cloudwalker Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Have had a few days on some Spring Barley drillings. We weren't the only ones shooting the field. Looking at the piles of feathers everywhere somebody had some excellent days. As we started to set up I noticed the field was completely littered with plastic wads. Since last harvest I have shot nearly 900 pigeon with about 1500 shots. If I had used plastic wads, that would have left an awful lot of plastic around which wouldn't rot down. Given that BASC research shows that fibre wads give a better pattern, is it time for us all to start using fibre. I know they cost a few pence more (why I do not know?) but they have got to be better for the environment. What do you all think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 I always use fibre on the farm. For clays I use plastic but only because the cartridges were cheap. When they run out, it will be fibre for clays too. I don't leave cases littering the hedgerows because it's poor practice, and I can't see a difference between cases and wads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 I used to run a small Sunday morning clay shoot on a nearby arable farm. We always used Plaswads with the approval of the farmer and must have fired many thousands of shells over those fields during the 10 years we shot there. I walked the field last Winter, and could not find a single plaswad anywhere, and also very few fragments of broken clay were still visible. It seems to me that ploughing gets rid of them..?? Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 I walked the field last Winter, and could not find a single plaswad anywhere, and also very few fragments of broken clay were still visible. It seems to me that ploughing gets rid of them..?? Burying and letting them blow away in the wind is not the answer (I'm not pointing the finger at you Cat just using your example, we didn't know then what we know now) Plastic should be phased out, unlawful littering of the countryside in my opinon It would be interesting what the letter of the law would be - I wouldn't be surprised if you could get done for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 If you are lucky, ploughing buries them, but they can turn up again next ploughing time. I agree they are as unsightly as empty cartridge cases left behind. I have been using felt cartridges since forever. Firstly because there was no plastic wads available and then because (when plastic cups arrived), my Landowners insisted we did not use plastic (livestock considerations). There has been much contradictory stuff written over the years as to which patterns the best, but as someone said on here, there are so many reasons why you can miss, the wad is probably the least of them. The big solution was going to be the biodegradable plastic wad, but that doesn't seem to have proved that popular, as I don't know anyone that stocks them. Felt rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turk101 Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Hi guys I don't see any problem with using plastic wad, if every1 was responsible enough to pick them up when finished(which only takes a minute, even with a semi auto) then there would never be an issue on what type we use. Just my opinion though. regards turk101 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 I'm not sure of the patterns, but it's a small price to pay to keep the countryside looking better. That's assuming they are not so good, and a lot of people think they're fine (me included) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 I don't see any problem with using plastic wad, if every1 was responsible enough to pick them up when finished(which only takes a minute, even with a semi auto) then there would never be an issue on what type we use. They do blow off a fair bit though Turk - can't be certain you have them all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Hi guys I don't see any problem with using plastic wad, if every1 was responsible enough to pick them up when finished(which only takes a minute, even with a semi auto) then there would never be an issue on what type we use. Just my opinion though. regards turk101 I assume you mean cartridge cases? Otherwise what relevance is the semi auto. I am sure that if you have shot several hundred shell over rape or any other growing crop you are not going to pick the wads up. I admit to using plastic wads on clay shoots and anywhere else that does not specify fibre only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Hi guys I don't see any problem with using plastic wad, if every1 was responsible enough to pick them up when finished(which only takes a minute, even with a semi auto) then there would never be an issue on what type we use. Just my opinion though. regards turk101 Sorry but how the hell do you find plastic wads in a field of crops?!? Actually i bet it's blood hard to do in a feild of grass! Your mention of the semi-suto suggests your talking about the casings? EDIT: Too slow, Martin got the point in first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevethevanman Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 The clay shoot I go to is fiber wadded cartridges only, and for all my pigeon and rough shooting I use fiber wads anyway. I hear you can get POP wads which are wads that degrade when exposed to light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 I wouldn't critisize anyone who uses plastics wads in the field, I do, but then again, I have shot very few pigeons this year. For those who are jumping on their high horses about the ecological effects of plastic wads on the environment, lets not all get too 'do goody goody' and 'eco friendly' shall we................. I love to pull the trigger like you do...and I spray Lead all over farmers fields and the countryside like everyone else who enjoys shooting pigeons and rabbits In the scheme of thing I would imagine that lead poisoning would have a much more damaging effect on the country side than plastic wadding being left...............and that dosn't seem to bother anyone apart from the antis............. and it certainly dosn't bother me. lets be sensible people what ever next..............cartridges that dont bang......