doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com wads for tighter patterns

Is there such a thing? I know about spreader wads to use in tightly choked guns but wondered if there is something that would do just the opposite. A tighter pattern out of open chokes. Thanks

Cutting back on powder to produce less velocity might help.

You can tighten patterns by using larger pellets, harder pellets, buffers, lower velocities, and different burn rates; or combinations of the above. May require experimentation.

Federal claims in their advertising for the Black Cloud steel loads that their FliteControl wad tightens patterns. This from the PatternMaster web site:

Not to near the same extent as spreader wads defeat choke effect. There have been many experiments and claims, but nothing reliable or really repeatable, as far as I know.

We don't know much about choke, but my buddies are I were surprised last week by how tight was buffered No. 3 out of a modified barrel, three-inch 20ga.

For muzzleloaders, I believe its Circlefly that makes a wad that will tighten up those cylinder bores. How they work is; the plastic cup is just that a cup which has to have its sides cut vertically producing custom length petals. The length of the cut produces a more 'Open' choke. However that's in a muzzleloader where you don't have a chamber to deal with I've never looked to see if they make them for modern reloading. That could be worth checking into.

The concept of using a wad to hold the shot together longer has been tried many times without, to my knowledge, satisfactory results. Anyone got real pattern data to the contrare?

There was a pre-release review article on Federal Black Cloud that appeared in Shotgun Sports magazine a few (3?) years ago that had some pattern data, as I recall. But, they were comparing Black Cloud to other loads and did not isolate the wad variable separately. If the wads are available, it would be relatively easy to pattern them in a standard load, assuming you have suitable load recipes. The article had the usual amount of flackery from the writer who went on a nice hunt at Federal's expense. I have shot a lot of Black Cloud this season, and the stuff does seem to work better than other steel loads, including Kent. Could be the wads, could be the funny pellets, who knows.

No, I don't have any actual pattern data that would contradict your statement Rocket. At least I don't know of any that has been published detailing results of tighter patterns through the use of wadding.

Some few years back there was considerable talk of buffering with white flour & some very tight patterns were reported. Several well known writers were espousing this practise. Then Don Zutz ran an article showing a very real probability of the flour crusting & sticking on the inside of previously fired plastic cases & raising pressures to a dangerous level. Should you see this recommended "Please" Do not Try it. Only use recommended buferig mat'l with lab prepared data.