Spreader loads?
- Thread starter Grouse Man
- Start date
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I've used factory 12 gauge spreader loads and also experimented a bit with making my own.
Kent made spreader's but I haven't seen them around for many years. They had a wad with a plastic spike sort of thing in the middle of it to help spread the shot out after leaving the barrel. I messed around with glueing a piece of plastic to the middle of the wad to imitate the Kent wad and also glued a plastic spike onto an overshot card pointing backwards into the shot. My thoughts were that the overshot card would have wind resistance that would slow it quicker than the lead shot to force the shot column to spread out and they all worked to some degree.
I also messed around with spreader tubes as well, the ones I used were Angle Port Cobra diffuser tubes and they did work to some degree. Somewhere along the line I drifted away from the idea of spreader loads and diffuser tubes though and just resolved to shoot better and I seldom use open chokes for even the closest targets these days.
Kent made spreader's but I haven't seen them around for many years. They had a wad with a plastic spike sort of thing in the middle of it to help spread the shot out after leaving the barrel. I messed around with glueing a piece of plastic to the middle of the wad to imitate the Kent wad and also glued a plastic spike onto an overshot card pointing backwards into the shot. My thoughts were that the overshot card would have wind resistance that would slow it quicker than the lead shot to force the shot column to spread out and they all worked to some degree.
I also messed around with spreader tubes as well, the ones I used were Angle Port Cobra diffuser tubes and they did work to some degree. Somewhere along the line I drifted away from the idea of spreader loads and diffuser tubes though and just resolved to shoot better and I seldom use open chokes for even the closest targets these days.
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Orvis made a huge virtue out of selling spreader load for grouse and woodcock but also made no actual claims about the shells that I can remember. Never tried any but it was tempting, however the principle of 'if it isn't broken don't fix it' overruled. Chances at those birds are so rare and hard won you see.
I use fibre wad 2.5" shells in short chambered guns and they generally shoot tighter denser patterns than plastic shot cup loads in my experience
I've played with 12ga spreader loads in tightly choked guns. For skeet my scores dropped while using them. They produced wide ragged patterns with large gaps on paper
I have loaded 12 gauge spreaders for years in my Woodcock days . Used Active hulls and polywads or BP X wads with #8 or #9 soft shot . They worked well in a 101 choked ic and mod. Early season heavy cover. Never tried them in the 20 bore but BP makes a 20 X wad.
If you reload .... there are spreader inserts ....
https://www. ballisticproducts.com/X-Stream-spreader-insert-200_bag/productinfo/3220001/
https://www. ballisticproducts.com/X-Stream-spreader-insert-200_bag/productinfo/3220001/
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
What exactly will you have to live with?
If you have a fixed full choke gun then spreader loads may not work, they’re designed to be used in conjunction with open chokes.
These:
Gamebore Regal Game
https://gamebore.com/cartridge/game/20g-regal-game
They used to be called Traditional Game
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Interesting, now having read the sales pitch I feel I need some.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Funny how that works, almost as if it were planned…. Lol
I've got a couple flats of Kent 12ga #8 sporting/target spreader loads (and would part with a flat). I patterned them from two different Browning BSS and they throw beautiful patterns, almost text book IC from the F choke barrels.
Challenger lists a 20ga "mini mag" spreader 1oz. load, but only in #9 shot - a classic woodcock loading, I believe. I've never seen them on the shelf and Challenger will not do direct sales to the public (I asked a few years ago - wanted to do an order of 10 cases and they said no).
I've got a bunch of Gamebore Regal Game 2.5" 16ga. ammo, as well as a couple boxes of the older Traditional Game. I've not patterned it yet in my Belgian SxS.
Challenger lists a 20ga "mini mag" spreader 1oz. load, but only in #9 shot - a classic woodcock loading, I believe. I've never seen them on the shelf and Challenger will not do direct sales to the public (I asked a few years ago - wanted to do an order of 10 cases and they said no).
I've got a bunch of Gamebore Regal Game 2.5" 16ga. ammo, as well as a couple boxes of the older Traditional Game. I've not patterned it yet in my Belgian SxS.
I have a Remington model 31 in 20 gauge with MOD barrel. So it would be nice to have that option of a more open pattern. I'll keep an eye open for those Gamebore loads, might be worth a try.
But like I said, I can live with it as is.
But like I said, I can live with it as is.
Just a quick note. Those Gamebore Traditional are loaded with felt wads, not a spreader and not a plastic cup. They may be effective at sending out a more dispersed spray of pellets. I have a bunch and quite like them. But they aren't spreaders. Just, as the name implies......traditional. And I have not seen any Gamebore Regal loaded with felt wads yet. The Regal line replaced the Traditional as a 2 1/2" lower pressure shell and load suitable for most vintage guns but no felt as of yet.
I have loaded many BPI spreader inserts over the years, and they do work at opening a tight choke up, depending on the gun.
Some were great, others not so much.
My favorite wad ( besides traditionbal fibre wads) is the BPI brush wad, which has no petals, but has a shallow shot cup built int it.
Cat
Some were great, others not so much.
My favorite wad ( besides traditionbal fibre wads) is the BPI brush wad, which has no petals, but has a shallow shot cup built int it.
Cat
