Cream of Wheat in revolver loads

[EKing]

I finally tried something I'd read about: filling the remainder of a cavernous revolver case with cream of wheat.
My test was with 45 Colt, 255 grain cast powder coated bullets, and Titegroup powder. All groups had the same powder charge, bullet, seating, crimp, primer; same everything except the cream of wheat.

I made 3 groups: the control group with no filler, Cream of Wheat (COW) group 1 with 1.0cc COW (red stripe), COW group 2 with 1.3cc COW (black stripe).

I shot the control group, a standby I've put through my Ruger Blackhawk before to get the feel of recoil. It's a warm load that is at the top of the chart according to Lyman 50th edition and is off the chart according to Hornady 8th edition.
The red stripe group was next and recoil was a little stouter. Also noticed the sweet smell of burnt cream of wheat. Upon ejection of the empties, there was some unburned COW and/or powder still in the cases.
The black stripe was next and that was noticeably more stout than the other two. Besides the recoil, I also noticed that COW group 2 sealed the chambers up much better than the other loads, see the blow-by in the picture. There was no unburned COW or powder left behind.

I did not bring my chronograph so I don't know for sure that the velocity was higher with the COW loads but that was not the point of using cream of wheat, it's to keep the small amount of powder next to the primer and help build uniform pressures.

Has anyone here used cream of wheat in reloading? What were your observations?

 

[OKCHunter]

Never heard of this. How did accuracy compare?

 

[-Pjackso]

Interesting. What's the purpose of the COW?
Is it for an alternate replacement for ...the powder?

Is there a link to where you read up about this?

 

[Dumpstick]

Keep in mind, the weight of the COW is added to the weight of the projectile when calculating powder charge.

If you had a hot load before the COW, your load was well over once the heavier projectile (bullet +COW) is considered.

That is much of the reason the recoil was heavier.

 

[clintbailey]

Heard of using COW for fireforming AI/wildcat rifle cases, but never in this scenario...I've been dealing with unburnt powder and dirty brass, might try it myself sometime

 

[swampratt]

Very Nice results on the brass EKing.
I have heard of the COW method and other fillers like Kapok fibers.
I have used Kapok in rifle loads with bullseye powder.
That should keep the cylinders cleaner with the clean brass load.. That is a winner right there if accuracy is there.

 

[Cowcatcher]

I guess I've never needed to try the cream o wheat though I have heard about it. In my experience more crimp has solved my dirty loads. I do appreciate seeing what you've found though!

 

[Dumpstick]

I have used filler in rifle loads.

I have not used COW, or grits. I use Dacron (polyester), the material used to stuff toys, pillows, and the like. Dacron is extremely light weight, and very fluffy. It fills space without materially affecting projectile weight - I use .75 to 1 grain at a time.

I never use filler with a fast, easy to ignite powder. Most of those powders are position insensitive, or at least insensitive enough that at typical handgun distances the inconsistencies are not a concern.

I use the filler in reduced loads of a slower powder. It keeps the powder against the primer, and dramatically reduces Extreme Spread numbers.
IOW, it makes for a more consistent ignition.

For example, I have run 28 grains IMR4895 with a .75gr tuft of Dacron under a 210gr cast lead in 7.62x54r. I get ~1750 fps, single digits SD, and spreads under 15fps.
The common wisdom is that the slower powders cannot be reduced beyond about 10%, but that is not true all the time. Using filler(s) is a more advanced handloading technique, and shouldn't be undertaken without research.

 

[CGS1]

Wow Cream Of Wheat not just for breakfast anymore.

 

[MacFromOK]

IIRC, there is a post somewhere about using cornmeal.