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By Charles Bull
Tuesday, 05 April 2011
Cartridge prices are about to go up again. So now's the time to buy!
Sad to say there's no such thing as a 'budget cartridge' any more.
Even the cheapest load has almost doubled in price to what it was just three or four years ago when lead prices hit an unprecedented high of $4,000 a tonne.
Will the situation ever get better? It’s unlikely.
GOING UP!
True, we didn’t see any significant price increase this last year because currency rates were able to absorb lead price fluctuations.
However it’s now on the up again so my bet is we will see another round of price rises this year – and fairly soon, too.
Not only is the cost of lead rising, the monetary exchange rate isn’t brilliant and, on top of all this of course, the price of oil is soaring.
Plastic and significantly higher haulage prices are beginning to hurt manufacturers and importers alike.
COST OF COTTON
Cotton prices have risen too so propellant costs have also increased. And then there was the hike in VAT rates back in January.
The frustrating thing is that there’s nothing we can do too curb cartridge prices.
So please don’t shoot the messenger!
Steel shot loads are still the cheapest option, but only if your local clay ground allows you to use them.
Gamebore are at the forefront of steel shot cartridge manufacture and offer a good range starting at about £122 per 1,000 for their Super Steel Lite 21gm load.
They also offer Super Steel and White Gold Pro Steel in 24 and 28gm loads at not a lot more. And all in plastic wad only.
The 21gm lead loads pioneered in response to the lead price increases of 2007 and 2008 have really taken off and provide a viable alternative to heavier loads.
With better patterns and less recoil, these have taken the corporate and simulated game day market by storm.
And this little load is also great for shooting practice.
The plastic wad options will always be cheapest, starting at £140 for 1,000 currently, with fibres costing around a tenner more.
ONE OUNCE DEALS
One ounce (28gm) loads still represent the lion’s share of the market and it’s still possible to find deals on most entry level loads from around £141.
These include Eley First, Gamebore Kent Velocity and Hull Comp X. But be warned: these deals will not be around for much longer.
Eley have also been promoting their Olympics, which in my view always represented awesome value even at list price.
You should still be able to pick a few up at about £152 per 1,000 which is absolutely incredible, but again, it’s the sort of deal that will rapidly come to an end.
BE QUICK!
These offers mean that in real terms, the manufacturers are barely making anything at all so my advice is to buy now while you still can at this level.
Recent rock bottom prices offered by Eley on Modena, Nobel Sport and Prima cartridges are coming to an end if they haven’t already. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
The prices discussed this month really do offer incredible value at a difficult time, but it will not last forever.
Price increases are imminent from all manufacturers, so my advice is to buy now – and that applies equally to game shooters who use higher value products.
Gamebore Super Steel 21, 24, 28gm
» Wad: Plastic
» Shot Size: 7½, 9
» Case Length: 70mm
» Powder: B & P
» Muzzle Velocity: 1300 fps
» £122, £124, £137
Gamebore White Gold XLR 28gm
» Wad: Fibre
» Shot Size: 7.5
» Case Length: 65mm
» Powder: B & P
» Muzzle Velocity: 1350 fps
» £152
Express HV Standard 21gm
» Wad: Plastic or Fibre
» Shot Size: 7½
» Case Length: 65mm
» Powder: Vectan
» Muzzle Velocity: 1400 fps
» From £142
Eley Olympics 28gm
» Wad: Plastic
» Shot Size: 7½, 8
» Case Length: 70mm
» Powder: Maxam
» Muzzle Velocity: 1400 fps
» £152
Hull Comp X 21gm
» Wad: Plastic or Fibre
» Shot Size: 7½, 9 (plastic only)
» Case Length: 65mm
» Powder: Nobel Sport
» Muzzle Velocity: 1370 fps
» From £140
Hull Comp X 28gm
» Wad: Plastic or Fibre
» Shot Size: 7½
» Case Length: 65mm
» Powder: Nobel Sport
» Muzzle Velocity: 1370
» From £149
Gamebore Kent Velocity 28gm
» Wad: Plastic or Fibre
» Shot Size: 7½
» Case Length: 70mm
» Powder: B & P
» Muzzle Velocity: 1400 fps
» From £141.50
Eley First Lite 21gm
» Wad: Plastic or Fibre
» Shot Size: 7½, 8, 9
» Case Length: 67mm
» Powder: Maxam
» Muzzle Velocity: 1325 fps
» From £140
Eley First 28gm
» Wad: Plastic or Fibre
» Shot Size: 7½, 8, 9
» Case Length: 67mm
» Powder: Maxam
» Muzzle Velocity: 1350 fps
» From £141.25
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