doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Spreader loads

Has anyone played around loading spreader shells? I will be needing all the help I can get for Wis. woodcock and grouse! Later, Mark II

Use the X spreader insert from BPI. It will open patterns about one choke size. More even more cut the petals off the wads. If you can find soft shot and add it to the above you will have a real spreader!

I tried the "X" insert from BPI, and Polywad's post affair, and even some homemade deals using sections of plastic drinking straws, etc. I found that the Polywad insert, along with chilled shot, gave me the best patterns while opening the pattern by about one choke size (possibly a little more), i.e. full to modified. IMO the Polywad insert is easier to load, too.

I have serious doubts that any spreader device can open the pattern much more than that without resulting in blown or do-nut patterns. I'd like to be wrong, tho'.

SRH

The greater the constriction, the greater the degree of spreader effect. Thus, you see relatively more opening through Full than through IC. The spreader through IC may well throw the more open pattern.

When I've loaded cardboard X and plastic polywad discs the opening can reach true cylinder (40%) and result in pattern voids at even 20 yds. Most here already know that shotcup loads through .000 don't often give patterns as open as 40% (.410 excepted). Mike Campbell writes (on 16ga.com and UPJ) about a shot-layering technique that places about 1/8 oz shot on top of the disc. I have tried this approach in both 16 and 12 ga and found it works like a charm. Pretty easy to do. My search-fu is not working this AM, but if you dig through those forums you can find his excellent, detailed posts with pics.

Another approach that works - sometimes - is to use soft shot and soda straw inserts. It gives me LM patterns through my .021 16 ga M12.

I bought some Polywad factory spreader loads for the kid's .020/.020 ASE90. I've been pleasantly surprised to find useable open patterns suitable for the close rabbits.

Sam

I really like the polywad spread-r loads. Been using them for 3 or 4 yrs I think. I really like them in an IC for the first shot at Mi grouse n doodles. When I started using dads old 311 with it's tight and tighter chokes, I started using these in the right bbl and my hit ratio went WAY UP!!

You might also make sure the petals on the wad you're using are seperated from each other.

I've been using Fiocchi Power Spreaders with good results.

Here is Mike Campbell's excellent thread on spreaders.

http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5701&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

I have had good results with Guilandi wads: a sort of combination post-X wad. I use them regularly. Patterns with an Ithaca 4E trap model (32" full) are spread to at least mod. I planned to run the results through Dr. Andrew Jones's shotgun insights pattern analysis program, but, as with a number of projects, haven't had time --- yet.

My theory of spreaders is that they must either mechanically disrupt the shot cloumn or dump some pressure into it at muzzle exit. Post wads use the post as a "storage vessel" of shot column pressure. As the shot passes through the choke, it drops intracolumn pressure and is less inclined to spring apart at muzzle exit. The wad post dumps some reserve pressure into the shot column and returns some of the spring apart. IMO, post spreaders should produce better patterns than mechanical disrupters.

DDA

Any experience with the PC Post Wad? I am looking for something that will open a full choke to about modified for sporting clays. The Polywads are pretty expensive to load in volume at 6c each.