Shot cups in a 16 ga flinter

[Dennis Glazener]

Someone just asked about paper shot cups and reminded me of the 50 or so plastic shot cups that I have for a 16 bore. I have used cups made from brown grocery bags and have had good results. Am tempted to try these plastic cups in my fowler and see how they pattern. Anyone tried them? If so what were the results, can I get by shooting just a few or do they melt and foul the barrel? They are the type that are flat and you need to roll the sides and fold the bottom up under the cup, Probably the first type of shot cutps made for a shotgun.
Dennis

[Daryl]

Dennis- I'd place a hard card between the plastic cup and the powder, if I was you.  Black powder flame is considerably hotter, it seems than smokeless powder.

Smokeless powder fired plastic wads will show marking, but not the melted plastic that black powder seems to produce.

When using plastic shot cups in 12 bore BP loads, I found the black powder actually melted the plastic cups and coated the bore with plastic.- thus my recommendation of using a card to protect the 'cup' from the flame.

[Dennis Glazener]

Dennis- I'd place a hard card between the plastic cup and the powder, if I was you.  Black powder flame is considerably hotter, it seems than smokeless powder.

Smokeless powder fired plastic wads will show marking, but not the melted plastic that black powder seems to produce.

When using plastic shot cups in 12 bore BP loads, I found the black powder actually melted the plastic cups and coated the bore with plastic.- thus my recommendation of using a card to protect the 'cup' from the flame.

I have some nitro cards, I suspect they would work better than overshot cards.
Thanks
Dennis

[Levy]

Dennis,  I've used them and as Daryl said, I got a lot of plastic spaghetti out of the barrels of a perc. dbl.  different brands fit tighter or looser.
I was using single wad columns, not just plastic shot cups.  I like Daryl's idea of trying them with the card under them.  Right now I have plenty of fiber and cardboard wads to use up before I try plastic again.  I bought some 14 ga. wads from you.

James Levy   

[JBJ]

A strong second to Daryl's comments about the use of a card wad to protect the plastic shot cup. Been there and it is not pretty. The paper will work just labor intensive to make neat cups.
J.B.

[JBJ]

Check this site:
http://www.muzzleloadingshotguns.com/articles/candlecartridges

[Topknot]

Interesting information.

               topknot

[Daryl]

That was a great link - good info. tks

[rf50cal]

Perfect timing!  I just purchased my first fowler at the Lewisburg show, a 16 guage.

[Jerry V Lape]

Since the tallow has substantial weight I would weigh the finished candle you intend to load.  You powder charge will need to be adjusted to that total weight versus just the weight of shot.