Flite Control Wad vs: wad-stripping choke - which is better?

TheCoachZed

TheCoachZed

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Hey guys,

I know this question will vary by gun and shot size, but has anyone ever compared the patterns from shells loaded with Flite Control Wads, vs. the patterns from an aftermarket wad-stripping choke, to see which does better? I'm curious if I'd be better off investing in high-end shell components if I want to get into reloading, or just go out and buy a Patternmaster or something similar.
 
With my guns in my experience with factory choke tubes the flite control wad shot was tighter. My custom turkey choke 12ga .650 doesn't like them and my sxs's are fixed f/m or xf/f and they didn't like them.
 
I did a rough-and-ready comparison into a mud bank at 30 yards a few years ago when I bought a box of black cloud to try. I compared my factory beretta mod optimachoke with WInchester Supreme Drylock 3.5" #2 with the same load out of my Wad Wizard Supreme (wad-stripping choke) and the #2 3.5" Black CLoud (through my mod optimachoke). The tightest was definitely the Wad Wizard. Black cloud with the flightcontrol wad was not noticibly different than the drylock out of my optimachoke in terms of actual spread, but the pattern was not as even for the black cloud so I abandoned that bandwagon (more clumps and holes in the pattern). I have heard discussions of differences in the lenght of the shot-string too, with regards to wad-stripping chokes (so these differences would not show on a pattern-board). I am a little skeptical of those reports, because I failed to see how stripping the wad keeps a shorter shot-string, but for what it's worth, they reported that the shot-string was shorter with the Wad Wizard. I will say though, the Wad Wizard is a clean kill or clean miss choke for me. Because it was more often the latter than the former, and because I don't tend to take long shots at waterfowl, I prefer the nice even mod choke pattern with a high-quality conventional wad which puts a lot of pellets on a 30" circle at 30-40 yards.
-Dave
 
Hrm.

I'm interested in experimenting with some long-range shotgunning techniques - I hunt deer with buckshot almost exclusively, and I'd like to try loading some shells for coyote hunting too, but thought there's no point in making fancy shells if a Wad Wizard or the like will solve my questions.

Re: long-range duck hunting - I never take long-range wing shots, but I wouldn't mind a shell that would let me whack 'em at long distances while they are on the water. I do a lot of spot-and-stalk duck hunting with my buddies (I know, it's a but unconventional, but it works for us) and we'd all like shells with better patterns at long ranges. For years, we used cheap Winchester XPert shells. They do the job up close, sort of, but they aren't great long-range shells I don't think.
 
Coach - I'm not sure about using the wad wizard with buckshot - Might be fine, but best to check just in case it's not built for the bigger pellets.

For swatting ducks on the water, I would defintely try the wad-wizard - it's perfect for that. Afterwards, whatever you can test that puts out a nice tight pattern through it should be fine. Obviously, the high speed stuff is going to carry lethal penetration farther downrange than teh slower stuff, as long as it still throws a good pattern for you. There's a ballistics chart in the Delta Waterfowl magazine this month that gives muzzle velocities and comparative ballistic gel penetration in a variety of different steel shots. If I remember correctly, Remington Hypersonic is carrying high speeds out the farthest, but be careful with that stuff - it's potent and can be hard on the gun (my buddy's semi cycled so hard that the bolt slammed into the back of the reciever had enough to chip it). Kent Fasteel, one of the Federal flight-control wad products, and somethign else called "Speed Ball" (Hevi-shot?) were also mentioned. None of those are cheap, but chances are that spot-and-stalk duck hunting might go through fewer shells than wingshooting?
 
You can't use shells with a speed faster than 1550 FPS in the wad stripping chokes. Voids warranty and the manufactures say the lug doesn't catch the wad when moving faster than 1550 FPS.
 
dreamwaters said:
Coach - I'm not sure about using the wad wizard with buckshot - Might be fine, but best to check just in case it's not built for the bigger pellets.

