SPREDR Shot

[Edmund McIlhenny]

I am going to try #8 SPREDR on Quail.I will be shooting a 28 gauge with 24 inch barrels.I have never used this shot before.The gun is choked full and full.Anyone have an idea how it will work?

[Mark Ouellette]

Edmund,

Expect the pattern to open up 1 and maybe a little more in choke performance. I think the smaller the shot the more responsive the spreader loads. The best thing to do is to set up a pattern board. Shoot at least 3 shots without spreaders and 3 with spreaders and compare. If you do pattern the difference between these loads please post up your results.

Mark

[Edmund McIlhenny]

I will do it at 30 yards and report.

[Daryl Corona]

Edmund,
Just last week I was on a quail hunt with my 30" VHE choked M/F and used Remington skeet loads in #9's. I tried spreader loads in the left barrel and found little difference between the two loads. Just be patient and let them get out a little further. Mark is right in that smaller shot tends to open patterns a bit more. Good luck and have fun. 28's and quail are a marriage made in heaven. What gun is that with 24" barrels and F/F chokes?
Daryl

[Edmund McIlhenny]

It is a CHE with LOP that fits me well.

[Daryl Corona]

Sounds like a beautiful and interesting little gun. Not many 24" CHE 28's out there. Don't worry about the tight chokes and just shoot the old girl. The quail won't know the difference. Let us know how your hunt went.
Daryl

[Edmund McIlhenny]

Will do and the best I can determine there are 3.

[King Brown]

FWIW, a very experienced American friend hunting grouse and woodcock in New Brunswick gave up spreaders because he worried about hitting his dogs. He was using 28 gauge. I'd provide more information if he weren't convalescing hip replacement back home in Alabama.

[Edmund McIlhenny]

I would appreciate any help on this.I do not shoot low birds.I mean I do not.Maybe the pattering will help.I would rather shoot myself than shoot a dog.

[Mark Ouellette]

A spreader would be something if it opens a pattern more than 2 choke measurements!

As for hitting a dog, a spreader will open a choke by inches. I reframe from pointing my shotguns within yards of my dog!

Mark

[Dave Suponski]

I use home rolled spreaders in at least three of my tight choked Parkers. I use them in 20 gauge 16 gauge and 12 gauge and my results have been the open the chokes about 1 point.IE: full/mod.

[calvin humburg]

Haven't patterned them but I have killed phesant with 10ga spreaders I twisted up.
12370

[Mark Ouellette]

Calvin,

Is that a Spread-R disk and post as your overshot wad?

I use the BPI "X" spreaders in target loads but have thought that the overshot wad with post might give a better spread witt larger (sizes 4-6) shot.

What do you think?

Mark

[scott kittredge]

not sure if it is the same thing as the spreader wad, but i did some test with post wads and 1 1/8th oz 6 shot in a full choked 12 ga. went from 78% to 60% and a nice pattern, scott

[Dave Suponski]

I buy my spreader discs from Jay Menefee at Polywad. Here is a little trick that Jay has given me. Use inserts one gauge smaller than the gauge you are reloading. In other words I use 20 gauge discs in my 16 gauge reloads. Better patterns are achieved.

[calvin humburg]

Yes it is Mark. I really don't know it may spread a little better, all the shot has to go around it but...
Thats a 12 in a 10 because they don't make a 10. Thanks for the tip Dave, if I load some for my 12 or 16.

[William Maynard]

This is my first year using spread-R loads. I am hooked! I was turned on to them from a fellow PGCA member. Though I am not shooting a 28 Ga. They greatly improved my harvest. I do not shoot low birds, but on the other hand I am not afraid to pull the trigger several yards over my dog. Use good judgement and you will not have a problem. Your harvest will improve. Good hunting.

[Frank Cronin]

I buy my spreader discs from Jay Menefee at Polywad. Here is a little trick that Jay has given me. Use inserts one gauge smaller than the gauge you are reloading. In other words I use 20 gauge discs in my 16 gauge reloads. Better patterns are achieved.

