Plastic vs Fibre Wad Shotgun Cartridges

[@maseta3]

The plastic shot cup basically acts as one more degree of choke. Very informative. Thanks for going the extra mile in your videos and provide us with a visual field test rather than just theoretical speculations. Keep up the good work buddy. Cheers from an American shooting enthusiast!!

[@srspower]

I'm glad you liked it! Don't forget to sub, I have just had my rifle licence through so plenty more to come. Thanks for watching :)

[@m96c40]

+maseta3 I guess it does. I hadn't thought about that. I always assumed the pattern is better JUST because it protects the shot against deformation. Thanks for pointing that out.

[@maseta3]

+m96c40 No sweat buddy, glad I could help. another way to increase pattern the tightness of the pattern even more is to decrease velocity and use harder shot ( more antimony added to the lead during manufacture), or copper plated. less deformation + plastic wad = tight patterns. That's how Turkey loads are loaded.

[@jamie57061]

Thanks for taking the time to create the video and uploading. I always use fibre wads as I don't like to see them littering the countryside. I'm shocked on how much tighter the group is, just by using a plastic wad. I won't be changing though!

[@srspower]

+Jamie S Yeah i was surprised too, but yes at the end of the day plastic wads make a mess. Thanks for watching :)

[@russellturnbull5384]

The reason that the shot on the target was high is probably because most over and under shotguns are made to shoot high so when you are shooting crossers the target does not disappear behind the gun. This does not happen on side by sides as they are more flat so you can see the target better. I found this out as when shooting at sitting pigeons i always used to miss. But then i was told to shoot at their feet and it helped a lot. As shotguns are not designed to shoot sitting targets faults like this do happen and you just have to be aware of them! Great video and i am looking forward to the next one!! :)

[@srspower]

Thanks for watching Russell and the useful information :)

[@silecek1]

with respect to your comments , i disagree , i think the gun is not well fitted to the shooter

[@russellturnbull5384]

Yeh, that could also be a factor!!! Thanks for your opinion on it!! :-)

[@davidlane7295]

I think the fiber wad did a fine job. Nice even spread.

[@Stevo74777]

Thanx for the great vid! I have found an alternative to fibre wads, a family member of mine has brought in cartridges with a water soluble and bio degradable plastic wad, meaning they should disappear after a few showers. I'm giving them a go at the Keepers shoot next weekend.

[@srspower]

Ah yes somebody mentioned such a cartridge on the pigeonwatch forums but nobody knew exactly what make etc. If you could try them out and let me know how they perform, pricing etc I'd be very grateful :)

[@xhappybunnyx]

Thank you! I wanted to add an option to my video game to increase shotgun spread a bit, and was about to link it to sawing off a barrel but wanted to double check if that was a myth or not. After some research and this well made vid I'm now making it a choice of shell wadding. Thanks!

[@srspower]

If you want to change spread then sure plastic vs fibre makes a difference but choke us most important. Cylinder choke being widest and full being the tightest. Check my video shotgun chokes explained.

[@doberman74]

quite a difference! always good to see the visual side of things rather than someone just waffling on, subbed :)

[@srspower]

Glad you enjoyed it, I think your name rings a bell actually. You know funkyprepper and the gang don't you? :)

[@doberman74]

***** certainly do ;)

[@chicagojohn5207]

Thanks for this one. I see what you meant in a previous comment regarding possible use of a cylinder bore gun for trap. I will give it a try with the plastic wads first and see how it goes. Quite a difference due to the wadding, and now I can't wait to see your video on the targets which show the pattern so well! Thanks again for these great instructional videos.

[@srspower]

Yes plastic patterns a LOT better it seems, I already did the target making video. Check it out. Shoot and See Homemade Reactive Targets

[@johnrussell3755]

2:00 for this point i was searching the whole internet and finally found out now.. thanks

[@FarooqiVL]

A question came to my mind that: Does a fiber one cause any damage to the barrel? As the pallets rub against the barrel whereas in plastic wad metal pallets stay inside it untill they are out of the barrel.

[@rabidbatgames8854]

Just getting into loading shotshells. Ive reloaded handguns for years. After looking around at a LOT of sh't and info, Im thinking I like the fiber wad over plastic, if for no other reason than to reduce the plastic left out in the field since I pick up my empty cases, but not so fond of trying to track down the shotcups.

