[Riss]

Is there a known substitute for the Black Cloud wads to handload my own. The shells being over $1 or $2 each are quite expensive and I would rather make some myself but cannot find anything that has that kind of pattern at distance.

[meatmachineman]

I've heard they are similar to a wad in a turkey load, but I have no experience with the inards of a turkey round. I was not aware the ugly, deformed shot that's mixed in with the BC loads was available. I don't know how close you are a to a Wallyworld, but those close to me in Boise have em for $19 a box for 3"... still pricey, but at least a bit more mangable.

[JWF III]

Get some unslit wads from BPI, and play around with the depth of slits you cut and the number of slits you cut. I've never done this myself, but I have talked to someone (friend of a friend) that went to a lot of "turkey shoots" and "card shoots" that had monetary prizes. He had his tightest patterns with 3 slits at around 1/3 to 1/2 the depth of the wad.

Wyman

[Riss]

I was not sure what type of wad they are using other than a solid wad, without slits. Will have to look up the BPI or try to find something other that is unslit. I know there is something around that will give good long range performance without spending $1 a shot. I would rather load my own, even if they don't get 100% of the performance of the Black Cloud. If they do better than a standard shell I will be happy.

[berettashotgun]

Ballistic Products Inc.
Cushioned Steel Driver wad or... "CSD" wads.
I have always had pretty fair luck with steelshot and plenty of practice.
When hevi first came out, I purchased 4 bags of shot, used one bag up and never thought much about the density helping me improve my aim.:rolleyes:
Traded two bags for a shotgun and am waiting for my son to ask for the last bag.......

[Riss]

Checked on Midway did not see those wads. Found some BPI though. All the BPI they had were listed as pre-slit. Will look for those wads and do some pattern testing.

[Riss]

Actually it looks like I got some good info. Right on BPI's website they have many steel specific shot cups. Just gotta find the right one for a 3 1/2 and I will be good to go.

[berettashotgun]

Please make sure you follow the reloading recipe VERY close.
Crimp compression is paramount to performance. Took me awhile to figure that out on my own.

[_DMC]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y141/nitesite9/Flite_Control_wad.jpg

This is a Federal "Flite Control" wad. I think they use the same thing in their "Black Cloud". The side panels open and strip the shotcup from the shot. The open tail fins also slow the wad. Might be able to take an unslit wad and cut it to try to duplicate the performance.

I've still got a good supply of the old Herters Vandalee and Grand Prix wads, they pattern good as anything I've used.

DC