Salop Matt Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 My local supplier offers: Express HP steel: 36gram 4`s or 32grm 3`s. This will be for next season and I have not used either before so any advice is much appreciated. Gun to be used in is: Browning B525 steel proofed and choked at 3/8 & 3/8. Cheers Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 Depends on the species and size of the pond, one of the ponds I shoot is a small pond with wild teal - steel 6's are more than enough. 3's seem very heavy for flighting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted February 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 Its Mallard and rarely a Teal. Pond is 40yards wide by 60 long ! Am guessing the 36gram 4`s then ? ATB Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 I prefer gamebore hp steel 4 or 3. Tried express hunting steel and wasn't impressed, maybe their hp steel loads are better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 The express steel loads are not the best , I would look for some Gamebore, Eley or RC. For inland pond shooting 32 grams of 4 would be my choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted February 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 Cheers Guys, I will look else where then as my local supplier only has the Express stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 (edited) AS Fenboy says Express are far from the best steel shell. Having use several loads none performed well and the supreme were pretty awful not killing a single bird when used on pigeons , every thing was wounded. For flight pond 4s or 3s will be ideal as its surprising how many shots end up being in the 40 yard + bracket. Perhaps the best steel shells available now are Gamebore 32 gr Super Steel or 36 gr mammoths , RC are pretty good as are Eley 2 3\4 inch Vip HP steel. If you can get them Remmington or Winchesters are great , though better for flight line shooting than flight pond shooting as are Eley 3 inch Lightnings. Express do some great lead loads , but I would not give a than you for their steel loads. Edited February 25, 2016 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 out of the choices i`d go 32g #3, just purely on shotsize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TONY R Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 Fiocchi 32 gram 4s are what i would use if i used comercial ammo , but you dont see them everywhere. Now for easy to find you will find Gamebore super steel 32 gram these are common most shops seem to stock Gamebore they work fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 Number 4 steel improved clylinder and a fast 28 grm load sounds like it will be ideal Likely or not you won't get hold of them so just pick a heavier load At 25 yards you don't want to ruin them for the table dead is dead Saying that I have shot teal with 36 grm 2 before now on flashes because I wasn't expecting to shoot like that but you will ruin some Number 4 steel improved clylinder and a fast 28 grm load sounds like it will be ideal Likely or not you won't get hold of them so just pick a heavier load At 25 yards you don't want to ruin them for the table dead is dead Saying that I have shot teal with 36 grm 2 before now on flashes because I wasn't expecting to shoot like that but you will ruin some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 Number 4 steel improved clylinder and a fast 28 grm load sounds like it will be ideal Likely or not you won't get hold of them so just pick a heavier load At 25 yards you don't want to ruin them for the table dead is dead Saying that I have shot teal with 36 grm 2 before now on flashes because I wasn't expecting to shoot like that but you will ruin some Number 4 steel improved clylinder and a fast 28 grm load sounds like it will be ideal Likely or not you won't get hold of them so just pick a heavier load At 25 yards you don't want to ruin them for the table dead is dead Saying that I have shot teal with 36 grm 2 before now on flashes because I wasn't expecting to shoot like that but you will ruin some you see, this is where i slightly agree and disagree, you are never in a million years going to buy a steel 28 gram #4. no-one is going to make and sell that commercial. no-one is going to make a fast load unless its an american import. its because of the cip. so i agree with the heavier load, more shot is more shot, and the distiction between steel 4-3-2 is noticable because the shotsizing is lead grade, but if you compare steel 4-3-2, is like looking at lead 7, 6.5,6. out of all the shells you say, i have to admit 36g #2 in steel, even at a 1400fps guess is a fantastic compromise, to not ott or unobtanium. whats not to like, lots of shot and big enough for 40yards. if you wanted OTT loads then its tungsten(18-15) in a #6, or 7 at 1400fps. steel is steel ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 John Forsey guns in Kent were selling a 3" 28g 5 shot doing 1500fps which I found very good on ponds and flighting Ducks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 you see, this is where i slightly agree and disagree, you are never in a million years going to