[@zacbell4661]

Great video Sam, A very good visual example of the cartridges and wadding.

[@kirkboswell2575]

This is an old video. But I'm going to comment anyway. The 2 gram advantage of the fiber wad isn't any advantage. The shot rubs against the barrel and gets a lot of flat spots on the shot. Aerodynamics across those flat spots opens up the pattern significantly. In fact, when plastic wads first came out, that was one of the selling points. The plastic cup protected the shot and yielded tighter patterns. The initial recommendation was to use a choke one size larger than you were accustomed to. All this is old news to me, but based upon video commentary it should probably be repeated here. Even so, I still like the idea of fiber wads. Maybe I'm just old fashioned.

[@specdel]

I wonder if going a choke size tighter with fibre might produce a pattern similar to that achieved with plastic, or would it just produce more deformation? Personally I think I would have a better chance of hitting something with your fibre pattern than the tighter plastic one!

[@kimnilsson110]

One further step of testing could be different chokes. Some older guns with tight chokes (full-xtra full) benefits from the fiber wad. That is, if You intend to eat what You shoot. Choke is a relative term and can be cintroled much by the choice of cartridges.

[@grahamlong6870]

And of course as the plastic was throwing a much tighter pattern therefore you add to the chances of missing completely or sending a live bird away having JUST collected a few non killing pellets. Always used fibre for the pollution problem, and on this evidence will continue to do so.

[@patrickkinney4998]

I've been looking to reload with fiber wads. I wonder if a Mylar wrap around the shot would make any difference

[@josephsnisky1851]

I like the pattern from the improved modified choak at 20 yards .

[@johnbrase7288]

From 2013 But very valuable for an American with no experience with fibre wads

[@danielleclare2938]

The plastic wad increases the choke and possibly restricts spread for a bid as the petals flare out and they are heavier than the fibre so they add to the forward motion for a bit as well... fibre is homemade if you want and works good for lead at slower velocities try that and see I think the fibre is the best but for lack of shotcup which is nice to have...

[@GG-jw8pt]

Did I see you shoot over a busy motorway in the intro?

[@12deepdiver]

Just a thought, if a fibre wad was more tightly choked say 3/4 or full, would it perform similar to a 1/2 choked plastic wadded cartridge at the same distance.?

[@FloridaFirefighter09]

Never thought there was that much of a difference nice video

[@srspower]

Yes we were quite surprised how much difference it makes! Thanks for watching :)

[@HuntinginLebanon94]

Hi what the difference between Plastic vs Fibre vs cartons Wad Shotgun Cartridges calibre 12 mm ?

[@HuntinginLebanon94]

Hi What is the difference between fiber and plastic ?

[@sethbuchanan1566]

If I may suggest an alternative, in Latin America paper shot-cups are fairly common among those folks whom I have met that reload. This is largely due to them being cheap, however, I believe that they may have all the advantages of the fiber wad shown above, and none of the disadvantages.

[@gammasponge]

Informative video. How do you reload your fiber wad hulls? The recipes the powder manufactures have are for plastic wads.

[@srspower]

I haven't started reloading yet I am afraid! But that may be something I will be doing soon ...

[@gammasponge]

***** Shot shell reloading is easy, and fun. I'm not to worried when I do it since it's low energy (at least for plastic wads). Pistol and rifle loads are a different story...I'm really careful with those, but I do tend to load on the low side (I reload for plinking). I haven't seen fiber wads for sale over in the US, but I do feel bad when I'm hunting that I pick up my shells, but the wads are out in the fields some place. I'll have to figure out how to load fiber wads for dove hunting.

[@srspower]

gammasponge Sounds a good idea, I am sure you can get them. Ask at your local reloading store.

[@gruntspy44]

Im american..... do many people load buck loads with fiberwads?

[@drdr6144]

Thanks for sharing the information. I've been trying to just what the differences might be. I'm new to shooting and the shotgun and am making my first purchase for ammunition this will help me.

[@srspower]

I am glad it helped, if you need more information then I highly recommend you check this video I did also:- Shotgun Cartridges Explained Should give you an idea of what all the numbers mean for shot size and the size of the load.

