8 Gauge Bore Leading

[Ed Blake]

Cleaning the WH Monk after the Southern I noticed significant lead in the bores from the forcing cones to the muzzles. A Chore Boy copper scrubber on a bore brush and Kroil got most of it out. But how to avoid this? It was recommended to me to use a plastic wrap in the shot cup so I ordered a big bag from our friend in Alberta. What is the experience of 8 bore shooters using this wrap? Is it an effective means of preventing lead in the bores?

[Craig Larter]

I had a significant leading issue when I went from the SP-8 Remington wad to the 8ga Hi-Capacity wad. The shot cup in the Hi-Capacity wad is much shorter. If u fill the short cup with filler wads it leaves most of the lead unprotected. I solved the problem with my reverse stack load. Most of the shot is in the shot cup since the filler wads are under the plastic wad. For me it has completely eliminated the leading problem. Powder followed by a .070 8ga card wad, then the 1/2" filler, then the 8gs Hi-Capacity. I had the load test by Tom Armbrust.

[Ed Blake]

Thanks Craig. What an interesting concept. Is there much pressure difference between the reverse stack and the conventional stack loads?

[6pt-Sika]

Bit of adjustment .

[Ed Blake]

Thanks Craig. I’m not sure why my phone does that.

[Craig Larter]

Originally Posted by Ed Blake

Thanks Craig. What an interesting concept. Is there much pressure difference between the reverse stack and the conventional stack loads?

The stacked load was 1163fps, 7066psi, the traditional load was 1183fps, 6833psi. Basically the same.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Ed, if you didn’t clean your barrels you wouldn’t have a problem. Just sayin’

[6pt-Sika]

IMHO if BPI tweaked their wad by making the shot cup big enough to hold 11/4 to 11/2 ounces of shot a good bit of the leading would go away . But bear in mind the bores on a good many of these cannons are pitted a bit so that contributes to the problem . Of the ones I had I only think one of them had any wear close to a mirror bore and I’m not sure that one hadn’t been professionally polished before it came to me . It might be useful to try a Mylar wrap seated in the shot cup and high enough to cover the shot column as well as putting the spacers beneath the wad . BPI makes a 10 gauge gas seal that I’ve messed with a bit , it would be Intresting if they made the same seal to fit an 8 gauge hull putting it over the powder followed by whatever displacement spacers you need then the BPI wad and the Mylar wrap around the shot .