16ga.com ~ View topic - Polywad Spred-R replacements

Member Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 328 Location: So Cal

I think a lot of us loved using the discontinued Polywad Spred-R inserts (the little T umbrellas). All my SxS's are choked M/F so I like using them for skeet in my Win21 but will also shoot skeet with regular, non-spreader loads. The factory made ones are quite tough and I can reuse them in if I find them.

One of the men I shoot with loves to play with his 3-D printer and he's taken one and is making up some of them for myself and an other shooter. His only concern is that the material that he has to use may be only good for 1 shot and not reusable. I'll take whatever I can get. Just an idea to consider.

Joined: 27 Jan 2016 Posts: 529 Location: Oswego, Kansas

The extreme spreader from BP do a Good job in my tight choke LC Smith guns. I have used them for Skeet and sporting clays as well as hunting close birds over my Brittany's that I hunted with for years.
I had good results using the SG16 wads with the shot petals removed and dropping the spreader in b3fore dropping the shot. Many people say that you can get better results by pushing the spreader down in to the shot after it is dropped into the Hull but I never tried that.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2519 Location: West MI

a little outside the (Tee) box....Do you, or someone you know, play golf? Maybe look in the bag for the smaller (dime size) ball markers.

https://www.wittekgolf.com/White-Ball-Markers

OR, get the ones printed w/color choice... the lavender or purple ones with the 16ga.com logo printed would be a nice touch. Albeit a little more costly.

https://www.seaboardpencil.com/product-page/dime-sized-ball-marker-2-color-imprint

OR, if biodegradable is important, I'd image they'd sell them unprinted for less $.

https://www.ggolf.com/Ball-Markers-Imprinted-Wooden-Dime-Size-1k

Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 510 Location: WI

With Polywad basically being defunct, I started making my own. The spreader inserts I designed work just like the original, and I make them as I need them. I've never been able to find one after the shot to re-use anyway, so being reusable as a requirement has not been a concern.

Now that there are biodegradable plant based polymer options on the market, I'm looking into using those filaments to produce spreader inserts going forward.

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3281 Location: NCWa

For those of you who use the base&post type spreader- I knew a fellow several years ago who loaded them. He claimed he got the best performance if he put 1/4 of the shot charge in the hull, then put in the spreader, then the remaining 3/4 shot charge on the spreader. As opposed to just putting in the spreader and the entire shot charge on top of it. Have any of you had experience with that extra step or saw the need for the extra step?

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2227 Location: Florida

Mike Campbell did it the exact opposite using the original polywad spreaders with a 1 oz load he would do 7/8oz shot then install the spreader and the other 1/8 oz of shot on top .

He showed patterns and they had alot better core.

IIRC the instructions on the polywad spreader said to do it this way.

I've done it with the shot on top, results depend on the recipe, but most of the time with #6 shot I ended up with pattern holes I was not comfortable with. I varied the amount of shot on top from 1/8 oz to 3/8 oz. I have one recipe with a heavy payload that it works very well with, and another with a 7/8 oz load of number 8 with no shot on top. Experimentation is the key. I typically look for a consistent density of shot in the pattern, and any widening of the pattern is a bonus.

I have not tried Campbell's method, but I may use some of my dwindling supply to experiment with. A 3D printer is on the list for the future, once I get the basement re-organized. For now I have been using the X-spreader from BP. It's not as good as the PolyWad IMHO, but it does work well in my recipes.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 2124 Location: Central ND

Here are the instructions from Polywad that Mike Campbell used and they work great.

Look at the last paragraph:

You may have to use the ctrl key and scroll on your mouse to increase the size of the picture well enough to read the instructions

Member Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 328 Location: So Cal

I really like and appreciate the suggestions that putz463 gave! Not being a golfer I was not aware of those white ball markers. The price is more than reasonable.
Before I order any I'll check with my local golf shops and sporting goods to see if they carry them.

I've seen the other spreader insert options and while they might work they just didn't appeal to me. I did try the other loading methods (some shot in, then the insert, then the rest of the shot) but for the skeet shooting I do the t-type on top have worked out okay and are easier and faster to reload, especially with the Federal hulls.
Thanks to all of you.

Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 510 Location: WI

MSM2019 Thanks for posting that. I will modify my 3D model to include holes, sounds like that will be a winner!

Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Posts: 404

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/X-Stream-Spreader-Insert-200_bag/productinfo/3220001/

You guys know about the Xstream spreader BPI sells? From reviews:

16 gauge spread10/9/2023Worked great in a M12 16 gauge full choke, opens the pattern up to equiv. of modified or better. Used in Cheddite, SG16 M wad, 1 oz. 7.5s, the X-stream is a little snug in the SG16, but helped fill out the hull better. Also used in the CB 16 wad, x-stream slides easily into the CB 16 wad, with similar effect, oped the full choke to a modified pattern, even distribution.CO