8 shot

I thought the Call for Evidence by certain government bodies, all these uncertainties ie. supply chain, price, suitable alternatives etc. had to be set in place before anything could change

There was a report on the BBC News app last week saying Top Scientists visited 1500 Nature Reserves in 68 counties around the world, particulary wetland reserves and found the wildlife (Flora and Fauna) was no better off in these reserves than on adjacent land not in one and in some cases they were worse off. And probarly due to miss mangement. Bloody fasrcial in my opinion.

They DO NOT comply with are regulations when they sell agricultural food products to us, they’re still using products on oilseed products and cereals imported to this country that we ban years ago. Some of those chemicals are proven to damage health and the environment more than lead ever will. We are being shafted by this country and the EU once again

.22rf lead alternatives are not safe in my opinion, you'll be lucky to hit a dustbin lid at 50yd I know several stalkers who have already been told by the Game dealer Lead Free from July this year, having said that Lead free alternatives for the bigger stalking calibres are quite acceptable from what i hear.

I have patterned the 3s through 1/2 choke, there is a picture on here somewhere of the pattern at 35yrds i think. I got from memory 67 pellets on a 1msq pattern board compared too over 100 with 6s in lead. I thought the pattern was good, but on reflection a pigeon or partridge could slip through

For the last 6 or 7 weekends I've been using steel on decoyed pigeons and crows, in 32g and in two shot sizes 3s and 4s from Eley and Gamebore and also 32g of 6s and 28g 7/12 in lead through 1/2 choke for all. What i've noticed is for the size of bird i've been shooting 4s in steel are no different to lead out to 35yrd beyond that it's effectiveness it's very patchy, (% kills dropping off quickly) 3s ok to 30ish yrds but if you do hit them beyond that they do kill them dead. My conclusions are that the pattern is very sparse with 3s at 35+yds but the pellets still have plenty of energy if you do connect. Possibly ok on larger birds ie pheasant duck etc.. but not for small birds, partridge etc.. at longer ranges.The 4s fine but lack energy at beyond 40yrds. For what it's worth I think the 50+yrd pheasant and partridge would lead to wounding with both 3s and 4s. The 71/2s were just as effective as steel at all ranges to 45+yrds

More and more little titbits are being fed to you on various media outlets. TGS did there bit yesterday on The Tube about the Game shooting Assurance/ Acreditation schemes, all geared to keeping the Big Commercial/ Big Bag Game shoots going. From what i've seen and heard of it it's very similiar to the agricutural version, The Red Tractor scam. It is all about the likes of the BASC.NGO, Game Dealer Alliance or what ever they're called controlling game shooting to line there pockets. It will start off all lovely dovey then turn all very nasty when greed takes over, but by then it will be all to late. It's happening in farming now. Every thing will be controlled

Nope all true, i was asked just recently to fill in a declaration form before a scan on my knee any metal in my body ie metal plates etc, also if i'd been angle grinding, working with metal

All them Steel pellets will play havoc in the MRI Scanners 🤣🤣

It would be an interesting thread in itself “Why Do You/I Shoot”

You couldn't hit an elephant at 50yrds with them, garbage

NOTHING... absolutley nothing

Can't teach COMMON SENCE........

At the end of the day we are not a country renown for our common sence.

That's fine if that's all you use. What about us who have crops to protect as a farmer as well as recreational sport. Most of the pests don't go to the food chain, I've shot over 1000 shells in the last 6 to 8 weeks at crows and pigeons rough cost £450+. During this time i have used steel in various makes and sizes, plastic (picked up over 150 wads of the 180 shot on the drillings) and BioWads of two makes. I will be honest and say they were not as bad as expected but are still way short of lead.

Yes that is all disturbingly true, BUT if you put your game in the food chain for others then you comply, simples. We are all prepared to take it home and all live to tell the tale of the day. I am a BASC member (for now) but i agree they are very very weak for there size of membership, i guess it's down to the people that you employ.

If Big Bag Commercial shoots are the main reason for this lead transition then I’d rather they moderated there bags considerably or stop completely rather than force the likes of the dozen or so smaller farm shoots I beat and shoot on, where all the game is taken home one way or another, stop shooting. Or if there is such a market for game birds let these “businesses” comply with all the assurance schemes and us pot shooters and pest controllers simply carry on as we are.

The above just about sums up the state of the agricultural organisations as well. Very very well said.

Not a chance, they said that with the 17HMR ammunition 15 years ago, more than doubled now. I fear the “cheap” £15 a box for a far inferior cartridge is as good as it will get.

I don’t know many if any farmers who allow plastic wads though and the BioWads are to me to expensive to shoot crows and pigeons.

I'd hazard a guess we pay a considerable sum per/1000 for there sponsers to have free/cheap shells for a year.

I was not too many years ago given by accident, the wholesale price list for RC cartridges, buying at £200ish/1000 selling for £260/1000

Endorsed by Sir Ian Botham I believe. A Livestock Farmer we know uses them everyday as work boot swears by them.👍

Gamebore did this with the Original Clear Pigeon, brillant back in the 90s utter garbage now

If your talking about Fiocchi Sporting Pigeon 32 have used loads of em, brilliant shells on pigeons and crows, cheap and recycled all the auto's i've had. Also a thumbs up for the 20 gauge GFL 28g's in 6s. just some times hard to get.