Spreader Results

[Randy Roberts]

I usually carry a few spreaders in my bag for those pesky close range rabbits. Lately the Parker of choice has been a 34" DHE choked .040 and .040. Figured I would see what sort of pattern enhancement I was getting with a spreader load so off to the patterning board with the aforementioned Parker.
Distance- 23 yards
First up my go to 1 oz Fiocchi #8 at 1200 FPS for comparison. Yikes, that's tight!
Next up the Poly Wad Spreader- Federal GM hull, 1 1/8 oz #8, 18.9 grs American Select, Fed 209, CB 4118 wad, 1160 FPS.
Next up the BP X-Stream Spreader-Same load as above.

The board is 30", while I did not measure the Fiocchi pattern I would say it is about 15" or half the board roughly. The Poly Wad stretches the pattern to just about the full 30" while the X-Stream remains a little tighter. Either one affords a little more room for error on tight targets but I like that Poly Wad personally.

My wife thinks I should find something more productive to do with my time now that I have retired. She's right so I started shooting my rifles more

[William Machauer]

You can not complain about that Randy! I've not messed with spreader wads.
This reminds me of a guy I knew in Colorado, he was a big goose hunter and the steel loads back then were not up to his expectations. He started loading his own ammo but he would cut a straw, fill that with lead shot and put the steel around the perimeter of the wad. If a game warden checked him a magnet would stick to his shells . His daily limit increased. He then noticed that if the straw was left empty it would compress and tighten a pattern some.

[Brian H]

Impressive results

[J.B. Books]

It's a shame that Poly Wad went out of business and their Spred-R insert is not available. It would be great if somebody would make it again.

[Rick Roemer]

Thanks for posting, good information.

[mobirdhunter]

Well, Randy, it's good to see you're are not vegetating in your retirement. I told you you'd be even busier. Strange thing about time.

Those results are impressive. I used the Spread-R back when I was reloading. I still have a very large stash of them for 12 and small gauge loadings. Based on your results, I just may unpack my reloading "stuff." My shooting needs all the help it can get.

I see lots of powdered clay birds in your future.

[Mike of the Mountain]

I’ve always had good results with the BP spreader wads and spreader inserts. I primarily use them on those same rabbit targets. Great minds….

[James L. Martin]

Randy, I have been using polywad inserts for a long time, so far I haven't found anything that works better.