Pigeon cartridge for a beginner help please

[Stratts]

Hi guys I should be getting my 1st shottie in the coming weeks and was wondering if there's a certain make of cartridge that would suit a beginner for shooting pigeon?

 

If it's just the cheapest, what make is generally cheaper? Or are shotties similar to rifles where certain carts suit certain guns?

 

Looks like I'll be getting a Lanber for starters,

 

Cheers

 

Stratts

[TJ91]

i use kent velocity 7.5 28g on pigeons over decoys, 30g 6s for game shooting

good hard hitting cartridges, and dont cost the earth

 

most 30g 6 will do the job on pigeon, crow, rabbit etc

[Guest cookoff013]

yeah,

 

most pigeon branded cartridges would do.

a pigeon cartridge is a economy load, usually with cheaper mass produced components.

or components that just meet the criteria, and are cheap.

ie powder, and shot, wad, hull (etc).

 

limited to #6 shot, so the shells can be mass produced. not like clay loads that have 21,24,28 grams of 9.5,9,8.5,8,7.5,7,6.5 shotsizes

 

i`m very partial to hull special pigeon.

[MK38]

Don't get hung up about cartridges.... they will all do the same job, but you will eventually find some that you like.

 

Most of the farmers i've met would rather people use fibre wads... and take the emptys home !

Fibre wads are allways abit dearer unfortunately....

 

I use Gamebore Clear Pigeon 30g 6# but any of the major brands have something simmilar, have a look on the net to get an idea of price in your area, some times a shop have special offers on certain brands.

 

You will find one that you and your Lanber like.....

 

Dave

[Stratts]

Thanks guys local RFD has Gamebore Kent velocity 7.5 28's with fibre wad for £43/250

[sitsinhedges]

Better to get a 30gram 6 if you can

[Stratts]

Ah ok mate cheers before I saw your post, 3 phone calls for reference to 3 locals and what a difference!

 

All Kent velocity 28gram 7.5's per 250 - 1st £45 (not £43 as website), 2nd £54, 3rd £57

 

Also only 1 stocked clear pigeon 30gram 6's at £61/250!!

 

Last one also said Gamebore just told him all prices going up very soon by £15/1000

[Oxon88]

eley pigeon do the job

[sitsinhedges]

Ah ok mate cheers before I saw your post, 3 phone calls for reference to 3 locals and what a difference!

 

All Kent velocity 28gram 7.5's per 250 - 1st £45 (not £43 as website), 2nd £54, 3rd £57

 

Also only 1 stocked clear pigeon 30gram 6's at £61/250!!

 

Last one also said Gamebore just told him all prices going up very soon by £15/1000

 

Shocking prices.

 

Shame you weren't a bit closer I could have done you a box for £40.

[wymberley]

Hi,

There is a consensus of opinion on here that 71/2 shot is for clay pigeon shooting. There is another that disagrees. Because 71/2 shot IS used for clays and used in bulk they are, comparatively speaking, cheaper This on its own is not a good reason for using them for pigeon which deserves the best cartridge that you can afford. Many special to type cartridges made for pigeon shooting carry 61/2 - 2.5mm - shot for good reason. Give them a try - you know it makes sense!

Cheers

[TJ91]

Better to get a 30gram 6 if you can

 

nothing at all wtrong with 28g 7.5

 

they are actually a UK 7

they will kill pigeons at good ranges, they pattern well through my o/u with quarter and open chokes

 

i have shot 1000s of pigeons over decoys, on flightlines and roost shooting,

100s of bolted rabbits, 1000s of crows over decoys and a good few squirrels with kents 7.5 28g 28g 7.5s

[TJ91]

Hi,

There is a consensus of opinion on here that 71/2 shot is for clay pigeon shooting. There is another that disagrees. Because 71/2 shot IS used for clays and used in bulk they are, comparatively speaking, cheaper This on its own is not a good reason for using them for pigeon which deserves the best cartridge that you can afford. Many special to type cartridges made for pigeon shooting carry 61/2 - 2.5mm - shot for good reason. Give them a try - you know it makes sense!

Cheers

 

your quite right there

back that reason up with the fact that they kill pigeon, crow, rabbits etc very well at good ranges and you have all the reason you need.

[sitsinhedges]

nothing at all wtrong with 28g 7.5

 

they are actually a UK 7

they will kill pigeons at good ranges, they pattern well through my o/u with quarter and open chokes

 

i have shot 1000s of pigeons over decoys, on flightlines and roost shooting,

100s of bolted rabbits, 1000s of crows over decoys and a good few squirrels with kents 7.5 28g 28g 7.5s

 

Ive used them plenty but at more testing ranges I use 32grams of 6 and they really are devastating.

 

You will also find that some cartridges marked as 7 1/2 shot are actually 8s and 9s if you open them up to see. I think this is where people start having problems.

[Guest cookoff013]

Ive used them plenty but at more testing ranges I use 32grams of 6 and they really are devastating.

 

You will also find that some cartridges marked as 7 1/2 shot are actually 8s and 9s if you open them up to see. I think this is where people start having problems.

 

too true.

same with those famous game cartridges. SIPE shotsize 5 is shotsize uk4. all bigger sizes. thatys why they hit harder, further and better.

so pick your shells wisely.