Dave,

Thanks for the tip for going with smaller gauges. When I first reloaded for 12 I was using the 12 ga. disks and couldn't fold crimp, messed up my reloader, and instead had to roll crimp them.

When you reload intending to use with a spreader disk, I read somewhere that you use powder recipes for 1 1/8 loads but only drop 1 oz of shot and then add the spreader disk - then crimp. In this example, this is when you are reloading for 12 gauge.

Is this what you do?

[David Holes]

That is exactly what I do with my 12 ga. loads. My Dillion reloader is fully adjustable so I regulate the amount of shot dropped into the shell. Seems my older guns are all tighter choked so lighter 1 oz. loads are awesome. I use sp16 wads in my 16 so I still end up with 1 oz. loads with the spreader insert. I got to shoot my new 12 ga. 1 frame hammer gun at skeet yeterday. Tight chokes and spreaders broke me a 23. Good start. My shooting buddy that used to hide behind the skeet house, them bad damascus barrels, said that is the first time he has ever shot skeet along side someone shooting a hammer gun. How that just funny. Dave

[Mark Ouellette]

Has anyone tried using a section of plastic drinking straw to create a spreader load?

I have read of this ubt never tried it. I think if possible the straw would have to be a big thick one like McDonalds uses.

The theory is that something compressable will compress when going through the choke constriction and spring back pushing shot outboard after exiting the constriction.

Mark

[scott kittredge]

Has anyone tried using a section of plastic drinking straw to create a spreader load?

I have read of this ubt never tried it. I think if possible the straw would have to be a big thick one like McDonalds uses.

The theory is that something compressable will compress when going through the choke constriction and spring back pushing shot outboard after exiting the constriction.

Mark

i think that is how the post wad works, center post being the "straw". scott

[Mark Ouellette]

Scott,

Correct you are! Now, who has replaced the "x" and post spreaders with a cheap piece of drinking straw.

If no one has who shall be the first to and report their findings?

Mark

[Dave Suponski]

Frank, Yes that is what I do. I just drop an 1/8 oz. less shot and it works fine. I don't know about this drinking straw thing. Seems kind of labor intensive. Using the spreader disc you can use your machine to insert them while at the same time ensuring that they are seated nice and straight. How can you acomplish that with a piece of straw?

[Mark Ouellette]

Dave,

I would use my fingers and my calibrated eyeball! This is how I load the magic BPI X spreaders. You have seen the result of those spreaders shot in my full choked 10 gauges. The drinking straw would be much less expensive and might also serve as a reserve in case one ran out of spreaders. Also, since when are you afraid of hard work?

Mark

[Dave Suponski]

Mark, I am not afraid of hard work or any work for that matter. Its just that I can load the inserts with one more stroke of the machine vs. loading an insert by hand. If it works for you have at it......:)

[charlie cleveland]

sounds like something i might try...get me some straws this week and loadup some 10 ga spreader loads....if they work weve learned something... charlie

[Steve Kleist]

The idea of a spreader sounds like an interesting reloading project for my 28 ga Parker. Please pardon my ignorance, but are speader wads commercially available? Are there recommended brands? Your advice and experience is appreciated.
Thank You in advance.
Steve Kleist Ely,MN

[Mark Ouellette]

Steve,

I do not know about spreader wads for the 28 gauge but I'll bet they are!

I would check with Ballistics Products Inc, BPI, Polywad, and Reloading Specialities.

Mark

[Greg Baehman]

The idea of a spreader sounds like an interesting reloading project fior my 28 ga Parker. Please pardon my ignorance, but are speader wads commercially available? Are there recommended brands? Your advice and experience is appreciated.
Thank You in advance.
Steve Kleist Ely,MN
Steve, you don't need special spreader wads if you use Spred-R inserts from Polywad. You simply use your regular recipe and add one on top of your shot before crimping. They work great.
http://www.polywad.com/spredr-inserts.html