One of the common topics of conversation that we've encountered on the gunbus so far this season has been the arrival of the latest generation of steel cartridges. For years one of the major drawbacks of using steel was that a plastic wad was necessary in order to protect your barrells. But the latest offerings, including the Eley Hawk Pro Eco Wad cartridges, have found an eco-friendly solution. But there's lots of questions flying around, so we spoke to the guys at Eley Hawk to find out the answers to the most common queries.
- What are the Pro Eco Wad cartridges for?
Eley Hawk: About 18 months ago it became apparent that plastics were likely to become an issue within the global supply chain. With other markets in Europe starting to look hard at plastics in our sector we decided to push for an eco friendly alternative for wild fowlers – they have always been on the pinch point of shooting by the very nature of what and where they shoot.
It was also clear to us that developing a wad that could dissolve in water and breakdown harmlessly in the field was a significant priority. Development of the materials for a bio-degradable wad became an urgent priority. However our intensity of work stepped up during 2018 so we could launch it summer 2019. The response has been incredible and we were surprised at the initial demand we had.
- How long do the Pro Eco Wads take to break down?
EH: Out of water - the wad has been field tested in Kent, one of our drier counties - it broke down in 3 months in fairly moderate weather. However in wetter parts it can break quicker that that. If it is submerged in water – it sinks and then breaks down inside 24 hours.
- What if my cartridges get wet on a rainy day in the field
EH: As you will note from the video below, the end of the crimp is heat sealed. We did this as a belt-and-braces approach to ensure that it would survive the usual field abuse and damp pockets. As with any cartridge we do not recommend submerging it in water and then firing it.
However mudflat and estuary Wildfowlers have long had a habit of wiping Vaseline / gun grease over the end of the crimps of their cartridges should they need to, and many carry their cartridges in a dry-lock bag until they are in a safe position. There are plenty of water proof cases on the market to keep your ammunition dry should you wish, especially if you are likely to be waist deep in water getting to a shooting spot.
- Will steel shot damage my barrels? How does this wad help prevent that?
Steel shot is softer than standard steel – it has to have a vikers crusher value of less than VH1 110. For reference, stainless steel has a crusher value of between 140 - 180. In all circumstances you will need to protect your barrels with a cup wad as most gun barrels are made of hardened steel. The wad itself protects barrels as it has an all-encompassing wad.
In the video, fired wads have been retrieved showing that they can withstand the pressures of firing with no degredation.
- How much have the Pro Eco Wad cartridges been tested, and under what conditions?
Extensive testing has been conducted both in the field and in climatic control chambers. We subjected the (non-heat-sealed) cartridges to 0 – 32 degrees heat and 40 and 90 % humidity with no damage to the wad in the cartridge. The only change we saw was a drop in 10 mps in speed due to a slight effect on the powder.
- I have an old English gun - can I use these cartridges safely, and what effect will they have on my barrels?
How old is old?! The Pro Eco Wads are loaded at standard steel proof which means they are only loaded at a chamber pressure of 740 Bar. This makes them compatible with any gun that is proved to the standard nitro-proved level of at least 930 bar. If you are unsure or to check if your gun is Nitro-proved or suitable for steel shot, take it to a gunsmith. That being said, do not fire steel through anything more than half a choke.
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