[@ByrgerTidesson76]

very nice video - in future ,shall you test a difference beetween a rolled turnover and crimp closure?

[@srspower]

That's not something I have thought of but I may get around to it! Thanks for watching :)

[@jungleno.]

Roll crimp=lower pressure

[@timward8335]

Hi Tim again. Great video again bud. We've done a similar test ourselves I think this is an excellent example to show ppl it matters what you put down your barrels aye? Well done again keep up the good work cheers

[@srspower]

Thanks for watching Tim :)

[@raf3336]

On of your videos is on the fields magazine website

[@srspower]

Found it! Good to know I am being linked to, thanks mate :)

[@sowbhagyanagayasamy1782]

which material is used for fibre wad ?

[@jeffnapoleoni7206]

I didn't know you brits could own shotguns, very interesting video. Trapshooter in Lake Ozark, Missouri USA

[@srspower]

You would be surprised what we can own here in the UK. Check out my channel and thanks for watching :)

[@jobold2048]

Only for the last 100 years or so.. lol

[@andy8947]

Hi Sam going rough shooting with the sxp going to use gambore with low brass 6 shot have you had any problems cycling them ? I've used some lighter loads at the clay range 65m 71/2 and kept jamming . Thanks for help Andy

[@srspower]

+Andy sawyer The only rounds I had issues cycling were high brass due to the brass not being caught as well by the extractor. But then practise seemed to overcome that. You should be getting issues with low brass at all, if you do then maybe you should get it looked at?

[@TweedsandPheasants]

Good video lads. Been thinking of doing a comparison of some game cartridges I have. Be nice to know what that paper is you used to shoot at? When will the video be up telling us what it is?

[@srspower]

All in a matter of time! To make big ones like that isn't for free in effort or money! But it will be soon. Thanks for watching Nick :)

[@TweedsandPheasants]

Ok mate. I may just open some boxes up from work lol

[@srspower]

***** Haha!

[@terrencewalsh453]

What if you used a shot cup with the fiber wad?

[@srspower]

I don’t think they exist?

[@terrencewalsh453]

@@srspower Just cut the shot cup off a WAA12 wad

[@andy8947]

Ok Sam thanks for your reply

[@ek8710]

What is the disc between the fiber wad and the nitro called?

[@jungleno.]

It’s a Gas seal or “over powder cards”. Also called over powder cups or gas seals(if plastic)

[@chios1958]

Is a gas check card used like a nitro card? Thanks.

[@srspower]

I don't understand the question?

[@jungleno.]

Nitro cards(a brand name) Are the same as generic hard cards and are generally used to adjust the total column height to ensure a proper crimp. Plastic gas seals are better suited over the powder charge.

[@bobihne]

That's a world of difference isn't it .

[@srspower]

Yes I was surprised myself, thanks for watching :)

[@FGYT1]

Have you tried the Cupped Fibre wads think they may be home load only

[@srspower]

Not tied them no.

[@FGYT1]

***** Onl stumbled on them couple of days ago as im looking into reloading yShotgun carts claygame.co.uk/products/detail/100-12ga-fibre-shot-cups

[@spitfireace87]

***** hi srs my clay ground only allows fibre wad and i usually use quarter and half choke but aftrer seeing the spread of a half choke fibre wad im thinking i should try three quarters and full or full and full i swear ive seen my shot pattern go straight through the clay without hitting it very annoying. it would be great if you could do a vid showing what choke(fibre wad) patterns as close to the plastic wad on say a quarter or half choke if you know what i mean. i have no way of testing this in the field and would love to know. thanks sam

[@srspower]

spitfireace87 What ranges are you shooting the clays at? If its 30 yards or less you should be fully smashing those clays with cylinder bore let alone full! You are probably going just behind or in front, increasing the choke may actually make your problem worse.

