Shotgun Wad Slitting for Pattern Controls

The art of wad slitting may seem complex to an inexperienced handloader, but it is only another method of pattern control.

Petals need to be at least two-thirds the length of the entire wad.  This provides a complete pellet release from the shotcup, even those pellets down in the very base of the wad.  Petals that are too short may not release these before flipping outside the barrel.  Partially opened and weighted at the base, the wad will have a tendency to fly like a badminton birdie.

You can use as few as two slits – one opposite the other when viewed from the top.  Alternately, you can make as many slits as you think you can cut into the wads without harming it structurally.  Fewer slits will contain the pellets longer, and more slits will release the pattern sooner.   I have never seen more than eight petals.  Perhaps sixteen would qualify as a record?

Warning:  If no petals are cut in a shotcup, the wad will not disperse pellets. The wad will remain intact with a majority of the pellets inside and become for all intents and purposes, a slug load. We have used this for certain applications. The lethal range of this load is far beyond that of multi-projectile load.

©2006 Ballistic Products Inc.