OP Wad with Hornady Great Plains bullet?

[BlackPowderGuy (AJHS)]

Hi all - The Hornady Great Plains .50 cal, 385 grain has a hollow base.. I think I remember reading somewhere NOT to use an over powder wad over a hollow base. Is that accurate?

 

[deermanok]

Shouldn't need to. That hollow base is designed to expand to engage the rifling.
For flat base bullets, a over powder wad is recommended to protect the bullet base.

 

[Les Harris]

I just use powder and GP bullet. Plain and simple works for me.

 

[brad502a]

I always use an over powder wad, sometimes i even use the ballistic bridge

 

[Bert621]

I use over poweder felt wads with flat base boolits, not the cup base ones

 

[GM54-120]

Wool is fine with cupped base and it protects the base from ignition heat.

 

[Confederate rifleman]

I got better accuracy and no leading with wads. Go up 1 caliber for flats, 2 for shallow cups like the Great Plains.

 

[jdg20tr]

Good morning folks.
I will just throw in my .02USD.

I own an original Rem Model 50csl 700 ML not the ultimate.

After upgrading the bolt/breech plug system to the phenomenal one from Badger Ridge, i switched the Tupperware plastic stock to hardwood laminate stock from Boyd's then finally removed the stock trigger and replaced it with a 2.5lb Elite Hunter from Timney.

I tried 2 different sabots including the original black MMP which was paired with a Hornady .45cal .452 diameter bullet. All testing was done with 85gV of Black Horn 209 powder.

Try as I may I couldn't get my.groups any better than 2inches. Went from 80 to 100grV to test and see.

I remembered the many deer I killed previously with the TC maxi ball and Hornady Great Plains .385gr bullet. So, I got off work dropped in 85grV of BH 209 powder, added an OxYoke 50cal wool button and seated a .385 Great Plains bullet.

At 50yds I had all 3 shots in a inch square. Years ago I called a guy at Remington who told me to use one of their "wonder wads" under a conical to achieve the best accuracy. I even loaded up 3 Rem Gamemaster conical bullets I bought at a garage sale years ago. Guess what? Same result. Targets don't lie and I'm going to stick with the wool wad over powder when shooting conical.

Have a great day!
Shadowfox64

 

[deermanok]

Good tip, thanks for sharing.
I've done similar with one of my round ball guns.
A dry patch over the powder ahead of the patched ball.
Greatly improved accuracy for me.