Dangerous Brian Posted October 30, 2021 Report Share Posted October 30, 2021 Vaguely remembering a post from last year regarding eco wads degrading on storage, I had a little check on my stocks before venturing out next week. All looks pretty good to me. Both sizes were bought last season to see how I got on with them. Then COVID struck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted October 30, 2021 Report Share Posted October 30, 2021 Very wise precaution thanks for taking the trouble to post mum wondering if there is a chemical reaction or the proses of fireing helps the degradation of the wads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgsontour Posted October 30, 2021 Report Share Posted October 30, 2021 IMHO I think the powder loses it's umph which will be your problem but there are some more clever type people of here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dangerous Brian Posted October 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2021 The wad after 30 mins in cold water. They are just a water soluble wad so firing shouldn’t have any effect. Not heard about the powder going off over the course of a year but will find out soon enough….. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted October 30, 2021 Report Share Posted October 30, 2021 I thought they just started to break down once exposed to the elements? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8 shot Posted October 30, 2021 Report Share Posted October 30, 2021 Might be a different story if they'd got wet and not used, the cases are definately not water/moisture tight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dangerous Brian Posted October 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2021 Looks like the wads will start to break down as soon as they get wet. The cartridges tested were from boxes taken out in the rain last season and not used. I did my best to keep water off them (kept in my pockets until needed) which is sensible for all cartridge types. Each crimp is heat sealed to keep water ingress as low as possible but I wouldn’t rely on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellside Posted October 30, 2021 Report Share Posted October 30, 2021 Interesting - thanks for posting. Hard to keep cart’s dry on a rainy shoot day, the ones unboxed that is. How about the cart’s which got wet in your pocket etc. did they degrade at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8 shot Posted October 30, 2021 Report Share Posted October 30, 2021 I brought a couple of boxes of Eley Ecowad 32g 3s, worth noting no.3s need HP proofing. I put 2 in a glass of water for 24h one crimp down, one brass down, and 2 Eley HV in the same, excessive i know but just as a test, all let water but i would not have used the Ecowads very tacky. My wads did need water to degrade completely as when they dry out they stop degrading one took 6 to 7 weeks to disappear completely on the lawn (may to june this year) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hicky Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 (edited) 11 hours ago, 8 shot said: I brought a couple of boxes of Eley Ecowad 32g 3s, worth noting no.3s need HP proofing. I put 2 in a glass of water for 24h one crimp down, one brass down, and 2 Eley HV in the same, excessive i know but just as a test, all let water but i would not have used the Ecowads very tacky. My wads did need water to degrade completely as when they dry out they stop degrading one took 6 to 7 weeks to disappear completely on the lawn (may to june this year) Not according to the guy I spoke to at eley, their website also states as long as your gun is nitro proofed you’re good to go. The none Eco wad states fluer di lis but not the eco wad. Edited October 31, 2021 by Hicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockybasher Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 From Eley's website: "As a ‘Standard CIP Proofed’ load, the Eley VIP Steel Pro Eco cartridge is also suitable for use in most guns on the market. To check if your gun is suitable for steel shot please check the British Proof House Equivalency Table or consult your local gunsmith." LOAD (GRAM)SHOT SIZEWADMUZZLE VELOCITYBRASS LENGTHCASE LENGTH 323PRO ECO375 mps • 1230 fps (V1 READING)16mm70 mm • 2 3/4 inches 32 5PRO ECO375 mps • 1230 fps (V1 READING)16mm70 mm • 2 3/4 inches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 This is what is printed on the inside of the box lid; Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dangerous Brian Posted October 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 13 hours ago, Fellside said: Interesting - thanks for posting. Hard to keep cart’s dry on a rainy shoot day, the ones unboxed that is. How about the cart’s which got wet in your pocket etc. did they degrade at all? Hi Fellside. The cartridges I tested are the ones that were out in the wet all day (in my pocket so not directly immersed). The last day we had last season was pretty soggy. IMHO although the ends are heat sealed, it shouldn’t be taken for granted that water won’t get in. An attempt to keep the worst if the weather off during the day is probably the best route. Going for fully sealed, silica gel etc is probably way over the top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dangerous Brian Posted October 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 13 hours ago, 8 shot said: I brought a couple of boxes of Eley Ecowad 32g 3s, worth noting no.3s need HP proofing. I put 2 in a glass of water for 24h one crimp down, one brass down, and 2 Eley HV in the same, excessive i know but just as a test, all let water but i would not have used the Ecowads very tacky. My wads did need water to degrade completely as when they dry out they stop degrading one took 6 to 7 weeks to disappear completely on the lawn (may to june this year) Excessive as you say but still valid. Goes to prove you can’t take these cartridges for granted. If you get them wet during a day out make sure you dry them properly when you get home. The Eley size 3 being HP or not is caused by Eley marketing. As sizes seem to be more like guidelines than rules, Eley have used a bit of artistic license. Even though they state size 3, the actual size in mm is within CIP standard steel limits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 I can’t think of any cartridges I’d leave submerged for 24hrs and then expect to use. Remember that in any cartridge, if the wad’s wet, the powder is likely to be also … and we know what that leads to … Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellside Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 Thanks Dangerous Brian (and all). I keep saying I’m going to grasp the nettle re steel shot, but not quite there yet. Just limbering up…?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas seal Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 Hi I use Eley bio cartridges in 20gauge . The crimp isn’t heat sealed, there is a cork placed under the crimp. Eley use Maxam powder and l find the cartridges are better at room temperature. Maybe they recommend this to suit the powder and not the wad. If cartridges are submerged in water, steel or lead, with any type of wad it would always be a risk to use them. I’m sure Winchester 10gauge lead cartridges were heat sealed so it’s not a new idea. When I collected used wads from the field on a wet day l noticed they were very sticky after a couple of hours. The wads are flexible and strong. How long should any steel cartridge be stored for, would copper or nickel coated steel be better for storage. It’s common sense to keep ammunition dry, with the cost increasing we will be wrapping it in cotton wool. I don’t think it matters if wads degrade in five minutes or five years. At least we are on the right track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 2 hours ago, Smokersmith said: I can’t think of any cartridges I’d leave submerged for 24hrs and then expect to use. Remember that in any cartridge, if the wad’s wet, the powder is likely to be also … and we know what that leads to … This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8 shot Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 Rottweil or Winchester If my memory serves me correcting made a complete one piece plastic case completely waterproof apparently , about 35 to 40 years ago. My father and his mates all used them duck shooting over local stone quarry's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 1 hour ago, 8 shot said: Rottweil or Winchester If my memory serves me correcting made a complete one piece plastic case completely waterproof apparently , about 35 to 40 years ago. My father and his mates all used them duck shooting over local stone quarry's Gamebore also apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 Winchester sealed … Gamebore in the activ case isn’t sealed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas seal Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 Hi yes it’s not new . Winchester 10gauge with copper plated shot. Just looked at my older cases there must be 100 10gauge from over 20 years ago no rust still got mud on them and they look good enough to reload. When the US use bio wads they will be better than ours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8 shot Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 (edited) SORRY LINK WON'T OPEN Edited October 31, 2021 by 8 shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas seal Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 Hi here is a AZOT Cartridge made in USSR and a Eley bio wad cartridge. The seal looks the same to me. A guess the USSR cartridge could be 50 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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