[@spitfireace87]

***** yeah lol i probably do miss a fair bit . its mostly when i get caught out and i take a shot at a clay 40 50 yards out i have seen it go through the pattern do you think a tighter choke would just deform the shot to the point where its inacurate

[@stripymccatpuss]

Good vid, well you had a pointer, what's not to like :) Looking forward to the home made shoot and see target vid

[@srspower]

Yes it will be soon, I need to get some more paint! Thanks for watching :)

[@joehunt1980]

Hey great video, its quite interesting how much pattern difference the two types of Shells have in a real world situation. Just wondering... Is there a rule of thumb as to say which Chokes will give a similar spread with each Wad type? eg. a Fibre Wad Shell fired through a Full Choke may give a similar pattern to a Plastic Wad shell fired through the Improved Modified Choke? :-)

[@BAMBI243]

why are you not patterning at 40yds like the rest of the world does

[@seancumbo3971]

plastic wads how do you measure them?

[@jungleno.]

Ounce capacity of the shot cup and overall wad height(to ensure a proper crimp)

[@bladesmilitariauk5013]

great vid, very well presented as usual :-)

[@srspower]

Thanks for watching mate :)

[@bladesmilitariauk5013]

my pleasure dude!

[@thehuntertv2272]

What shotgun do u have good vid mate :)

[@srspower]

In the first part you can see my Browning B525 over and under. In the test Tom used his Browning Citori which is very similar. Thanks for watching :)

[@griffithk]

Good stuff.

[@Stevo74777]

Will do !

[@UsuallyDestroyer]

Тоже чай пропал?

[@АрчибальдКарнавалов]

London is the capital of Great Britain

[@dryued6874]

Не понимаю, что такого - подумаешь, англичанин разговаривает. Cheers, guv, have a jolly day.

[@UsuallyDestroyer]

@@dryued6874 а ничего такого и нет

[@lunatiy]

I didn`t know nitro is another name for smokeless gunpowder

[@srspower]

Only in America do people call it smokeless powder. In the rest of the world it was once called cordite or ballistite until more varieties appeared then it generally just got called nitro.

[@jungleno.]

Nitro… For the nitro cellulose compound in double based powders.

[@VenomGamingX]

20 gauge vs 12 gauge? You answer

[@srspower]

12 gauge is good because of price. As cartridges are most commonly bought in 12 gauge they tend to be cheaper and more common. For shooting? Not much difference really as you can get 20 gauge heavy loads and 12 gauge light loads. I quite fancy getting a 20 gauge side by side at some point as they are a little better looking. Mind you if you want exclusivity there is always 16 gauge.

[@VenomGamingX]

Cool

[@VenomGamingX]

But gun laws in the UK are so bad - they're so strick that you even need a license for a .22lr

[@srspower]

ale de Well yes, in fact the license you need for a .22lr is section 1 much more strict than the license for a shotgun, section 2

[@GazzerG2000]

Good test.... you should 're-shoot', ;) the choke video using those targets. Sooo much better

[@srspower]

Yes, they took a while to make though!

[@joaolitos]

Try some plastic wads biodegradeble...

[@johnmetson7950]

Never shoot thrum hedge

[@archangel20031]

He obviously never took a primer apart and does not understand how it works.

[@henrybaillie-hamilton9453]

What about cartridge speed video a bit amateurish

[@paoemantega8793]

Try not to say "So yeah .... on the whole interesting video well done :)

[@williamcrawford7982]

Well then , fiber wad KILLS target straight away , other one not so much? Hahaha. 🤗

[@FatGuyWithAKatana]

the only fibre wad shells i've fired are buckshot, most other shells i've used have the plastic. see look the guts of a 12 gauge 3" 00 magnum shotgun shell

[@srspower]

Yeah I don't think fibre wad is as common in the US. I guess because you have so much more space than we do, so it is less of an issue. Good video :)

[@droetker3496]

Can't wait until i apply for my Section 2 SGC

[@srspower]

I've had the letter through my door for my FAC interview this week. Wish me luck! :)

[@droetker3496]

good man what do you plan on buying

[@srspower]

Vlad Țepeș Comes down to money! But i plan to get, to start with, a winchester SX3 7 + 1 and a rimfire magic ruger 1022 with a heavy barrel. Just typical that when you save up for stuff and a load of bills come at once!

[@droetker3496]

***** would also like a Ruger 10-22 to with a thumb hole stock and a shorter barrel so its more of a carbine would also like a Lever Action such as a Rossi R92 chambered in .357/.38 although its going to be quite awhile before i get a Section 1 got to get a Section 2 first but anyway hope you get the firearms you want mate and hopefully those bills don't bite you in the ass peace and good luck my friend :)