kent Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 One of my favourites is the 3" Gamebore no.3 36grm Mammoth steel, the best I have tried for longer range duck and well within sensible range goose shell is the Remington Nitro 3" no2 steel shell. I am no longer a big 3 1/2" 12 ga shell fan, there is very little gain in them until you get into BB and possibly BBB were the higher pellet counts start to matter at slightly more extended ranges. Very tempted to produce my own fast 3" no2 load using the fantastic SAM1 wad and Aliant Steel powder combo this coming season. Then just shoot a factory 3 and 4 various over splashes when ranges are short, once my stocks are down on those i will likely load something for that purpose myself also. I still have a stock of 3 1/2" Gamebore no1 and the jury is out on if i buy or make any more super magnums again, if i feel i need some extra range the ten is a way better tool than the oversize 12 shell. Be careful with the Blindside i feel it is likely a gimmick and one that has according to my dealer has already bulged a few of his clients guns fitted with retro chokes and wad strippers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiffy Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 still got gamebore 42 1's and fiocchi 36 3's here that will last me for a bit but will be stocking up soon as my local rfd sold out last year and took ages to get more in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 (edited) I still have plenty left over from the 50 or so I bought last season, all 3.5" Gamebore mammoth in 1's & 3's. I got on well with them, patterned well on the pattern plates, but I only fired 7 rounds on live targets. Anybody tried the Winchester Blindside ammo with the polygonal shot at all.....seems to be popular with the yanks, and a sound concept, I d be interested to hear from anyone who has used them. ATB. Have a look online, seen some reveiws on them in the states. Most were not very good, good close range but patterns scatter more at any distance. A young lad put loads of different shells through his gun and compared them all, iirc the Kent fast steel makes the best bang for buck and the Winchester Drylock. Federal cloud was another top price one but only really works through its own choke. Figgy Edited July 28, 2014 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIDES EDGE Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 For the first time in my life I got organized and ordered 400 Gamebore Mammoths 3" 4s last april for me and my mate, picked them up last week so we are now sorted for some time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraivi Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Be careful with the Blindside i feel it is likely a gimmick and one that has according to my dealer has already bulged a few of his clients guns fitted with retro chokes and wad strippers Cheers for the heads up, the Gamebore stuff has ticked all the right boxes for me already, so guess I'll stick to the ' don't fix it if it ain't broke' philosophy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraivi Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Have a look online, seen some reveiws on them in the states. Most were not very good, good close range but patterns scatter more at any distance. A young lad put loads of different shells through his gun and compared them all, iirc the Kent fast steel makes the best bang for buck and the Winchester Drylock. Federal cloud was another top price one but only really works through its own choke. Figgy Cheers for the info Figgy, as above, I am going to stick with what works so far. I have had some good birds, both inland geese and ducks with solway steel 3" shells a couple of years back, but the mammoths just gave me better patterns on the plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie R Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 On price I would normally go with game bore mammoth steel in 1's and 3's but I like the Remington high steel in 2's as well. Never used anything remotely made of tungsten or bismuth as the cost is just nuts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamch Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 True, TM and hevi shot are now costly but they are far more effective and ballistically efficient than steel. Cost for me is not a problem given the relatively small number of shots I fire each season, availability is more of an issue now in y part of the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry P Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 True, TM and hevi shot are now costly but they are far more effective and ballistically efficient than steel. Cost for me is not a problem given the relatively small number of shots I fire each season, availability is more of an issue now in y part of the world. How much further than 60yrds can hevi shot add to effective range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 How much further than 60yrds can hevi shot add to effective range. Now there is a point that will never effect me personally as I might as well hand in my membership cards now if I try that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry P Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 60yrds is my maximum and I would never shoot at anything further, but I know people that can quiet successfully too. Just interested to know what ranges the op reckons the ballistically more efficiant materials mentioned can improve on steel loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamch Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 How much further than 60yrds can hevi shot add to effective range. Am not sure what you are driving at I personally wqould not fire at anything at 60 yards with any sort of 12 bore, I see hevi shot and tm as having a bit more power at normal ranges than steel. Plus TM allows me to use older guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 The heavy shot allows a smaller cartridge and pellet to perform as a 31/2" large pellet cart would but with possibly better penetration. I looked at them in Bradford Stalker last season but the price put me off, because if it was in the gun for geese and a duck came near I'd just pull the trigger then think damn that was expensive and get through more than I wanted to. