Hi, Mr. Gates:
I should tell the crew about a minor reloading mishap I had this summer with stacked wads. Year ago I loaded C-I-L 20 gauge cases with Federal fiber wads and a Lee Loader. I tried them again this summer, only I used the Mec Sizemaster, set up for Winchester cases and WAA20 wads. The wads took excessive pressure to seat. Ok, Einstein, the petals on the WAA20 wad effectively reduce the inside diameter of the case, therefore, the fiber wad column has to sit higher for the same shot volume. I adjusted the rammer tube and loaded the rest of the box without problems. I patterned the first shell, broke the gun open without looking and the shell felt funny. I was holding the brass shell base in my hand and the plastic tube was still in the barrel
The wad was rammed into the tube so tight it pulled the tube from the base.
The rest of the box shot without a problem and smoked clays nicely. Many of the shells we reloaded with the little Lee were fired in an autoloader, which will pull bases if anything will, but even a gorilla couldn't apply the wad pressure with a Lee that a MEC can.
Moral, loosen the rammer tube clamp before you try a new wad and/or powder. You can always add pressure later.
Bye
Jack
I should tell the crew about a minor reloading mishap I had this summer with stacked wads. Year ago I loaded C-I-L 20 gauge cases with Federal fiber wads and a Lee Loader. I tried them again this summer, only I used the Mec Sizemaster, set up for Winchester cases and WAA20 wads. The wads took excessive pressure to seat. Ok, Einstein, the petals on the WAA20 wad effectively reduce the inside diameter of the case, therefore, the fiber wad column has to sit higher for the same shot volume. I adjusted the rammer tube and loaded the rest of the box without problems. I patterned the first shell, broke the gun open without looking and the shell felt funny. I was holding the brass shell base in my hand and the plastic tube was still in the barrel
The wad was rammed into the tube so tight it pulled the tube from the base. The rest of the box shot without a problem and smoked clays nicely. Many of the shells we reloaded with the little Lee were fired in an autoloader, which will pull bases if anything will, but even a gorilla couldn't apply the wad pressure with a Lee that a MEC can.
Moral, loosen the rammer tube clamp before you try a new wad and/or powder. You can always add pressure later.
Bye
Jack