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 I walked the field last Winter, and could not find a single plaswad anywhere, and also very few fragments of broken clay were still visible. It seems to me that ploughing gets rid of them..?? Burying and letting them blow away in the wind is not the answer (I'm not pointing the finger at you Cat just using your example, we didn't know then what we know now) Plastic should be phased out, unlawful littering of the countryside in my opinon It would be interesting what the letter of the law would be - I wouldn't be surprised if you could get done for it! Well, we stopped shooting over this ground back in 1999, having said that I can think of many grounds that still shoot over arable land and a number that still shoot over land containing livestock, that still don't have a problem with the use of Plaswads on their land. I suppose attitudes over this sort of thing are changing, I would probably give up Clay Shooting and concentrate on getting my golf handicap down to single figures if fibre was made compulsory, because notwithstanding anything that BASC or anybody else says, I believe Plaswads throw a better, tighter and more even pattern. It's simply not practical to pick them up after shooting, perhaps we should get on our hands and knees with tweezers to pick up the spent lead shot, that potentially does far more damage to the environment than a few Plaswads..?? Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 I agree we shouldn't get carried away regarding plastic -v- fibre. I don't think fibre would ever be made compulsory and it remains a matter of choice (where you have one). Plastic wads being a hazard to livestock, I think was an overstated risk when they first appeared, but some Farmers have it stuck in their mind and there is little point in arguing with them. The worse "pollution" is the unsightly heaps of cartridge cases that some shooters leave behind, there is no excuse for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 I agree we shouldn't get carried away regarding plastic -v- fibre.I don't think fibre would ever be made compulsory and it remains a matter of choice (where you have one). Plastic wads being a hazard to livestock, I think was an overstated risk when they first appeared, but some Farmers have it stuck in their mind and there is little point in arguing with them. The worse "pollution" is the unsightly heaps of cartridge cases that some shooters leave behind, there is no excuse for that. I completely agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turk101 Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 I don't see any problem with using plastic wad, if every1 was responsible enough to pick them up when finished(which only takes a minute, even with a semi auto) then there would never be an issue on what type we use. They do blow off a fair bit though Turk - can't be certain you have them all So do I Hi guys I don't see any problem with using plastic wad, if every1 was responsible enough to pick them up when finished(which only takes a minute, even with a semi auto) then there would never be an issue on what type we use. Just my opinion though. regards turk101 I assume you mean cartridge cases? Otherwise what relevance is the semi auto. I am sure that if you have shot several hundred shell over rape or any other growing crop you are not going to pick the wads up. I admit to using plastic wads on clay shoots and anywhere else that does not specify fibre only. sorry guys my mistake! Yes i was thinking cases. I wouldn't critisize anyone who uses plastics wads in the field, I do, but then again, I have shot very few pigeons this year. For those who are jumping on their high horses about the ecological effects of plastic wads on the environment, lets not all get too 'do goody goody' and 'eco friendly' shall we................. I love to pull the trigger like you do...and I spray Lead all over farmers fields and the countryside like everyone else who enjoys shooting pigeons and rabbits In the scheme of thing I would imagine that lead poisoning would have a much more damaging effect on the country side than plastic wadding being left...............and that dosn't seem to bother anyone apart from the antis............. and it certainly dosn't bother me. lets be sensible people what ever next..............cartridges that dont bang......... HERE HERE !!!!! :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 I think... What is visible is more harmful to our reputations than that that isn't. Empty cases and plastic wads all over the place are fine if you run a permanent clay ground. They look like litter spread all over fields and the rest of the countryside though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 I only use fibre in my 20 and 12 bore unless shooting fox. And due to the nature of fox shooting being that foxes are normally on the ground when shot, you can easily find the wad. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatingisbest Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 i always use felt or fibre when availible, if im buying fox carts then its not really a big deal if i buy plastic or fibre due to the low amount of cartridges i would be using, thats my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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