Plastic wads VS Fiber wads

[milo2005]

Can anyone tell me if there is a difference , ie speed ,trajectory

[Blunderbuss]

Can anyone tell me if there is a difference , ie speed ,trajectory

 

Speed? No

 

Trajectory? Not an issue at shotgun ranges

 

Pattern? Yes. Generally plastic wads with a a shot cup will throw a slightly tighter pattern. Because the outer pellets in a fibre wad load are in contact with the barrel during their travel up the barrel they distort a little and so fly a little less true. In my experience though the difference is marginal and unnoticeable unless your a far better shot than I am. In fact some might say the slightly more open pattern from fibre could be an advantage when shooting at short range, pigeons over decoys for example?

 

The real difference is plastic are cheaper (a bit), but fibre are better for the environment and farm livestock. I use fibre all the time for clays and live quarry.

Edited September 10, 2010 by Blunderbuss

[Fisherman Mike]

I was hoping someone might develop a wad which increases the pattern substantially rather than constrict it. Say a diameter of 25 m at 30 m !!! that way I might start hitting something again.

[beretta]

trajectory, yes only noticable at +60 yrds ish.

[Blunderbuss]

I was hoping someone might develop a wad which increases the pattern substantially rather than constrict it. Say a diameter of 25 m at 30 m !!! that way I might start hitting something again.

 

They have! Not that you need them you old bluffer! You can shoot straight enough!

[Markio]

Not that it was on your list but i've found same cartridge type in plastic is softer on the shoulder (I use Eley Firsts).

[Redgum]

saw a couple of inches off the end of the gun, that will open up the pattern a bit.

[Vince Green]

Cartridge companies prefer plastic wads because they go through their automated loading machines more efficiently and they are much cheaper to buy in bulk. There was a lot of selling hype around plastic wads years ago but that has largely been discounted since. They are simply cheaper.

[hubel458]

In our 12ga FH testing at the higher speeds for slugs/buckshot,

the BPGS (BPI's name for it) plastic seal gets us 100 to 150 fps more than

card wads. It is a Gualandi wad. It is a one sided seal, where one side

only is to go on the powder.And the top side

of it fits a cushion wad as well as some wad cups.

 

For open patterns there are spreader wads and wads cups. Ed

Edited September 20, 2010 by hubel458

[njc110381]

I prefer to use fibre simply because they're better for the environment. I don't like the idea of plastic being lobbed around the countryside when there are alternatives (in fact these alternatives were around long before the plastic shot cups were invented).

 

Plastic may offer a slight benefit? I'm no expert and to be honest I'm not even that great a shot with a shotgun but I can't see plastic wads making a noticeable difference for me. In my view the gains they offer fall well short of the disadvantage of your wads showing up for perhaps hundreds of years every time a field gets ploughed! I just wont use plastic!

[MC]

The only real difference between plastic and fibre wads is in your head. THey will both kill birds the same as long as you do your bit.

[yickdaz]

Speed? No

 

Trajectory? Not an issue at shotgun ranges

 

Pattern? Yes. Generally plastic wads with a a shot cup will throw a slightly tighter pattern. Because the outer pellets in a fibre wad load are in contact with the barrel during their travel up the barrel they distort a little and so fly a little less true. In my experience though the difference is marginal and unnoticeable unless your a far better shot than I am. In fact some might say the slightly more open pattern from fibre could be an advantage when shooting at short range, pigeons over decoys for example?

 

The real difference is plastic are cheaper (a bit), but fibre are better for the environment and farm livestock. I use fibre all the time for clays and live quarry.

thats the post i would of sent spot on :

[HDAV]

I prefer to use fibre simply because they're better for the environment. I don't like the idea of plastic being lobbed around the countryside when there are alternatives (in fact these alternatives were around long before the plastic shot cups were invented).

 

Plastic may offer a slight benefit? I'm no expert and to be honest I'm not even that great a shot with a shotgun but I can't see plastic wads making a noticeable difference for me. In my view the gains they offer fall well short of the disadvantage of your wads showing up for perhaps hundreds of years every time a field gets ploughed! I just wont use plastic!

 

There are4 advantages of plastic shot cups the ideal would be a biodegradable shot cup that will decompose ideal for steel shot over water in older guns. I would like to see biodegradable casings as most used casings go into landfill....

[Alycidon]

Can anyone tell me if there is a difference , ie speed ,trajectory

 

 

Depends where you want to use them.

 

On fields always use felt wads, farmers, landowners will not want to be picking up plastic wads all winter. shooting clays at a clay ground then use what you want, they have facilities to collect wads etc.

 

There is no real difference on speed, pattern quality etc in use.

 

A