Daryl S: I agree with almost all of what you are suggesting and my experience with PLASTIC wads being in contact with BP is a real problem as you know... they MELT and leave a real problem in the case or barrel. So I have been using two 11 gauge nitro cards at .090" thick on top of the BP to prevent problems. The brass cases are too large for 12 gauge nitro cards and the 11's that I have are very snug and fit tightly inside the case.

The shot cup is for a 1 oz or 7/8's oz of shot and depending on any other filler wads, there is still plenty of room for an increased load of BP powder. As well as it gives a very tight fit of the .735" ball inside of the case.

As the saying goes, inaccurate rifles do not do anything for me no matter their costs or who made them.

Your writings and experiences and your freely sharing such, is most welcome and greatly appreciated by me and I m sure many others.

When this bore gun is up to my standards I will try to do a German built 10 gauge smooth bore, [with two sets of barrels], fully restored, and see if I can get it working well enough to take a deer with. One set of barrels are I.C. & I.C. the other set are FULL/FULL ...

Many tests yet to do.