buy a steel 28 gram #4. no-one is going to make and sell that commercial. no-one is going to make a fast load unless its an american import. its because of the cip. so i agree with the heavier load, more shot is more shot, and the distiction between steel 4-3-2 is noticable because the shotsizing is lead grade, but if you compare steel 4-3-2, is like looking at lead 7, 6.5,6. out of all the shells you say, i have to admit 36g #2 in steel, even at a 1400fps guess is a fantastic compromise, to not ott or unobtanium. whats not to like, lots of shot and big enough for 40yards. if you wanted OTT loads then its tungsten(18-15) in a #6, or 7 at 1400fps. steel is steel ! Yet they do, you just got to know who gets them in had 24 grm also Cip nah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 On a little pond your not going to be shooting 40 yards either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 On a little pond your not going to be shooting 40 yards either Why not? I prefer to try a tricky bird or two. I don't want to shoot ducks a foot off the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnytheboy Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 32g of 4s gamebore, Rio, RC, avoid those lyalvale like the plaque, I shot them at pigeons once, you'd not be wrong in thinking they were filled with rice and not steel shot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 32g of 4s gamebore, Rio, RC, avoid those lyalvale like the plaque, I shot them at pigeons once, you'd not be wrong in thinking they were filled with rice and not steel shot! Agreed, I hit a squirrel twice at about 25 yards and knocked it sideways. It got up and ran off. I've shot some squirrels in my time and never had that before or since and never used those carts since either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimo22 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 I used Gamebore silver steel fibre wad this season and they proved a great cartridge, run through a Franchise auto. Wiil used these in future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 Lyvale hp steel or just fine killed large duck and Canada with them Lower pressure Lyvale I have also used need restraint but no reason to use them with that in mind I think this was a whisper that got blown out of all proportion because someone got a very low chrono reading once over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 (edited) My experance has been in the field with three of their steel cartridges, Express HP Lydale steel 3 inch, 2 3\4 inch 32 gr loads and the supream loads.They were so bad for wildfowl we decided to use the Supream on pigeons, a mate and i shot a box at woodies over decoys , never cleanly killed a bird , but we did wing nine and several more went away leaving a cloud of feathers behind. Moist of the shots were in the 20-30 yard bracket. They were worse than usless shells. Its strange because their lead shells are quite good. Not a whisper , but pratical experance . At one time they were the only steel shells I could get and I found they were even worse in very low temperatures. Mind you that can be a problem with several UK loaded steel shells. By low temperatures I mean below -10C. Edited February 26, 2016 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TONY R Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 You never know this might just be your answer. or it might not be whatever the case may be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 My experance has been in the field with three of their steel cartridges, Express HP Lydale steel 3 inch, 2 3\4 inch 32 gr loads and the supream loads.They were so bad for wildfowl we decided to use the Supream on pigeons, a mate and i shot a box at woodies over decoys , never cleanly killed a bird , but we did wing nine and several more went away leaving a cloud of feathers behind. Moist of the shots were in the 20-30 yard bracket. They were worse than usless shells. Its strange because their lead shells are quite good. Not a whisper , but pratical experance . At one time they were the only steel shells I could get and I found they were even worse in very low temperatures. Mind you that can be a problem with several UK loaded steel shells. By low temperatures I mean below -10C. I used the 4s on clays and stationary targets. I could have walked to the target faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris B.123 Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 I use 5's Lydale steel they do the job for me used them for nearly to duck session never let me down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 I use 5's Lydale steel they do the job for me used them for nearly to duck session never let me down. Well it confuses the heck out of me and my experience with them. I don't buy them out of choice but I just haven't had an issue with the std pressure under restricted use and the hp under anything gamebore mammoth can do pretty much I don't think you can better gamebore as a British made shell though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 Express steel is rubbish go Gamebore 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.