Shot the corn meal loads today

[Sparkitoff]

This was not very scientific because I was out hunting. Also, I put powder and corn meal in a pre-loaded tube. I was using 7/8 ounce scoop of powder but 1 1/4 ounce scoop of corn meal. This was in a 12 gauge. Poured it in slow to be sure the powder got down first. Then used a shot measure with 7/8 ounce of shot. First, every shot went off just fine, but a few had a lower recoil and somewhat different report. Second, the birds that I was on fell dead just like any other load. I shot two patterns at 25 yards and they were round and even. However, they looked no different than a load with powder, cards, shot, card. Two things noteworthy - 1) there is a funny smell right after you shoot, and 2) there is a visible white coating in the barrel. Everything came out clean and easy using my normal procedure. Conclusion - I'm not switching to this method exclusively. It'll work if I don't have cards or if I am shooting repeatedly, like doves, driven birds. It is a bit faster to load this way.

 

[centershot]

I'd be concerned about putting the powder AND the meal in the same paper tube, there's sure to be some mixing going on before you get to load that round. As you stated, there was a difference in the report of some shots, probably because the meal and powder became mixed. That won't happen if you load them into the barrel separately. Load the powder, ramp it down, load the meal, load the shot, then the OS card or wad.

 

[Ballshooter]

I agree when I use corn meal it's powder then corn meal don't mix powder with the corn meal....the corn meal is on top of the powder to form a seal.

 

[harleysboss]

Have any of you experimented with using 1 thin card between the powder and cornmeal, just to keep them separated? Or is it an unnecessary step? I’m going to run a few test loads through my jug choke 12ga in the near future.

 

[TDM]

This was not very scientific because I was out hunting. Also, I put powder and corn meal in a pre-loaded tube. I was using 7/8 ounce scoop of powder but 1 1/4 ounce scoop of corn meal. This was in a 12 gauge. Poured it in slow to be sure the powder got down first. Then used a shot measure with 7/8 ounce of shot. First, every shot went off just fine, but a few had a lower recoil and somewhat different report. Second, the birds that I was on fell dead just like any other load. I shot two patterns at 25 yards and they were round and even. However, they looked no different than a load with powder, cards, shot, card. Two things noteworthy - 1) there is a funny smell right after you shoot, and 2) there is a visible white coating in the barrel. Everything came out clean and easy using my normal procedure. Conclusion - I'm not switching to this method exclusively. It'll work if I don't have cards or if I am shooting repeatedly, like doves, driven birds. It is a bit faster to load this way.

May not be as quick to load, but I agree with the others that the powder and cornmeal should be loaded separately. Preferably with a thin card in between. I think you’ll like the results.

 

[Nuthatch]

I've never used cornmeal as wad. But I've used it as a buffer when shooting bismuth shot. Seems to help the pattern hold a little tighter.

 

[centershot]

Have any of you experimented with using 1 thin card between the powder and cornmeal, just to keep them separated? Or is it an unnecessary step? I’m going to run a few test loads through my jug choke 12ga in the near future.

I never have as I feel that if you tamp the powder, then load and tamp the meal, it is as settled as it is going to get. Powder, tamp corn meal, tamp shot, OS card and lubed veggie wad on top.

 

[Sparkitoff]

For me, my intent was to load quicker. By adding steps like card wads, tamping, it defeats my purpose.

 

[Billy-by-gosh]

For me, my intent was to load quicker. By adding steps like card wads, tamping, it defeats my purpose.

I get it! One trick is to make up a divided cartridge from either foil or combustible paper. Roll it one turn and apply glue stick to half the length. Next, mash in the open side (away from the glued edge) so as to separate the upper half from the glued half. Now roll it another turn or two and glue up the whole tube. You can now fill one side with a measure of powder and fold/crimp it shut, then turn her over and fill the other half with your corn product for buffering. Heck, if you make it long enough you might ever get your birdshot into the same tube. Guess you can figure out the over-shot wad and priming from there. Hope this helps somehow....

 

[gpsd55]

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.

 

[Britsmoothy]

To be frank, if loading a muzzloader shotgun is to slow why not just use a breechloader!
Is it not part of the experience?

I've found that by the time I've reloaded, everything has forgiven my previous noisy intrusion! And just using thin cards is less fiddle anyway.

 

[Zutt-man]

To be frank, if loading a muzzloader shotgun is to slow why not just use a breechloader!
Is it not part of the experience?

I've found that by the time I've reloaded, everything has forgiven my previous noisy intrusion! And just using thin cards is less fiddle anyway.

Do you use wads instead of cards?

 

[Britsmoothy]

Do you use wads instead of cards?

A few thin cards together make the wad.
I no longer use anything else but thin overshot cards.

 

[Sparkitoff]

I was trying to simplify and expedite loading for my loader. I shoot a composed pair on driven birds. We got better organized and did fine in last weeks shoot. Next week I’m going to use a composed trio to move things along. The corn meal wasn’t really useful for this goal. We did go to all the same thing cards. The loader have in hand some oily fiber wads only to be used if loading gets hard because the barrels need a bit of lube. Maybe every 10 th shot they’d use one to soften everything up.

 

[Zutt-man]

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/shot-patterns.160172/#post-2297040Here was today’s report. Cornmeal helped tremendously with PRB’s. I can’t say there was much more positive with shot loads. Lubed wads performed just as good, if not better

 

[PappySC2001]

I have been following this closely. My new to me cva trapper has screw in choke and it has been hard for me to get a overpowder fiber wad in the barrel. Can’t do it without taking out choke and then the wad getting in the threads. Using cornmeal seems like a good alternative. I need to get out and try it before my season starts on 4/1. My load of 1.25 oz powder/5/6 mix shot by volume throws a good pattern at 30 yards but is just a pain to load

 

[7TCU]

I have been following this closely. My new to me cva trapper has screw in choke and it has been hard for me to get a overpowder fiber wad in the barrel. Can’t do it without taking out choke and then the wad getting in the threads. Using cornmeal seems like a good alternative. I need to get out and try it before my season starts on 4/1. My load of 1.25 oz powder/5/6 mix shot by volume throws a good pattern at 30 yards but is just a pain to load

Felt or wool wads are easy to work with