plstic or fibre is there a differance?

[air gun ant 1,666]

got my SGC last friday so pretty new to shotgunning and was just wondering if there was a differance performance wise between plastic or fibre wad? i know theres a differance in price but dont want to leave plasic wadding all over my permision. also what load and shot size for crows and pigeon? any help appreciated ant

[markha 99]

Plastic is non bio, Fibre is a lot better.

Loads of info on here, just enter it in the search bar on this page.

 

I have been using anything and everything from 5's to 7's and 26g to 32g loads, basically which ever is cheap at the time

 

The main thing will be to 'get your eye in' and start building up some 'sight pictures' so you know where to shoot at for a given range, speed of target and wind speed/direction. Shooting on the clay ground will certainly help improve this for you, perhaps a session of 'DTL - down the line type targets to build some confidence.

 

I had a fun shoot on some clays a few weeks back in very very gusty winds, so much so that on a left to right going away target - I had a sight picture of the end of my barrel being 3" low and about 2.5" right/ahead of the clay, thats a lot of lead and drop as it was so windy.

 

Remember, never aim a shotgun like a rifle and always shoot at where the bird is going to, Not where it is

 

Most important of all only shoot at birds that are in range otherwise youll just get fustrated at not hitting anything.

 

Drymounting is also a valuable technique to practice.

 

Have fun

Mark

[scarecrow243 24]

plastic wads keep the shot tighter fiber wads let the shot spread more at the same distace

[air gun ant 1,666]

cheers lads, going clay bashing tomorrow and going to see my mate on his farm tonight, been struggeling to keep corvid numbers down with airgun so hopefully get a bit of practice in tonight to so fibre is prob the better choice for shooting live quarry and plastic for clays, just need to get used to ranges i think, oh well i think ill practice practice practice and hopefully have fun whilst doing so thanks for the info

[RogerTheCat 3]

Plastic tends to be slightly cheaper than Fibre.

 

The problem with plastic is that it is not bio-degradable as already stated but also grazing animals can eat the plastic wadding which is not good for them. On my permissions I only shoot fibre for this reason. If the land is not used to graze animlas or say silage production the land owner may be happy for you to use plastic but i would advise checking with him first.

 

If you open up a plastic wadded cartridge it contains something that reminds me of an egg cup with the shot sitting in the cup part. This cup holds the shot when it is fired from the gun and keeps it tighter together as it travels forwards. A fibre wad sits behind the shot and just pushes it out of the gun when it is fired.

 

I shoot a 12bore and for pigeons and crows I use 30 or 32g No 6. For clays I use a 28 no7 or 8 but I am thinking of dropping to 21 or 24g for clays to save a bit of money.

 

You do not say what sort of shotgun you have but some autos, for instance my mates Hatson, will not cycle 21g cartridges so he has tends to only shoot 28 or 32g catridges.

Edited May 25, 2011 by RogerTheCat

[danebrewer10 6]

TBH, at regular sporting distances it dosen't really make a difference, but plastic will hold the shot together for longer versus fibre, but overall, considering the performance of modern fibre cartridges, there isn't that much practical difference I don't think, plus there is an overwhelming ecological benefit to using fibre wadded cartridges over plastic....(ironic considering we use lead shot...) but the advantage to wildlife is there non the less.

 

whether ot not you may use plastic catridges at clay shoots depends on the shoot, I'd advise to check before you shoot, as the one I go to has a fibre only policy

[fert 0]

a lot of places dont allow plastic

but for high pheasants (not clays)i do prefore using plastic rc is a very good cartridge and hard hitting

have a look at the velocity of the round before buying it is what you get used to plastic are faster and keep the spread tighter

i was shooting high pheasants mid season with 28g6 in plastic while others where using 32/34 g5 i was killing the birds and they where know where near the heavier the load the slower.they where all behind whenever shooting game or live birds try and forget the body and inch it forward a bit onto the head especially geese

[bullshot 5]

I always use fibre cartridges and find the cheapest. Anything from 24g for clays upto 56g magnums for fox's in my cheap little hatsan escort semi auto. Its horses for courses and fun finding out.