fergie Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 what cartridges should i be looking at getting for wildfowling next season never done it before, What size shot and grams should I be looking at, for 23/4" chamber and 3" chamber if i can get a semi auto before the season(I know they have to be none toxic). any other help and information would be great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 A good load for ducks is 36gm 3's, 4's or 5's in steel for 2 3/4 or 3". For geese, a 36gm 1/BB in steel or 42gm tungsten load would be a good start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby b Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 Hello there if i were going to buy a 12g semi for fowling i would be getting a 3 1/2" i dont think a 2 3/4" or 3" will have enough power to knock down geese at long range. There are a few options in carts i use 10g Remington high speed steel 1 3/8oz BB but there is also tungsten matrix or bismuth but your looking at alot of money for them. Bobby b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 Hello there if i were going to buy a 12g semi for fowling i would be getting a 3 1/2" i dont think a 2 3/4" or 3" will have enough power to knock down geese at long range. There are a few options in carts i use 10g Remington high speed steel 1 3/8oz BB but there is also tungsten matrix or bismuth but your looking at alot of money for them. Bobby b Agree with the above. I think you'll struggle with 2 3/4" chambers, unless you're decoying the birds in close, or shooting a flight pond. Take a trip to John Forseys (I see you're in Kent) and get some Remington shells. Definately the best around at the moment If you can't get a 3" or 3 1/2" gun you could also try to get hold of some Bornhagi cartridges. I had some last season (36g 4's) and they are a 2 3/4" shell and very hard hitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergie Posted June 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 I'm probably going to get slated here but I am looking at getting the 3" hasten Escort as i heard they had trouble with the 3.5" cycling and getting jammed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby b Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 My mate has got a mint 3 1/2" hatsan escort for sale he only wants £ 250 for it. I've got it for sale on here if you want a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 I'm probably going to get slated here but I am looking at getting the 3" hasten Escort as i heard they had trouble with the 3.5" cycling and getting jammed I doubt they will struggle to cycle ''fowling'' loads mate. The problems occur (and this is also from experience) with lighter loads (clay and pigeon.) If the funds allow, Remmington HD's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 Hello there if i were going to buy a 12g semi for fowling i would be getting a 3 1/2" i dont think a 2 3/4" or 3" will have enough power to knock down geese at long range. There are a few options in carts i use 10g Remington high speed steel 1 3/8oz BB but there is also tungsten matrix or bismuth but your looking at alot of money for them. Bobby b I agree that a 3 1/2" chambered gun would be best, but you could use 36gm Hevi shot or 42gm tungsten in a 3". That would be as good as 1 3/8 oz of steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 I'm probably going to get slated here but I am looking at getting the 3" hasten Escort as i heard they had trouble with the 3.5" cycling and getting jammed Forseys have got one in at £275. Worth a look, if that's what you're after Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 I doubt they will struggle to cycle ''fowling'' loads mate. The problems occur (and this is also from experience) with lighter loads (clay and pigeon.) If the funds allow, Remmington HD's Remington HDs are good, but if you are going to be using lots of cartridges it would be cheaper to go down the reloading route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 2,3/4" tungsten will sort you out, hevishot is ace. much as a love steel shot, hevi is way better. smaller cartridges, longer knockdown power. you`d only ever use 3.5" for geese BB shot etc. most 2,3/4" steel loads are only 32g. limited to shotsize 3 maximum. ( i said "most" !) rem stuff is good, i`m hearing nothing but praise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 what cartridges should i be looking at getting for wildfowling next season never done it before, What size shot and grams should I be looking at, for 23/4" chamber and 3" chamber if i can get a semi auto before the season(I know they have to be none toxic). any other help and information would be great Hi, just a thought but you might be better off using the money for the semi auto to buy hevi shot in a good load? You will be used to your current gun and you probably wont be firing a huge ammount of shots on the shore anyway. just a suggestion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 yeah, 25 tungsten cartridges are only 25-30 quid, a new gun costs way more. if i was in your situation, http://justcartridges.com/pdf/nontoxic.pdf http://www.gamebore.com/page.php?id1=2&id2=9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 hi mate i used these last season/ gamebore super steel magnum shot size no 1 36g for geese lyalvale high performance steel shot size 5 36g for ducks good clean kills. i think they were about £8 per box of 25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon123 Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 I'm probably going to get slated here but I am looking at getting the 3" hasten Escort as i heard they had trouble with the 3.5" cycling and getting jammed A mate of mine has a 3 1/2" escort and it cycles everything he can find. He's used from 21g 65mm cart's upto 63g 89mm cart's ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckboy1 Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 Been shooting Duck now for the past 4 years and for the first 3 seasons i was using express 36g 3's but last season i found then quite poor so bought some 36g 3's Gamebore mammoth's and they were very good and not too expensive!