Manual

5. Characteristics of one-piece plastic wad. (See Figure 5.)

a. The one-piece plastic wad is an adaptation of a modern shotshell and

can be used with the muzzleloading shotgun with one minor addition:

the over-shot wad. The cup shaped portion of the plastic wad replaces

the need for an over-powder wad in the traditional method. Its purpose

is the same. It fits the bore in order to seal the gas released by the

burning blackpowder. As the gas pressure builds, the edges of the cup

expand outward and seal the cup edge firmly against the barrel wall.

The next segment of the plastic wad acts as the filler wad. The “spokes”

are designed to collapse slowly under pressure and prevent shot pellet

deformation.

The “petal” segment of the plastic wad encases the shot pellets. When

the gun is fired, the “petals” protect the individual pellets from contact-

ing the barrel wall and becoming deformed. As the plastic wad exits the

bore, the air pressure folds the “petals” backward and separates the

plastic wad from the shot.

b. To secure the loose shot pellets from rolling down and out the bore, an

over-shot wad must be inserted into the bore to rest on the shot charge

c. The barrel loading sequence when a one-piece plastic wad is utilized is:

1. Chosen volumetric powder charge

2. One-piece plastic wad (for .720 bore diameter)

CAUTION: Do not use the wads for anything other than their designated

purpose. Do not substitute wads. Do not use more than one wad for each

load. Never use a cloth patch, loose cloth or loose paper as a substitute for

a wad.