Shooting UK is your complete shooting resource. From gun reviews to shotgun licence and firearms certificate information, to clay pigeon shooting, game shooting, shooting lessons and gundog training.
By Charles Bull
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Game shooting cartridges review: Some of the best deals out there at the moment on game shooting cartridges.
The Editor has decreed that as Christmas is coming and it’s the season of goodwill to all men I should do a piece on the five cheapest (his words, not mine) game cartridges out there.
As we all know, there seems little that’s cheap these days where game cartridges are concerned, so let’s instead call them the five ‘best value’ game shells you can find.
None of these high performance game cartridges from English loaders can be described as ‘cheap’ but there is an interesting anomaly when you look at the commonest game load - the 30gm with fibre wad.
For similar performance, prices vary considerably, so this is definitely worth a look.
It is worth noting that all cartridges featured here are suitable for 2½ in (65mm) chambers.
HULL HIGH PHEASANT
At £250 per 1,000 Express Supreme Game is the most expensive of the bunch but it’s very smooth shooting and everyone knows what it does.
It has also won awards.
The recently re-vamped Eley VIP range comes in at about £242 per thou for the 30gm fibre load and Gamebore’s Pure Gold delivering the same payload will cost £240.
And the best value shell in this bunch of high performance cartridges?
It’s the eponymous Hull High Pheasant with the scores on the doors at £237.
With a quoted muzzle velocity of 1450fps, this represents a truly high performance for the money.
Smooth shooting and a variety of shot sizes make it a versatile cartridge suitable for anything from grouse to high pheasant (you don’t say!).
» Hull High Pheasant 12-bore 30gm 5,6,7
» Case Length: 67mm
» Wad: Fibre or Plastic
» Powder: Nobel Sport
» Muzzle Velocity: 1450fps
ELEY PIGEON
Getting under the £200 mark is not easy for good quality game cartridges.
But it is possible!
Eley’s Pigeon, available in 30 or 32gm, fibre or plastic wad but in shot size 6½ only, is entirely suitable for game in certain situations.
Just because it’s called a ‘Pigeon’ cartridge, doesn’t mean you can’t shoot other quarry with it.
I agree the single shot size is a little limiting and you probably wouldn’t want to be shooting high pheasants with it, but for normal farm pheasants, partridge and the like, this does a remarkably good job.
Starting at £189 per 1,000 for the 30gm plastic wad variant and going up to just shy of £200 for the 32gm fibre, this represents reasonable value for a game shell.
» Eley Pigeon 12-bore 30 & 32gm 6½
» Case Length: 67mm
» Wad: Fibre or Plastic
» Powder: Maxam
» Muzzle Velocity: 1425fps
JUST CARTRIDGES XTREME GAME
Next up is Just Cartridges own Xtreme Game range, a high performance load in a genuine 65mm case, offering great value for the game shooter.
Having re-branded and extended the range last year, Xtreme Game offers products suitable for most mainstream game shooting situations.
Prices start at £186 for the 30gm plastic wad load in 6 shot only, £189 for the fibre wad load in 5 and 6 shot and just £194 for the 32gm fibre load in 5s and 6s.
The inclusion of Diamond Shot has the added advantage of giving better, more even patterns.
» Just Cartridges Xtreme Game 12-bore 30 & 32gm 5,6
» Case Length: 65mm
» Wad: Fibre or Plastic
» Powder: B & P
» Muzzle Velocity: 1425fps
GAMEBORE CLEAR PIGEON
Now for some real news! In a continuing effort to provide better value, Gamebore is re-vamping its famous Clear Pigeon range.
More importantly for the price conscious amongst us, this means that they are also reducing the price – yes, you did hear me correctly!
Having previously offered a discounted range under their Kent Velocity brand, Gamebore have decided to knock this on the head and concentrate on the higher performance Clear Pigeon at a better price.
Since severe price increases across the board a couple of years ago, Clear Pigeon will now look like very sensible money.
Shot size 6 only remember but the 30gm plastic wad load will now be £180 per 1,000, and the most popular 30gm fibre load will go down to £182.50.
The 32gm plastic wad only load will be £184.75.
Although prices have already been reduced, re-branding will take place early next year, not that this will bother us much, it’s the price reduction that’s the real news.
» Gamebore Clear Pigeon 12-bore 30 & 32gm 6
» Case Length: 30gm Fibre Wad 65mm, 30 & 32gm Plastic Wad 70mm
» Wad: Fibre or Plastic
» Powder: B & P
» Muzzle Velocity: 1400fps
GAMEBORE KENT VELOCITY
And finally, the cheapest cartridge that you could use for game? I have to say that this is cheating a bit, as it is really a clay cartridge with a continental shot size.
However, Gamebore’s Kent Velocity is already stonking value for a clay shell in 28gm format, plastic or fibre wad, shot size 7½ only.
That said, Gamebore’s Kent brand happens to be the American manufacturing arm of the company and thus that shot size 7½ actually equates to an English 7 (2.4mm).
And that, in my book, makes it suitable for some game shooting. I would not recommend it for serious pheasant shooting, but it does have a place and pigeon shooters in particular, I guess, will be pleased with the price.
Listing at £146 for the plastic wad and £159 for the fibre, they are often available at a special offer price making the plastic version about £136 and the fibre £148.
You won’t get better value than that in your Christmas stocking!
» Gamebore Kent Velocity 12-bore 28gm 7½ (UK 7)
» Case Length: 70mm
» Wad: Fibre or Plastic
» Powder: B & P
» Muzzle Velocity: 1400fps
Stalwart of every shooting ground, these clay targets come either as s... Read more
A combination of Italian and Spanish gunmaking skills has gone to crea... Read more
Historic wildfowling piece offered to shooting club following unsucces... Read more
Shooting businesses are among a range of small companies in South West... Read more
A clay shooting event, in aid of a regional blood cancer charity, has ... Read more
Subscribe today from as little as £13.49 & give the perfect gift this Christmas.
Comments