Wad or no wad?

[M1Riflenut]

As a follow up to my post below, I finally got some hollow base 405gr bullets to try. Should I use a wad under these or none? I'm using Goex BP. I used a wad on my previous flat base bullets but not sure on the hollow base as they are suppose to expand into the bore, hence the question wad or no wad? Appreciate any tips/advice.
Thanks,
Dave

[Dick Hosmer]

Wad, or no wad, do NOT leave ANY airspace in a BP load. BP actually likes to be slightly compressed. Then, we need to consider bullet jump, which should be kept to a minimum. So, there are several things to juggle.

[mannparks]

Yup,like dick says leave no air space.
There is no set way or ruel,just a lot of load testing.
I never used HB bullets in a TD but did on a 58 mini ,with them I would fill the base with T C bore butter.
Charles

[M1Riflenut]

Thanks for the bore butter tip. I had wondered about the airspace a HB has. I guess I'll try them filled and with a wad and see what happens. It can't be any worse than what I had my first time around!

[sdkrag]

I load the 405 Lee hollow based bullets with @58 grains of either Ffg or Cartridge grade BP. You don't want to use a wad with your hollow based bullets. With Remington cases and 55 to 60 gr. you will get some compression when seating your bullets.

[sdkrag]

As a follow up try loading a full 70 grains and seating either a 405 or 500 gr. bullet. Modern cases don't have the same capacity as original cases.

[M1Riflenut]

As a follow up try loading a full 70 grains and seating either a 405 or 500 gr. bullet. Modern cases don't have the same capacity as original cases.

Thanks for the info. I originally used 65 gr of Ffg with a 385gr bullet and that was a lot of compression. I've read all the warnings about no air gap, so do you leave your HB bullets empty or fill them with something like bore butter mentioned above? I feel comfortable that I have enough compression, just don't know if the base cavity is considered "air space".
Thanks,
Dave in NH

[p246]

M1A my old friend that shoots a hollow base bullets just compresses it and says the BP pushes up into the cavity.

[jon_norstog]

M1,

Flat base bullet, use a greased wad. Hollow base, now wad. If you have airspace, add cornmeal. Or better yet, just fill the case with BP.
Good luck!

jn

[sdkrag]

Just seat the bullet. The powder fills the base.