shawi72uk Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 (edited) The thing is i told the fella at the shop that any cartridge was ok as im trying some different ones out at the moment but he said what am i shooting i said pigeons but im sure he said "what clay pigeons" :blink: the cartridge he gave me was (eley first no7 1/2's, 28 gram) Are these ok for pigeons ? Edited October 12, 2009 by shawi72uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Clay cartridges. For pigeon you really want 6's 30-32g is a good place to start. :blink: FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowlander Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 ive never used 7 1/2's for pigeons but have heard people say that they work quite well :blink: lowlander Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawi72uk Posted October 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 mmmmm which one do i listen too :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turk101 Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 For decoying in the summer you can get away with them for sure. For decoying in the winter again you can probably get away with them again, you just have to be more disciplined at what distance you take the birds! possibly 20-30 yards, should still drop them cleanly. hope this helps. turk101 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawi72uk Posted October 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Ha ha ha any closer they will be sat with me lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 All the 'pigeon' cartridges on the market are sold in 6 or 6.5 shot. Nuff said really. A clay cartridge will kill a pigeon but it will be riddled with pellets at close range and won't have the knockdown power and penetration at longer range. FM :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 If you center the pattern you'll kill the bird. My last (and current) flat of shells are D&J 7.5's, 28 g. I have no problems shooting them to 40 yards when I do my part. In fact, I just rolled a hare the other evening at 40 yards with the same carts. The pattern caught him from the ribs forward and he did a somersault while stone dead. Thanks Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gottsy boy Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 hi shawi i use 7.5. ely first for decoying pigeons , they are a tenner a slab cheeper and they work fine, as another post said you do need watch your distance 15- 25 yards is prob the max i like to go spend some time on your hide and set up in the right possition and i don't think you should have a prob with these i choke my gun 1/4 AND 1/4.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 They'll just not kill so cleanly at further ranges, but just forget about it and shoot and it should all turn out fine :blink: 30grammes of No. 6 is the general pigeon load for a 12b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 myself and my shoot buddies ( the other two sell floaters?) have been using home loads with 7.5 shot admittedly a tad fast loads at that, but knock the pigeon down they do and at good distances :blink: KW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 (edited) Do yourself a favour and get some 6's or 7's between 28g and 32g for live pigeons (assuming you are using a 12 bore). Yes 7.5 shot will kill them but the IDEAL load has been tested, proven and recommended by BASC. All the leading cartridge manufacturers make a "pigeon" load, buy them. They have put in a lot of research and know what is fit for purpose. Save the 7.5 shot for practicing on clay targets. Edited October 12, 2009 by Whitebridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 In my opinion shooting Pigeons with 28g 7.5 clay cartridges is akin to shooting foxes with an HMR.....Yes it will kill them cleany IF you keep the distance short and IF you hit it correctly. Get some 6 or 6.5 30g/32g and do the job properly, we owe it to the pigeons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanl50 Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 hi shawii use 7.5. ely first for decoying pigeons , they are a tenner a slab cheeper and they work fine, as another post said you do need watch your distance 15- 25 yards is prob the max i like to go spend some time on your hide and set up in the right possition and i don't think you should have a prob with these i choke my gun 1/4 AND 1/4.. Im the same I use 7 1/2 all the time for decoying, at the moment its Gamebores Kent velocity but I love to use there Supersteels they are superb over decoys. All my other shooting is done with Gamebore Wildgame 6 shot Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teal27 Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Ive used 7 1/2 for pigeons and crows and every one i hit was stone dead compared to rottwiels in 6s they were not working for me and didnt give many clean kills at all, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 put the shot in the rite place mate, thats your first job, then get a no6 shot 32g cartridge and cut it open, then get a no7 and a half size shot 28g cartridge cut that open and see hom miniscule the size is, then weigh out the extra 4g and see how miniscule that is, for the differance in price i would stick to the clay loads to start with and like i say get the shot in the right place, now for the daft bit, i use eley vips no6 shot size 32g for pigeons, but have also shot just as well and as bad with hull comp x clay loads. lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr salt Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 If your gun patterns them well you would be ok. if have tried all this ,trying to save the odd pound or two on cartridges. But i always end up going back to clear pigeon 32grms.(gamebore) I did find that clay loads were fine ,when decoying for the first shot. But i was not getting them at more the 35-40yrds.(which i can with clear pigeon on 3/4) I shoot what kills clean its only fair! cheers scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marley29 Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 First time I went pigeon shooting I only had 7.5 28g Gamebore White gold XLR carts and they certainleydid the trick. Each and every pigeon that I hit was stone dead prior to hitting the floor. Saying that though I am still getting some size 6 in 32's for next time round. ATB Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 they will be fina as long as you don't stretch the distance too far, your pattern will have a lot more shot so you gain from the number of pellets hitting the bird. Ok they won't retain energy as well as 6's which is why you limit the distance. I've used them on partridges and pigeons and they do kill well if you do your part. Obviously for longer shots or in woodland etc the 6's will work better but then you could using the same logic say go up to 1's or BB's as they will work even better and at longer ranges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Do yourself a favour and get some 6's or 7's between 28g and 32g for live pigeons (assuming you are using a 12 bore). Yes 7.5 shot will kill them but the IDEAL load has been tested, proven and recommended by BASC. All the leading cartridge manufacturers make a "pigeon" load, buy them. They have put in a lot of research and know what is fit for purpose.Save the 7.5 shot for practicing on clay targets. Hi, with you all the way, but what is the IDEAL load that has been, etc, etc by the BASC. It's just that I've never heard of it. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 BASC Woodpigeon Shooting Code of Practice states "currently number 6 or larger shot is recommended". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipdog Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 for pigeon shooting expessialy decoying gamebore 7.5 28g is the best i think. before that i was using hull high oheasent 30g 6s, but get better kills and at greater ranges with the 7.5s. fast cartridge and quite of few more pellets, like 50 or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spider72 Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 7.5's are ok for decoying or anything under say 25yds (28g load or higher) I generally use eley high flyer number 6's 30g load for pigeons and pheasant. I know a guy who uses 36g 4's for pigeon! :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 7.5s will kill pigeons , but they are not realy up to the job. I was given a case a few years ago and i found that anything I hit closer that 20 yards had so many pellet holes in them that the meat was no good for eating and any shots beyond 40 yards usualy resulted in a wounded bird. The gun i used had improved cylinder chokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masmiffy Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Do they go bang? Yes Does lead get in the air? Yes if you have to adjust your distance to suit but I think you will be suprised! I have used 1oz loads decoying and shot loads!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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