad, a smaller amount of wad, will give a tighter pattern than a full wad...but just the opposite when there's a Jug Choke involved.

 

[paulvallandigham]

YOu can use a smaller wad if you reduce that powder charge a bit. Probably 10 grains for half the wad, and 5 grains for 1/4 the wad length. You are reducing friction when you cut the cushion wad down, and that is allowing high velocity. You are using FFFg powder which I still consider inappropriate to use in Smoothbores because it does generate more energy,and velocity, and that does blow the pattern, IMHO. By using more shot, and longer cushions, you are adding mass, which slows the affects of fast burning powder, and produces less MV for a given powder charge.

Reducing the powder charge by 10 grains is not going to reduce the velocity at your maximum range to any significant amount compared to your present down range velocity at 30-35 yard.