doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Hypothetical question re spreader loads

I'm curious about this, and would like input from those who have actually done testing to determine the answer, or know of testing that has been done.

There has been put forth the idea that spreader loads are more dangerous to bird dogs, because of the unreliable nature of "flyer shot", those shot that just go, crazily, out of the pattern and could hit a dog. But, at the same time, very open chokes in conjunction with regular loads are championed for use over those very same dogs.

My question is this ...... is there really a higher incident of rogue shot, extreme fliers, when spreaders are used, than when, let's say, promo game loads with soft shot, are used out of a Cyl. barrel? Are factory loaded spreader loads, today, more prone to flyers, and why?

I don't have an agenda here, so please don't assume that. Just looking for a discussion on it.

Thanks, SRH

I have been doing some patterning with the little X shaped spreader, and didn't notice any wild pellets. In fact, it did nothing for my pattern- same as without. 38 and 40 thou chokes. I can see with the Polywad style, I'll be trying them in the next week or so.

Stan: I believe that was a theoretical concern with the soft lead cube shot available in the 70s - 80s. Orvis promoted a Woodcock load and the box was marked "Not for covey shooting".
I have not heard the issue mentioned with the various plastic insert spreader loads. My limited experience was with Polywad (disc and post) Spreaders in a tightly choked 16g Smith. The pattern was a bit wider and I don't recall fliers, but they could have been off the 36X36 paper.

Never could understand why someone would want a spreader load.

I have been experimenting with RST spreader loads in my 16 gauge. They use the plastic shot cup with the integral "X" molded into the bottom of the cup.

I have not found there to be any difference between the percentage of shot within a 30 inch circle at 25 yards between the spreader loads and the standard shot cups fired through my improved cylinder choke. However, the patterns thrown with the standard shot cup wads are noticeably center dense. Where as the spreader loads throw a very uniform pattern across the circle at that distance.

For that reason I use the RST spreaders for all my woodcock and partridge hunting, and I have found them to be very effective.

Granted this is one load, in one gun, which doesn't mean a whole lot other than it might be worth experimenting with in your gun.

I have never seen the phenomenon of these spreader loads wildly throwing flyers out of the pattern, let alone opening the pattern to any significant extent.

I believe you.

Stan, I did enough work with Guilandi spreader wads to believe they work. However, I don't recall ever shooting a flushing clay over a dog. Ergo, I haven't worked on you question. But I do have a suggested test.

Suppose we fire a level shot from 54" above ground with Bowser at 30 yards and have a choke that delivers a nominal pattern of 30" at 30 yards. Bowser is 18" tall. So, the bottom of the pattern will pass 21" above Bowser. So, if you fired a test pattern at 10 yards you would expect a very high % of the pellets to be within 10" diameter/5" radius. Any individual pellet with a radius of 12" is going to be suspect of being capable of putting the 'ole ouch on Bowser. The 10 yard distance will allow you to capture fliers without going to unreasonably large paper.

DDA

I order Fiocchi Interceptors two flats at the time, and have never seen these flyers on my 4' X 4' pattern plate. Perhaps my plate is too small?

SRH

Good idea, Don. Only thing that concerns me is that I use a steel plate, not paper. 10 yards is kinda close to be shooting a plate. I've always wondered about ricochets at that close a range. Your thoughts?

SRH

Stan, I have shot more than a few at Sporting Clays. One target was zipping by at about 10-12 yards away over water. Never saw a stray pellet hit the water at some spot that would suggest a real problem. Perhaps it is an old wives tale and perhaps it is just a dog owner not wanting to take chances. I know more than a few dog owners who will not use them but I do not know if any of them ever had a real problem.