Do wads make a difference?

zamboni · Nov 28, 2021

I have not taken the time to try and figure out if different wads make a huge or significant difference in how a shell or load patterns so I thought I would throw it out to the guys that know a lot more than me.

A good trap shooting buddy is getting out of shooting for health reasons. He gave me 5 bags of Windjammer wads, which I have never used. I have used AA clone wads and have had what I feel are good results. I am curious to read responses.

Thanks

target.orange · Nov 28, 2021

Windjammers won't make a difference.

"Spreader wads" or wads with no shot protecting cups may made a difference.

smokintom · Nov 28, 2021

Windjammer wads work good and pattern good too. Used them for years

mike campbell · Nov 28, 2021

No.

Anybody who says otherwise will have to prove it.

Nebs · Nov 28, 2021

Choke and shot quality are the most important factors in pattern quality. None of the other components make any appreciable difference.

radeck · Nov 28, 2021

I will take those windjammers off your hands if you are concerned about it. 😇🤓

mg1polo · Nov 28, 2021

All wads pattern good.
Just choose the proper one for your application.
Follow the loading data and you'll be fine.
The only rule of thumb that I insist on is, straight walled hulls, use straight walled wads.
Tapered hulls, use tapered wads.
Easy Peasy,

slide action · Nov 28, 2021

The windjammer will work great. The only thing you have to be careful with is making sure the petals don't fold under the shot charge . I never found a lot of difference in wad performance except the use of "Spreader wads" which will open up the pattern in a tight choked gun ( that's what they are made for) . My only caution would be to use the type wad that is made for a particular hull. Straight walled hulls like Federal work best when using wads made for straight walled hulls ,and tapered wall hulls like Winchester and Remington are best matched to wads made for tapered hulls.

1straightshot · Nov 28, 2021

I like to slit my wads. I have a specific pattern for each yardage and shot size.

Oluwadamilola · Nov 28, 2021

The Patent for the WAA12 wad is from 1966. If Winchester could get the same velocity from less powder by designing a new wad they would have done it. It's pretty much the best you can get based on its design longevity. Windjammer came years afterwards. I still dont understand what problem they were trying to solve with it. I'm pretty much done monkeying around with wads.
Gun Clubs, STS, Nitro: Claybuster Fig 8 clone or Rem Fig 8
AA's in all flavors: Claybuster WAA12 clone or Win WAA12
High velocity loads with high weights of powder: Windjammer/SP12

Rhodesengr · Nov 28, 2021

They for sure make a difference when building the shell due to stack height differences. There are published loads using WAA style wads in Remington hulls but when I tried to build them, there was not enough stack height so crimps were concave. Fig 8 style wads stacked up much better.

timb99 · Nov 28, 2021

zamboni said:
I have not taken the time to try and figure out if different wads make a huge or significant difference in how a shell or load patterns so I thought I would throw it out to the guys that know a lot more than me.

A good trap shooting buddy is getting out of shooting for health reasons. He gave me 5 bags of Windjammer wads, which I have never used. I have used AA clone wads and have had what I feel are good results. I am curious to read responses.

Thanks

I've tested this a couple of times, using "8-petal" wads and comparing them to "4-petal" wads of the same design.

This is hardly conclusive, but you can draw your own inferences.

My simplistic answer is this:

What kind of wad you use is probably WAY less important than how hard your shot is. Hard shot patterns tighter. Period.

Do 8-Petal Wads Pattern Tighter, or More Open than...

Time to dispel, or in this case maybe confirm??? one of those long standing but never tested gun club bromides about the difference between 4-petal wads and 8-petal wads. As the old story goes, people used to say 8-petal wads “opened up faster” and therefore you got a more open pattern than an...

www.trapshooters.com

Pattern Testing - Redux - 8-Petal Wads versus 4-Petal Wads

Some of you may recall my previous test which indicated 4-petal wads pattern tighter than 8-petal wads. Do 8-Petal Wads Pattern Tighter, or More Open than 4-Petal Wads? The ANSWER! In the never ending search for trap shooting truth, I wanted to know if this test was true for different wads...

www.trapshooters.com

Leo · Nov 28, 2021

I just use the wad that the hull and load calls for in established data. It is not like heavy benchrest rifle where two millimeters tighter wins the trophy. Shot a hole in the sky where the target is going to be and watch it break.

stokinpls · Nov 28, 2021

Only thing I was ever sure about wads was: Every time I found the "perfect" combination, the vendor would be sold out, or the mfg.would have eliminated that particular component. 🤬

Bob Falfa

rosies dad · Nov 28, 2021

Leo said:
I just use the wad that the hull and load calls for in established data. It is not like heavy benchrest rifle where two millimeters tighter wins the trophy. Shot a hole in the sky where the target is going to be and watch it break.

One thing Trapshooters are good at, worry about EVERYTHING. Just shoot em.

Ifitfliesitdies · Nov 28, 2021

I started using Windjammer wads 25 years ago. I shoot everything. Singles, doubles & handicap with them. I even use them for back fence, parking lot, sporting clays & long bird. As long as I do what I’m supposed to do the targets break. They pattern well & generate lower pressures than most wads which helps with handicap speed loads & recoil.

target.orange · Nov 28, 2021

Some make a difference in reported pressure.

mg1polo · Nov 28, 2021

target.orange said:
Some make a difference in reported pressure.

They all achieve different pressures.
That's the reason that they're NOT interchangeable.

Nebs · Nov 28, 2021

target.orange said:
Some make a difference in reported pressure.

True, but this thread is about effect on patterns, no?

marbax · Nov 28, 2021

1straightshot said:
I like to slit my wads. I have a specific pattern for each yardage and shot size.

Why? If the manufacturer wanted them that way, they would make them that way.

Do wads make a difference?

zamboni

target.orange

smokintom

mike campbell

Nebs

radeck

mg1polo

slide action

1straightshot

Oluwadamilola

Rhodesengr

timb99

Do 8-Petal Wads Pattern Tighter, or More Open than...

Pattern Testing - Redux - 8-Petal Wads versus 4-Petal Wads

Leo

stokinpls

rosies dad

Ifitfliesitdies

target.orange

mg1polo

Nebs

marbax

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