Kron Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 (edited) I'm new to the sport and will be buying my first lot of cartridges in a couple of weeks. I will be using them in the field for pigeons and was considering the Express Pigeon Special 30G (the name gave it away) in size 6. However the question is what difference does a plastic or felt/fibre wad make when shooting? (apart from a happier land owner). Thanks Edited March 17, 2009 by Kron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev 1 Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 It's the mess they leave behind,and would be a good reason to loose your treasured permission.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kron Posted March 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I understand the mess issue. But does it make any difference when shooting e.g. accuracy, shot pattern etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I understand the mess issue. But does it make any difference when shooting e.g. accuracy, shot pattern etc. Yes plastic hold a better pattern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warlock Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 As said plastic holds the pattern alot better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Plastic "Cup" the shot load so that there is little contact between the shot and the barrel wall. This means that the fibre shell rolls the pellets up the barrel wall and turns the outer pellets sausage shaped, so the edge of the pattern is loose and ragged as these become what is known as "flyers". These pellets are wasted at the edge of the pattern as they run wide and there is not enough edge definition to g'tee a kill on the side of the pattern. Fibre do not gas seal as well ( although there are premium systems of felt wads that do not loose velocity performance over the plastic equiv, but they tend to be 10% more expensive) - so there is usually a performance drop of about 50fps MV. Competition shooters will always choose plastic for better performance, but there are places and instances where only biodegradable wads will be acceptable. If you buy a fibre equivalent that is only slightly more expensive#ve than its matching plastic wad, expect to note a performance difference - but if you buy premium felt wads, you can get the same performance as plastic but at a price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kron Posted March 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Thanks for the replies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hambone Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I always try to pick up used shells and dislike plastic wads littering the countryside so i buy fibre wad shells and try not to think about the looser pattern, as for most shooters ability i dont think it matters. If you think the pattern is not tight enough use a tighter choke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I always use felt wads and I doubt many sporting shooters can tell the difference in the cartridge performance, between plastic and fibre wads. Use fibre wads, nothing looks worse than plastic wads everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune82 Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 The difference in patterns is pretty negligible in my experience. I pattern tested a few different brands through my gun a few years ago, both plastic and fibre. The tightest and most even pattern came from Eley Grand Prix 30 grams of no.5 fibre, this even beat an Eley VIP 30 gram 5 plastic. I have also watched genuine 50 - 60 yards pheasants being killed cleanly and consistently by 32 grams no.5 fibre wad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kron Posted March 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I've also heard that the pattern differs depending on the cartridge to gun set up. Is this true? and if so how do you go about settling on a set up without testing every cartridge on the market? Or am I just making it all too complicated? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Or am I just making it all too complicated? :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 To be honest I have never noticed any difference. For the cartridge makers plastic wads are much easier to load on their automated machines and cheaper to buy as well. I think deep down thats why they promote plastic wads like they do. To an extent I suspect we are being conned by all the publicity. I like felt wads for game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushat Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 There are probably only a couple of people who post on pigeonwatch who are good enough shots to notice the difference between fibre and plas wads (and I don't include myself in that group). Pointing the gun in the right direction is far more important - don't waste your time blaming a miss on fibre wads!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I will only buy fibre wads now, that way i never have a worry about if i can use my carts on different shooting grounds etc and it doesnt litter when am out rough shooting . But also My shooting isnt of a standard that a wad effects my shooting ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 I don't believe that plastic wads do give better patterns. If you use a heavy shot cup you can get a tigher pattern but its not necessarily better. The quality and eveness of the shot is much more critical. Like I said before, don't get fooled by the flim flam put out by the cartridge sellers. They have their own reasons for wanting to sell you plastic wads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dusk2dawn Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 The countyside has to contend with enough litter without plastic wads laying around for eternity, they look awful, stock can choke on them and they just dont go away. We all pick up our cases but rarely can we find the plastic wads. We seem to live in an age now that everyday we hear, or read of some new law being introduced usually via the back door in the small hours, banning this or taxing that, imo its about time someone banned the use of plastic wads for use other than on registered clay grounds. This obviously is my personal opinion but perhaps others are likeminded and if we, the users/shooters, did not buy them then just maybe the dealers would be prepared stock more felt wadded loads to choose from, my local supplier offers just a very small choice. Lets have some opinions would you prefer to use only felt wads on your ground? Rgds D2D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 Currently using Fiocchi 32g Sporting Pigeon 6's in a felt wad and they are just the job. Hull Cartridge make several different sorts loaded with a PDP bio-degradable "plastic" wad that disappears after a year or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 I always use fibre wads apart from in cartridges that can't use fibre (ie steel shot and very heavy loads). I hate seeing plastic wads around my shoots, drives me mad! The pattern thing is all in peoples heads. Plastic may offer a slightly better pattern but would the average shot notice? I very much doubt it! Go for fibre. Plastic is naff and sits around for years looking untidy. It can even choke cattle if they swallow it which could be expensive if you are the only person on the ground where it happens (unlikely but possible). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 There are probably only a couple of people who post on pigeonwatch who are good enough shots to notice the difference between fibre and plas wads (and I don't include myself in that group). Pointing the gun in the right direction is far more important - don't waste your time blaming a miss on fibre wads!! well said..........I can miss just as well with fibre as I can with plastic , usually buy fibre though . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest topshot_2k Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 (edited) I don't believe that plastic wads do give better patterns. If you use a heavy shot cup you can get a tigher pattern but its not necessarily better. The quality and eveness of the shot is much more critical. Like I said before, don't get fooled by the flim flam put out by the cartridge sellers. They have their own reasons for wanting to sell you plastic wads. i agree, and from my own tests there isnt any real difference. i always use fibre now (when possible) Also worth noting that the new 'vegi' wads are being tested and should be about soon, they enclose the shot like a plastic wad but degrade very quickly when on the ground Edited March 19, 2009 by topshot_2k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 Floating Chamber came up with those years ago but none of the manufacturers were interested then. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 went to my new shoot on sat, the only impact i did have is picking up someone elses cartridges, so i dont get labelled a litter lout. i cleared up about 15 or so. but beyond the boundry is about 1-200 shells on the floor. ! picked up loads a wads too. i`ll be using fibre. always. without a single shot fired i was much cleaner than the last guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayslayer Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 It seems someone is using guesswork when talking about fibre and plastic wads eley cartridges are loaded to the same speed at target about 1100 fps at 60ft be they plastic or fibre in most clay loads and 1090 fps in game loads The only difference in pattern is the fact that fibre loads start to pattern as they leave the barrel and plastic start to pattern when the wad opens usually 10 ft this means that at some close in targets fibre wads will have a more open pattern than plastic and at distant targets plastic will give a tighter pattern but not by a lot most effect on pattern will be made by the chokes you have in the gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 I use to shoot plastic,but prefer to use fibre nowadays,simply because my shooting is mainly over land holding livestock,and to be perfectly honest i dont think theres much between them.Yes i know fibre costs a little more per-thou,but most people like you to use fibre around where i am,even most of the local clay shoots are switching from plastic over to fibre,and if you have a good day over the decoys and do use plastic i will always try to clear up as many shot-cups as i can find at the end of the session,it only takes a few minutes to clear up,but could take some while to find a new shoot if you upset the farmer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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