[wymberley]

too true.

same with those famous game cartridges. SIPE shotsize 5 is shotsize uk4. all bigger sizes. thatys why they hit harder, further and better.

so pick your shells wisely.

Hi,

Agree, particularly with the final phrase which reflects why your comments in the pinned section of this sub-forum also make sense.

If TJ stopped confusing everyone by calling 7 shot 71/2, he'd also make sense. There's nowt wrong with 7s for decoying as the well known Major knew and the other species that he mentions at sensible ranges. The bottom line is is that 71/2s are not 7s.

Cheers

[dougall]

30g 6s is good place to kick off.(presuming you're using a 12g).The main makers are Gamebore/Hull/Express if you ask your local gunshop he'll sort you out with a decent pigeon cartridge.

Please go for Fibre wad,more farmer/countryside friendly than leaving bits of plastic wad all over the place.

ATB

[MC]

 

Go on, you know it makes sense :good:

[TJ91]

Hi,

Agree, particularly with the final phrase which reflects why your comments in the pinned section of this sub-forum also make sense.

If TJ stopped confusing everyone by calling 7 shot 71/2, he'd also make sense. There's nowt wrong with 7s for decoying as the well known Major knew and the other species that he mentions at sensible ranges. The bottom line is is that 71/2s are not 7s.

Cheers

 

kent call them 7.5 not me my friend

the box says 7.5 but i know that they are UK 7

[Stratts]

Thanks guys I spoke to another couple of rfd's within driving distance from work and the Gamebore clearpigeon 30gram 6's are worse!

 

£61, £59.50 and £57 per 250!!

Edited March 28, 2011 by Stratts

[Tim Kelly]

I used some game bore black gold 32g 6 shot the other day. Took some astonishingly long birds with them, including a bird in a tree that must have been 50 yards out. Dropped stone dead. I was expecting it to be flushed out of the tree to offer the chance of a shot.

 

You don't want to look at the price of those pills though!

 

I prefer 5 or 6 shot for pigeons, and 30g minimum. Tend to get less runners and can shoot birds further out with confidence. I've never found 7 shot that effective, though others obviously have. Get whatever you feel comfortable with from a well know maker, game bore, eley, hull and express all make good cartridges, but you do have to pay a bit more for game cartridges than clay ones generally. £55 for 250 is not unusual these days.

[Guest cookoff013]

 

Go on, you know it makes sense :good:

 

@MC

 

is that a "trap comander wad?"

how are they? they are a cheap economy wad. but they seem to be used in lots of cartridges.

do they load ok or are they a pain? they are in intercomp hv shells, one of my all time favourite shell.

 

@OP

 

just buy pigeon cartridges for pigeon. if you need more performance or a cheaper shell, make or buy other shells.

i still say, an ounce of #5s is a great pigeon load. its a small bird, that has huge flight muscles.

 

at decoy ranges, and some not so decoy ranges, the 5 will outshine the 6. and bigger the pattern thins.

 

handloading is like organic shells, what you put in comes out.

[motty]

For about a year now i've been using NSI SMI 28gm (uk size 7)to good effect. They are more than good enough to kill decoying pigeons. The other plus point is that they are only £35 for 250. I would rather buy these than pay almost double for a 32gm 5/6 just to stretch the range a few yards. I would also say that 90% of all the pigeons i kill are under 30 yards and don't need any more killing power. Those who are shooting pigeons at 50yards +, i would suggest that this isn't decoying.

[The Essex Hunter]

Hi,

There is a consensus of opinion on here that 71/2 shot is for clay pigeon shooting. There is another that disagrees. Because 71/2 shot IS used for clays and used in bulk they are, comparatively speaking, cheaper This on its own is not a good reason for using them for pigeon which deserves the best cartridge that you can afford. Many special to type cartridges made for pigeon shooting carry 61/2 - 2.5mm - shot for good reason. Give them a try - you know it makes sense!

Cheers

 

 

For the sake of a few more pounds 32gm 6 1/2 FW, no plastic wad to kill livestock.

And with a bit of pratice you will kill birds out at a good distance

 

TEH

[Tim Kelly]

For about a year now i've been using NSI SMI 28gm (uk size 7)to good effect. They are more than good enough to kill decoying pigeons. The other plus point is that they are only £35 for 250. I would rather buy these than pay almost double for a 32gm 5/6 just to stretch the range a few yards. I would also say that 90% of all the pigeons i kill are under 30 yards and don't need any more killing power. Those who are shooting pigeons at 50yards +, i would suggest that this isn't decoying.

 

True enough, but if you can only go out when you can go out and the pigeons aren't too keen on coming in to the pattern, you need to be able to have a go at what's available. Those days when the pigeons are decoying well are fantastic, but less that usual for me.

[Catweazle]

True enough, but if you can only go out when you can go out and the pigeons aren't too keen on coming in to the pattern, you need to be able to have a go at what's available. Those days when the pigeons are decoying well are fantastic, but less that usual for me.

 

I suppose it makes sense to take two types with you then, maybe some cheap 28g No6 for when the birds are landing amongst the decoys, and some quality 34g No 5 for days when they just keep flying over your pattern.