16ga.com ~ View topic - Scotch Tape Technique for tighter patterns

Skeettx gave me a tip recently to tighten up patterns in my Antoine Marechal cyl/sk choked hammer gun. Simply wrap scotch tape around the wad and load as usual. My primary reason for wanting to try this is because I'd also like to use the gun for chukars and huns in addition to skeet, grouse and quail, and shots range from 25-40yds. So, I loaded up some 1 1/8oz loads of 6's with a sg16 wad, longshot, and federal hull, and gave it a try. I didn't use any buffer or nickel plated shot. Just standard lead pellets.

I went from 0-1 hits at 40 yds on a chukar sized target with factory loads of 1 0z 6's, to 3-5 hits with the scotch tape technique. However, recoil was brutal in my 5.75lb gun. So, I tried the tape technique with a cheddite paper hull, sg16 wad, 24.5g longshot and 1oz 6's, and I got an astounding eight or nine hits at 40 yds with pretty even dispersion. Another example of light loads patterning better than heavy ones. I went from 0-3 hits at most with factory loads to 8-9 hits. I was stunned.

I realize this is just a paper target and not a 3 dimensional flying bird, and I'll try it again with a federal hull and a different powder for even lower recoil, but suffice to say the results were dramatic! An open choked gun can be made to do just about anything with the right loads, without having to resort to installing tubes. Pretty cool.

I'd also like to thank Mike for his many contributions to this forum. He's consistently very friendly and good natured and willing to share his wealth of knowledge. Thanks Mike!

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3313 Location: NCWa

Wow! If scotch tape makes that much improvement- just think what a wrap of DUCT tape would do Cool

AND a Cheerio for a buffer Shocked

Member Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 183 Location: SE Alabama

Skeettx 3M Brand Flight Control Wad Technology!

Did you try your own loads without the tape? If you havent maybe you should. If that is all it takes is some tape.........sorry for doubting, but I doubt the tape accounts for much, unless it acts like more constriction.....

UDF , SKEETEX - you suggesting a wrap of tape or several ?

Member Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 618 Location: Virginia

It appears the tape would prevent the wad petals from opening. Have you picked up any spent wads from your tests? If so, what was their condition?

Dan

The wad most likely opens eventually. Otherwise the wad might flip over and lead gas seal first with the shot inside the wad. In handloading for the 10 gauge, we experimented with slitting the Ballistic Products pattern driver wad with only two slits rather than the recommended 4. The wad would flip with shot inside the cup and hit the pattern board gas seal first and punch one hole through the pattern board.

Does the scotch tape leave a plastic residue in the barrels?

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3313 Location: NCWa

My dad told of a deerhunter friend who only had a shotgun (in Washington State) during and shortly after WWII. Slug ammunition was unavailable. The shotshells at the time were paper & the fellow would cut the hull nearly through to the wads, causing that portion of the hull to be the weakest spot, even weaker that the roll crimp. When shot, the front portion of the hull, shot and whatever portion of the wad remained in a mass as it travelled to the target. The range was only 50-60 yards, but I'm told he never had to shoot twice.

I did not try my own loads first, vs factory loads, but I can't see how that would make a huge difference. My own loads and factory loads both have split wad petals, which the tape appears to mitigate. I will try my own loads without the tape to be sure however. I've had best results with the sg16 wad so far vs the z16 wad, but that may be simply because I used a 28ga card wad under the shot as a filler with the z16 wad in a 2.75" hull. There were big holes in the pattern. My favorite 2.5" federal roll crimped 1oz load using the z16 wad (without filler) would be a good one to try in its place.

I saw no evidence of wad flipping or holes in the paper from the wad. I'm sure the wad petals do open, just slower than they would have without the tape, which is the whole point of this. I thought of trying two wraps of tape too instead of just one, to see how that affects patterns.

I see no tape residue to speak of.

All in all, it's a very interesting, and simple experiment that might save about $600 from the cost of having briley tubes installed! I'll keep you all apprised if my further experiments yield anything else significant. When I get my ic/m Lefever 16 up and running I'll try it in the mod. barrel to see if I can turn it into the modified into a full also.

As Mike would say, oh what fun!

Member Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 183 Location: SE Alabama