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anth6568 Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Hello Fergie Totally agree with most of the commments. I would suggest that you buy a gun that has a multi choke fitted. The reason for this is that then you have the option to try different types of ammunition suited for Wildfowling. Once you have decided on which type to buy, you then need to pattern test it at the predicted range that you are most likly to shoot at. I usually test at 40 yards and then test again at 50 yards. From this you can adjust you chokes to then try and get the best pattern at that range. I always start at a quarter choke then work up.You are aiming to have around 6O hits within a 30 inch circle at the test range. Once you start getting less,and you can not change the chokes any more then this will determine your max range for that perticular type of ammunition. If you are using Steel then you will find that you will probably never have to go over a quarter choke as steel pattern very well. Also its recommended that you never go over a half choke with steel as you you put the choke under to much pressure which will lead to damage in that area over time. I have found that Gamebore Mammoth 36g No 1 Steel for geese and No 3 for Duck are a good choice with a quarter choke up to around 35 yards. These are good cartridges to start off with and they dont cost the earth. I think around 30 pence a shot. Over this range i find that they lack the power to bring down large geese like Canada,Greylag or worse wound them. In my opinion they are good for inland goose/duck shooting where ranges are not great. Last season i loaded my own steel and now have very fast No 1 loads that will give very good results upto 45yards and the cost is the same at around 30 pence a shot.Many times they have brought the Mighty Canada goose down at those ranges, stone dead. At the longer rages say 40-50yards then i would use No 1 ITM (Tungsten Matrix). This ammunition is very good and i use a full choke on these, and they place 80% of my shot in a 30 inch circle at 50yards.Gamebore sell this and you will pay in the region of about £2.50 per shot. I have reloaded 46g loads in No 1 shot for around £2.10 and these are very impressive. Im sorry for epic reply but i thought that this might help. Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 If you don't think you'll be using that many cart's Hevi shot is brilliant stuff, damn expensive but it certainly does what it claims to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 26, 2011 Report Share Posted June 26, 2011 Hello Fergie Totally agree with most of the commments. I would suggest that you buy a gun that has a multi choke fitted. The reason for this is that then you have the option to try different types of ammunition suited for Wildfowling. Once you have decided on which type to buy, you then need to pattern test it at the predicted range that you are most likly to shoot at. I usually test at 40 yards and then test again at 50 yards. From this you can adjust you chokes to then try and get the best pattern at that range. I always start at a quarter choke then work up.You are aiming to have around 6O hits within a 30 inch circle at the test range. Once you start getting less,and you can not change the chokes any more then this will determine your max range for that perticular type of ammunition. If you are using Steel then you will find that you will probably never have to go over a quarter choke as steel pattern very well. Also its recommended that you never go over a half choke with steel as you you put the choke under to much pressure which will lead to damage in that area over time. I have found that Gamebore Mammoth 36g No 1 Steel for geese and No 3 for Duck are a good choice with a quarter choke up to around 35 yards. These are good cartridges to start off with and they dont cost the earth. I think around 30 pence a shot. Over this range i find that they lack the power to bring down large geese like Canada,Greylag or worse wound them. In my opinion they are good for inland goose/duck shooting where ranges are not great. Last season i loaded my own steel and now have very fast No 1 loads that will give very good results upto 45yards and the cost is the same at around 30 pence a shot.Many times they have brought the Mighty Canada goose down at those ranges, stone dead. At the longer rages say 40-50yards then i would use No 1 ITM (Tungsten Matrix). This ammunition is very good and i use a full choke on these, and they place 80% of my shot in a 30 inch circle at 50yards.Gamebore sell this and you will pay in the region of about £2.50 per shot. I have reloaded 46g loads in No 1 shot for around £2.10 and these are very impressive. Im sorry for epic reply but i thought that this might help. Regards the gamebore steel is v good. ps, welcome to the forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted June 26, 2011 Report Share Posted June 26, 2011 the gamebore steel is v good. I don't rate it. Mind you, I don't rate steel, full stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergie Posted June 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2011 wow great thanks for the reply's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 I don't rate it. Mind you, I don't rate steel, full stop. buy tungsten instead. on a different note with steel, some manufacturers are not sticking to the correct shotsize designation. it says 4 on the box, but actually its a 5. so "going up 2" shotsizes is really difficult. that mixed with the poor speed from some manufacturers, i`m not suprised you dont rate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 I don't rate it. Mind you, I don't rate steel, full stop. point it in the right place and its fine, otherwise a miss is a miss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 point it in the right place and its fine, otherwise a miss is a miss I have to agree. I killed loads of ducks and geese last season with steel. Some of the fowlers i spoke to on the marsh say it can be better than lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 point it in the right place and its fine, otherwise a miss is a miss Nothing to do with missing. They're hit, they come down, but far too many are not dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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