RST fiber vs plastic wads

[Dave Erickson]

Forgive me if this isn’t the right sub-forum for this question.

I recently bought a 16 ga VH with original chambers and FxF chokes. I’d like to buy some short RST loads for it and I’m wondering if the fiber wads would be a better choice. Going with the thought of plastic wads making possibly up to 10% tighter patterns, would the fiber wads be a better choice? Not a concern for a few clays, but I’d like to take a few pheasants with it. I’m probably overthinking it. Thanks!

[C.O.B.]

The fiber wads might open up your pattern some, only by shooting them on a pattern board can you tell for sure. Another option is getting some spreader loads from either RST or Poly wad.

[Dave Erickson]

Thanks. I’ll buy a box of each and see how the patterns look. Like I said, I’m overthinking it.

[Heff]

I was just looking at and wondering the same thing in reference to the fiber wad loads from RST.

[10 bore]

Originally Posted by Dave Erickson

Forgive me if this isn’t the right sub-forum for this question.

I recently bought a 16 ga VH with original chambers and FxF chokes. I’d like to buy some short RST loads for it and I’m wondering if the fiber wads would be a better choice. Going with the thought of plastic wads making possibly up to 10% tighter patterns, would the fiber wads be a better choice? Not a concern for a few clays, but I’d like to take a few pheasants with it. I’m probably overthinking it. Thanks!

fyi, I shot a old 12 ga paper shell from the 1930's or 40's for the same reason. it was 1 oz 4's out of full choke and it shot a 87 % pattern must have been a fluke so I did it again and turned out the same. I don't know if you would have same results?? keep us posted.
scott

[Dave Erickson]

10 Bore, I had the same experience with some short Kent Pure Gold loads in a Cyl/IC prewar Merkel. They patterned much tighter than expected. Seems counterintuitive having fiber-was loads outperform plastic "shot-cup" wad loads, but I've repeated this a few times now in both the Cyl and IC barrels.