Fiocchi makes two spreader loads. One is a max dram, 1 oz load at 1300 fps and the other is a 3 dram, 1 1/8 oz., 1200 fps load.
I am looking for a commercial spreader load to open patterns on a tightly choked gun for shooting noncompetitive sporting clays. The 1300 fps load seems a little hot to my thinking. Has anyone had any experience with either of the loads? The information on their Web site is less than informative.

Mark..

Go to Polywad.com and look at their spreader loads....perfect for the older doubles and work very well in tight choked guns....they make them in 12-16 and 20 gauge.....I've used quite a few and I'm pleased with the results........they also sell the spreaders if you wish to load your own....
Best Regards and Happy Holidays....

Among the competitive clay shooters whom I know to use spreaders, the commercial favorite is the Kent. It's a stout load, 1 1/8 ounce at 1250 fps, and uses the "disperser-X" technology.

I can't say what the Fiocchi 1 & 1/8 ounce load uses; never cut one open. But 6-8 years ago I tried the 1 ounce on targets and doubted that it was spreading very much, if at all. Shot it on paper and confirmed it did not spread for me. Opened them up and found no reason why it would spread. It used a standard Gualandi wad with breakaway petals, but nothing I could see to disperse the shot.

Factory spreaders are a pretty expensive way to pick up a few X's, especially for "casual" clays. You can load your own for PW spreaders for about 75 cents more per box than your standard load.

I have been shooting some of the PW spreader loads and they seem to work pretty well. I just find that they are very expensive. I have a source for the Fiocchi shells. One load I believe uses the Disperser X wad. I'll see if I can find out which one.

Mark,

Here are some photos I took of some patterns this summer, including the Fiocchi 1 1/8oz spreaders with size 8.5 shot. For comparison I used a basic Remington Game Load, with 1oz of 8s. The gun was a Beretta BL-4/12/30" M & F. The range was 20 yards, with a 30" circle on the paper.

I was very impressed with this load, and got similar results when shot out of a Franchi Falconet with M & F chokes that I shot that day as well.

Hope this helps,
Dave


Full Choke - Remington Load




Full Choke - Fiocchi Spreader


Mod Choke - Remington Load


Mod Choke - Fiocchi Spreader

Hello Mark, I shoot spreaders for in your face birds while at registered tournaments, all my clay target guns are choked tightly. I've used both Kent and Fiocchi Power spreaders and they both use the exact SAME Gualandi wad. It has a cruciform (+ shaped) piece molded in the center shot cavity. Only difference is the Kent spreader uses their Diamond shot, coated with a silver graphite compound as I understand it. Fiocchi uses regular gray lead shot. Patterning is equivalent. Either will open a 70% pattern to 50% and shoot to ~same POI as regular shells. I've done much testing.

I've always shot the 1-1/8 ounce, 1250 fps load because none of my regular vendors stock the Fiocchi 1 ounce offering. If you go through the physics calculations you'll find the 1 ounce load at 1300 will have slightly less recoil, probably not enough to matter a whole lot. As an aside, I only use these spreaders in modern o/u target guns and in a Model 21. Recoil with the 1250 fps load is pretty stout and you definitely know when you have one in the chamber. I don't use factory spreaders in my vintage Foxes, LCS or Parkers.

The factory spreaders definitely have their place if you are a competitive shooter. Most classes are won or lost by 1 or 2 birds and the spreaders can make that difference. I don't use any spreaders for casual shooting - forces you to see the right lead, or miss. You might try Precison Reloading to see if they have the Gualandi wad. I hope this helps. Silvers

PS, I an SILVERS not SLIVER

Mark:

Able Ammo had a sale of the Fiocci spreader loads a few months ago, and, on the reccomendation of a friend, I picked up a few flats. For sporting clays I usually shoot a fixed choke gun with mod & lite full, and I use the spreader loads for those "in your face" targets you sometimes see. I chose the 1oz 1300fps load of 8 1/2's because I thought the extra velocity might increase the spreader effect.

I have not patterned these shells, but one of my shooting friends is a top shooter in the southeast and he is also a patterning fanatic, and these were his shell of choice for the very close birds.

Hack

As mentioned, the Kent and Fiocchi factory spreaders are pretty heavy recoiling. I will say, if you're a choke tube changer, IMO they offer nothing in patterns that you can't get with cylinder tubes or threads. The only advantage is the option to instantly try or abandon them them in the middle of a target station. With tubes, once they're in you're committed to your choice for the whole sequence.

I haven't tested any Polywad factories, but I've experimented with their discs in handloads and found they're pretty versatile.
I think the factories are only available in #8, which may be fine, but you can handload #8.5 or #9 if you like. Afterall, their intent is for very close targets and you can lower recoil with lighter loads of smaller shot. I'm shooting tight, fixed chokes in an 80 yr old Fox and I've found I can tailor spreader loads that give great results at relatively low pressures and velocities as low as 1100 fps.

Mike, you posted this suggestion over on the 16 ga forum a while back and I want to thank you for it. I've been loading 6s this way, 7 gm over 23 gm, for my old Scott pigeon gun, and get very nice IC patterns for pheasant hunting. I've tried the PW spreaders in the normal configuration and always get an obvious doughnut pattern, even at 20 yards. I suspect the 6000 ft plus altitude I shoot at is a factor. I tried the PW three hole disks and that didn't help either, but the layered spreaders are working very well.

I'll add one tip that has helped me. For the 12 ga layered loads, I'm using the 16 ga disk. That allows the spreader to fit down inside my Federal wads and makes for a better fit.

The two Fiocchi loads are different in that the 1 ounce load has the Gualandi(also sold by Ballistic Products) "piston skeet" wad without the X insert. The 1 1/8 ounce load has the " Dispersor X" wad in it, at least the last time I dismantled one a couple of years ago. R. Wilson

Thank you all for the information. I'll try some of the Fiocchi 1 1/8 oz loads then eventually hand load some of the Polywad inserts with shot on top.
Mike Desjarlais where do you live in NM? I'm in Santa Fe. Email me sometime at mgruber@state.nm.us/.