For swatting ducks on the water, I would defintely try the wad-wizard - it's perfect for that. Afterwards, whatever you can test that puts out a nice tight pattern through it should be fine. Obviously, the high speed stuff is going to carry lethal penetration farther downrange than teh slower stuff, as long as it still throws a good pattern for you. There's a ballistics chart in the Delta Waterfowl magazine this month that gives muzzle velocities and comparative ballistic gel penetration in a variety of different steel shots. If I remember correctly, Remington Hypersonic is carrying high speeds out the farthest, but be careful with that stuff - it's potent and can be hard on the gun (my buddy's semi cycled so hard that the bolt slammed into the back of the reciever had enough to chip it). Kent Fasteel, one of the Federal flight-control wad products, and somethign else called "Speed Ball" (Hevi-shot?) were also mentioned. None of those are cheap, but chances are that spot-and-stalk duck hunting might go through fewer shells than wingshooting?
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Is that Delta mag available at newsstands? I'd like to read that article.

Water swatting can be easy or hard on shells. If you do it right, you only need one shell per bird. Do it wrong, and you end up spending half a box trying to shoot one that you only crippled. I know some guys scorn water shooting, but I've done a lot of it and it's just as sporting as shooting them on the wing, AFAIC. You just spend more time sneaking and less time wasting shells as they fly by. I've crawled across swamp on my belly in the cold to make a shot, which is a lot more effort than some "wingshooters" I know.

Are we able to get aftermarket choke tubes easily from the U.S.? I've read about Wad Wizards several times and they sound very very interesting.
 
Hmmm, but sure about the Delta mag. I'm a member, so they send it to me. PM me your mailing address if you want, and I'll send it.

Yeah, I've done my share of water-swatting and I know exactly what you mean about the different challenge that goes into it. I haven't done it much since I got a dog, mostly because she gets so wound up that she gets us busted every time!

I had trouble getting the Wad Wizard directly from US. Apparently it was a terrorism threat of some kind, ;-) I had to find a local Canadian distributor and get it that way. You don't shoot a Beretta by any chance do you?

-Dave
 
There is wad wizard ad in the shotgun parts exchange on EE and there is also an ad on gunaddicts for wad wizards in shotgun section.
 
After 35 yards steel shot whether 1700fps or 1250fps at the muzzle is almost going the same speed thru my chrono. Only 50-60fps difference. Just build a suitable shield and angle it downwards. Steel doesn't seem to loose any speed on the way back lol
 
dreamwaters said:
I had trouble getting the Wad Wizard directly from US. Apparently it was a terrorism threat of some kind, ;-) I had to find a local Canadian distributor and get it that way. You don't shoot a Beretta by any chance do you?

-Dave
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I shoot a Winchester 1300 Speed Pump - an older one, so I'm pretty sure it has WinChokes/Invector chokes.

Thanks for the offer on the mag. I pm'ed you my address.
 
brybenn said:
After 35 yards steel shot whether 1700fps or 1250fps at the muzzle is almost going the same speed thru my chrono. Only 50-60fps difference. Just build a suitable shield and angle it downwards. Steel doesn't seem to loose any speed on the way back lol
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This, you wont gain any real yards by shooting fast stuff. Its all hype, the speedballs, hypers, etc. the same as the chokes. Dont know how far your looking to kill sitting birds at but you might want to look at one of the heavier Tungsten products. I killed 2 Black Ducks yesterday at 60 yards with one shot out of 71 Wingmaster with mod choke using #9 Tungsten Super Shot(TSS). This stuff is unreal, Turkey hunters use it and kill them to 80 yards or more, patterns tight and holds energy, its pricey! Google it
 
eastcoastsoxfan said:
This, you wont gain any real yards by shooting fast stuff. Its all hype, the speedballs, hypers, etc. the same as the chokes. Dont know how far your looking to kill sitting birds at but you might want to look at one of the heavier Tungsten products. I killed 2 Black Ducks yesterday at 60 yards with one shot out of 71 Wingmaster with mod choke using #9 Tungsten Super Shot(TSS). This stuff is unreal, Turkey hunters use it and kill them to 80 yards or more, patterns tight and holds energy, its pricey! Google it
Click to expand...

Can it be reloaded affordably?
 
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