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry P Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Am not sure what you are driving at I personally wqould not fire at anything at 60 yards with any sort of 12 bore, I see hevi shot and tm as having a bit more power at normal ranges than steel. Plus TM allows me to use older guns. Just interested that you stated that your choice of materials was more effective than steel that's all fella, how more effective is it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barls2-9-12 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 The other season i did buy a few boxes of hevi shot and i must say i was very impressed with how they performed but due to the cost i cant warrent buying these to use all of the time i wish i could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 due to the cost i cant warrent buying these to use all of the time i wish i could. I am sure that all of us given no cost constraint would look at using the likes of Hevishot/ITM etc. But given the cost issue most of us just get on and use steel as it is the only real alternative. Personally i am very happy with the Gamebore steel that i use and have 100% confidence in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiffy Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 I am sure that all of us given no cost constraint would look at using the likes of Hevishot/ITM etc. But given the cost issue most of us just get on and use steel as it is the only real alternative. Personally i am very happy with the Gamebore steel that i use and have 100% confidence in it. couldnt agree more, id love to use hevishot but have to be realistic... i use gamebore and am very happy with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Fiocchi carts are a good sound case I had some of there heavier cases last season and they patterned really well. But I dont need to use steel as I will be flighting ducks over the barley and wheat stubbles when there coming of the shore so I can still use lead couple of boxes of eley alfamax and im sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler12 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Personally i am very happy with the Gamebore steel that i use and have 100% confidence in it. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 What I like about steel shot is that it won't take long to rust away to nothing. Just need bio plaswads to make them more Eco friendly. Wonder what happens to the heavy shot and itm stuff as it sits in the wetlands. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 What I like about steel shot is that it won't take long to rust away to nothing. Just need bio plaswads to make them more Eco friendly. Wonder what happens to the heavy shot and itm stuff as it sits in the wetlands. Figgy Tungsten and other such metals are as bad or worse than lead in toxic effect I believe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Fiocchi carts are a good sound case I had some of there heavier cases last season and they patterned really well. But I dont need to use steel as I will be flighting ducks over the barley and wheat stubbles when there coming of the shore so I can still use lead couple of boxes of eley alfamax and im sorted Didn't realise you can still use lead in Ireland,....... wish I could............ Alfamax brought back some good memories , although we only used them on special occasions as they were a bit pricey at the time, for general fowling we used the next one down which was Hymax, another good cartridge. Looking at the cost of Hevi shot , we could have bought a box of Alfamax for the same price as one single cartridge would cost today. I cant say how good Hevi shot is as I have only got one and I am to tight to use it. By the way can you still shoot Curlew in Ireland ? , if you can , do you ?...........Good luck for the new season...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 I picked up a box of 2 3/4" ounce and a quater 2 Remington nitrosteel yesterday, never seen them before so shall give them a try in the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Didn't realise you can still use lead in Ireland,....... wish I could............ Alfamax brought back some good memories , although we only used them on special occasions as they were a bit pricey at the time, for general fowling we used the next one down which was Hymax, another good cartridge. Looking at the cost of Hevi shot , we could have bought a box of Alfamax for the same price as one single cartridge would cost today. I cant say how good Hevi shot is as I have only got one and I am to tight to use it. By the way can you still shoot Curlew in Ireland ? , if you can , do you ?...........Good luck for the new season...... Yeah marshman we can still use lead as long as you are not shooting over a wetlands if you are you have to shoot non toxic loads, and the laws have changed for some reason they took curlew off the list when there is loads of them a about. I picked up a box of 2 3/4" ounce and a quater 2 Remington nitrosteel yesterday, never seen them before so shall give them a try in the season. How much where they if you dont mind me asking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Yeah marshman we can still use lead as long as you are not shooting over a wetlands if you are you have to shoot non toxic loads, and the laws have changed for some reason they took curlew off the list when there is loads of them a about. How much where they if you dont mind me asking £10 for 25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.