Dispersant Wads

[neutron619]

Hello Chaps,

 

Another quick question for you all as I learn how to do this reloading lark.

 

As some of you will be aware from my other posts, I've got a 16 gauge cartridge sorted and a 12 gauge cartridge on the way - both for hunting. Both pattern very tightly through the guns I'll use them with. I'm happy with that.

 

I usually go for a wander / rough shoot these days, so the ranges are long and the shots are hard. I do sometimes set up a hide and try to decoy the birds though, when time allows and the birds look like they might play ball. I've got a loose-ish-choked 28 gauge for this purpose, but since I'm keen to experiment with the reloading thing, I've been looking at dispersant wads, which, so far as I understand, increase pattern size in tightly choked guns.

 

So:

• has anyone ever used them?
• did they work?
• roughly how much do they spread the pattern?
• can they be used with fibre wads?

Thanks for any experiences you can share.

 

Adam.

[snarepeg]

Have used a lot over the years.

Looking at skeet patterns from full choke.

Used plastic wads, but have made my own up from two pieces of card board slotted to gether to make the cross section and these could be put on top of a felt wad.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Gamebore used to use on which I think was a Gualandi which was plastic and had a cross section with a twist at the top. the shells were tolled turn over with a clear plastic disc at the end.

 

I tried them when shooting a particular discipline called Starshot, short range with points scored against a half dart board style frame.

 

I ended up taking four and a half inches off the barrels and filing out the muzzles, that gave much better results.

Edited December 24, 2015 by TIGHTCHOKE

[dipper]

once won a cup at a club skeet shoot using felt wad with a card cross .Gun was a webley and Scott s/b/s with 3/8 and full just used them in the full barrel . Had good results also with a fast load with in a short case with r/t/o. Google spreader loads Mike Cambell Dipper.

[Underdog]

You can buy them ready made!

Any Rio cartridge will do the trick 😂

[neutron619]

Hello chaps,

 

Don't have long to post as it's "family time" but I just wanted to say thanks for the comments above. Much appreciated.

 

I think I'll probably be giving them a miss, but if I ever get bored and really can't think of anything else to do, I might remember the idea.

 

Happy Christmas,

 

Adam.

[Guest cookoff013]

Hey neutron.

 

Stick around, you'll learn lots.

When you get back from your family time we should have a chat

If you can understand my accent !

Cook.

[motty]

Just use your tight chokes on the close stuff. Saves messing about.

[figgy]

Gamebore used to use on which I think was a Gualandi which was plastic and had a cross section with a twist at the top. the shells were tolled turn over with a clear plastic disc at the end.

 

I tried them when shooting a particular discipline called Starshot, short range with points scored against a half dart board style frame.

 

I ended up taking four and a half inches off the barrels and filing out the muzzles, that gave much better results.

You must have been shooting it back in the days when it was on TV?

 

Hull do a Pro piston cartridge with shot plaswad cup.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Yes I was, went to the filming too!

[figgy]

Yes I was, went to the filming too!

Used to love watching it on TV the pro celebrity star shot. Remember watching a shotgun programme on TV with Prince Charles taking part shooting bolting bunnies from tubes set in earth mounds making very realistic.

[Continental Shooter]

Disperser work fine, ypu just need to understand how the cross or wad work as you can have a 10-15 mt spread at 15 mt distance.

 

The problem with this method (likewise any other disperser method) is that people do not normally understand the concept of reloading with it and mix and match stuff which doesn't work.

 

the disperser was created for those shooting woodcocks in the woods with dogs where shooting distances or movements are extremely reduced and you need a cloud of pellets to it the target at a very short distance without destroying the quarry.

 

I, for instance, don't go through the trouble of making my own cross and prefer the ready available Gualandi (IMHO the best option); be aware though that you will have a 50/70 bar increase in pressure - which is not always detrimental but needs to be taken into account- using like for like recipes.

 

Doing your own with a paper cross has 2 downsides: if you don't glue the cross to the wad you may end up with a disperser going sideways or totally horizontal when dropping lead and closing up; in most cases the paper cros will be crushed on explosion (when the wad starts to push the pellets against the crimp) causing random pellets movement in the barrel.

 

In both instances your pattern won't be centred or consistent. Using a Gualandi (with or without the plastic cup) will ensure all patterns maintain consistency.

 

It's also worth noting that these wad perform best when use in Cil or Imp chockes; i, for instance, use them on decoys where birds fly close up but can swirl in any direction or when shooting in woods where bird came in fast and close or i might lift a woodcock or a pheasant and i have very short space to shoot ( so i need a big spread at a short distance).

 

in tight chokes the effects of the wad will be milder so, you will beed to remove the plastic cup first and ensure you use an RTO to guarantee maximum spread. If you want a shell that opens up at a short distance with little trouble then i would advise a Gualandi Bio (or a felt wad) with an RTO should do the trick without too much hassle.

 

cheers

[neutron619]

Disperser work fine, ypu just need to understand how the cross or wad work as you can have a 10-15 mt spread at 15 mt distance.

 

The problem with this method (likewise any other disperser method) is that people do not normally understand the concept of reloading with it and mix and match stuff which doesn't work.

 

the disperser was created for those shooting woodcocks in the woods with dogs where shooting distances or movements are extremely reduced and you need a cloud of pellets to it the target at a very short distance without destroying the quarry.

 

I, for instance, don't go through the trouble of making my own cross and prefer the ready available Gualandi (IMHO the best option); be aware though that you will have a 50/70 bar increase in pressure - which is not always detrimental but needs to be taken into account- using like for like recipes.

 

Doing your own with a paper cross has 2 downsides: if you don't glue the cross to the wad you may end up with a disperser going sideways or totally horizontal when dropping lead and closing up; in most cases the paper cros will be crushed on explosion (when the wad starts to push the pellets against the crimp) causing random pellets movement in the barrel.

 

In both instances your pattern won't be centred or consistent. Using a Gualandi (with or without the plastic cup) will ensure all patterns maintain consistency.

 

It's also worth noting that these wad perform best when use in Cil or Imp chockes; i, for instance, use them on decoys where birds fly close up but can swirl in any direction or when shooting in woods where bird came in fast and close or i might lift a woodcock or a pheasant and i have very short space to shoot ( so i need a big spread at a short distance).

 

in tight chokes the effects of the wad will be milder so, you will beed to remove the plastic cup first and ensure you use an RTO to guarantee maximum spread. If you want a shell that opens up at a short distance with little trouble then i would advise a Gualandi Bio (or a felt wad) with an RTO should do the trick without too much hassle.

 

cheers

 

Thank you for this. I'll copy it down into my big notes file and read it a few more times, but I think I've got it. Thank you for taking the time.