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The problem of inadequate gas seal grows exponentially when shotcups from smaller, tapered shells are forced to carry maximum loads through overbored barrels. This is a mismatch, but you can easily correct it at the reloading bench.

As shot loads become heavier than the typical 1-1/8-ounce 12-gauge target loads, propellant charges become bulkier because larger amounts of slower burning powders are generally required, especially for strong hunting loads. As such, the powder charge tops off above the tapered base, rendering a tapered-base wad irrelevant. In such a load, tapered-base wads increase the risk of a poor load without any potential advantage. Consider instead using a wad with a larger, tighter fitting seal.

Today’s wad is essentially a slick, three-part shell element, but the center section – which we have not yet discussed – is as important as the sections on either end. The center is a cushion, in effect, a collapsible spring. Its job is to work like a shock absorber, although admittedly an extremely light one, and to progressively collapse, evenly and uniformly, without tipping and thereby applying greater pressure to one side of the load.