With all of the current talk about steel shot taking over from lead shot for game shooting it is worth looking at Eley Hawk’s first dissolvable and biodegradable wad for their VIP Steel Shot Cartridges.
The Eco Wad is available in the Pro Eco Steel Shot Game Cartridge (as well as the Pro Eco Clay Cartridge). The cartridges are loaded as a Standard Performance Steel Shot load so most guns currently on the market should be able to handle it (however it is always best to check with your local gunsmith if in doubt).
Eley Hawk is the first UK manufacturer to launch a fully biodegradable and water-soluble wad for steel cartridges. This wad is made using all organic materials that are non-toxic to the environment. In a ‘normal climate’ it will degrade in 30 days and breakdown into the soil in 3 months. The wad will break down into CO2, mineral salts and biomass thereby actively introducing positive nutrients into the soil.
The material used in the wad complies with the regulations of Compost-ability EN13432 and ASTM 6400 and contains no toxins for the environment.
This cartridge will be a good choice for wildfowlers where, in the UK, it is illegal to use lead shot over open bodies of water. In water the wad will dissolve within 24 hours, however this time is reduced if the water is moving.
Eley Hawk Managing Director, Eduardo Hernando, explains that “The hydrosoluble wad is a testament to Eley Hawk’s commitment towards innovation. We continuously work to lead shooting performance and make our cartridges the best in the industry and also reduce its impact on the environment. Now we can offer a cartridge with the two elements that are expelled from the front of the barrel of the shotgun—the shot and wad—having a limited, even positive impact on the environment,”
The Pro Eco Cartridges are available in 32-grams for game shooters and 28-grams for clay shooters.
