p.s. another thought, maybe this is a base wad that did not get punched for the flash hole.
that's an interesting question. having it remain the barrel and being very hard to get down the bore all fits with it being a base wad. If I had some unfired loads from that company, I would cut one apart and verify that this is, indeed, a shot-cup wad and not a base wad. I suppose it could be a shot cup wad that was inserted in the shell BEFORE the powder was dropped. That would do about the same thing. There would be a delay between the primer firing and the powder firing which might be what the guide heard.
That guide earned his paycheck, tip, pat on the back, and beers for a LONG time.
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/qclHjMQ.jpg)
