Simple Homemade Spreader Load

[J.B. Books]

With the demise of the Polywad Spred-R inserts I have been thinking about and looking for way to continue making spreader loads especially for the 16 gauge which has far fewer options for wads. Scott Kittredge suggested putting a nitro card over the shot to see what it would do so I loaded a 3/4 ounce load with a .070 nitro card on top of the shot charge. The results in a 16 gauge Lefever with a full choke was a pattern that went from 79% at 40 yards in a 30" circle to a pattern of 39%. I got 40% with the Spred-R inserts at the same range so I consider this to be a success. Below is a picture of the results of a nitro card on top spreader load and below a side by side comparison of the same load in the same gun with no nitro card on top.