bicykillgaz Posted June 16, 2012 Report Share Posted June 16, 2012 I know this has been done to death in one form or another but I'm gonna ask anyway, I want some cartridges for crow decoying for my wife but don't want anything too snappy as she suffers with her shoulder so I'm leaning toward 21-25g maximum. With them been lighter loads I was thinking of dropping shot size to give a better pattern. Where we will be setting up is in like a bottle neck between a wood and line of trees, it's its a bit of a crow intersection and they would be decoyed at 25-30yrds absolute max. My question is what would the smallest shot size be I could get her to give the best/largest shot pattern/string? I was leaning towards 7's with it been close range what do you use? Obviously if we get many pricked birds I'll get larger shot but want to start small and work up. Will also use them for squirrel and roosting birds. Thanks in advance Atb Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshLamb Posted June 16, 2012 Report Share Posted June 16, 2012 (edited) I dont shoot them with anything less than 5's. Feathers on them crows is like armour plating The aim is to kill them humanely first time. Not to see if you pr1ck any, then 'work up' ! :blink: :blink: Edited June 16, 2012 by WelshLamb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted June 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2012 (edited) I dont shoot them with anything less than 5's. Feathers on them crows is like armour plating The aim is to kill them humanely first time. Not to see if you pr1ck any, then 'work up' ! :blink: :blink: I've also always used 5's or larger but that's because they use to come over really high on the flight lines over the woods, since I've got sorted with decoys again I can get them to come in to anything from 5-30yrds as they comit really well, I would have thought at 20yrds they'd have a hell of a punch even with smaller shot. Since I've got he 20g I've been dropping them with no problems out to 30-35yrds With 28g no6's but my wife will be shooting them closer in than that with lighter loads. Don't worry I wasn't going to start with something stupidly small but was going to go with the smallest size shot the educated masses would use and work my way up if it didn't work for me. I don't like pricking birds which is why I've asked so no need for the rolling eyes at least I've asked. Atb Gary Edited June 16, 2012 by bicykillgaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshLamb Posted June 16, 2012 Report Share Posted June 16, 2012 A decent weight 12 bore will kick less than most 20's. If your Mrs is really bothered by recoil, she might be better off with a 12? or a semi auto... They hardly kick at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted June 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2012 A decent weight 12 bore will kick less than most 20's. If your Mrs is really bothered by recoil, she might be better off with a 12? or a semi auto... They hardly kick at all! I thought that too but she's only small so weight/length of pull and handling was a bit it of an issue with my hatsan 12g, a 20g semi might be wort a go Im hoping to get one nearer the end of the year anyway as and when funds allow. She damaged ligaments in it and it doesn't take too much to aggravate them again unfortunately, she's just starting to enjoy shooting though so the more enjoyable I can make it the more I can get out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted June 16, 2012 Report Share Posted June 16, 2012 trial and error with the gun i think Gary...as for carts..If your getting them in that close 6's or 7's should be fine..As long as your not going to be tempted with high birds...you'll need a pretty open choke to shoot that close too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted June 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2012 trial and error with the gun i think Gary...as for carts..If your getting them in that close 6's or 7's should be fine..As long as your not going to be tempted with high birds...you'll need a pretty open choke to shoot that close too... Been using 1/2-1/4 so far but can always go cyl-1/4 I guess, the birds come in well so not any need for long shots now, they come over high and corkscrew down to have a better look over my decoys now so with the trees been high on three sides it funnels them in to the pattern quite nicely now. I think I'll grab some 21,24,25g in 7,6.5 and 6's and see how I go I've got next week off to have a play. As soon as I find something suitable I can get that stock sent off too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted June 16, 2012 Report Share Posted June 16, 2012 Ideal...got all the gear lined up to do it...give me summat to do for a few evenings...keep in touch dude.. :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted June 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2012 Ideal...got all the gear lined up to do it...give me summat to do for a few evenings...keep in touch dude.. :good: Will do mate, I'm taking it to get the bead sorted Monday/Tuesday so I'll send it then, cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdSolomons Posted June 17, 2012 Report Share Posted June 17, 2012 21g 7.5s will murder them to 30 yards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted June 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2012 21g 7.5s will murder them to 30 yards Cheers ed, I thought they'd still hold a lot of energy at them ranges. Just picked up a couple of different sorts to try out I got the wife hull high pheasant 25g 6's and hull three crowns 23g 7's and I got me some hull sterling game 28g 6's and gamebore traditional game 28g 7's I'm gonna stock up on which ever works best as they are all 50-60 a slab at the minute where I got them from. I'll keep my eye out for some 7.5s but see how the 7's go first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted June 17, 2012 Report Share Posted June 17, 2012 24/25g 7s will do job just fine Special 20 express 25g 7s work well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdSolomons Posted June 17, 2012 Report Share Posted June 17, 2012 28g through a 20 will be pretty lumpy for a little lady I'd be lookin for some clay shells. 7.5 will still have plenty of pellets in it even if onl 21g, and will be comfortable to shoot, and cheap. At 30 yards you could fold them with 9s if you wanted. The game shells are just another few quid a box for some pretty bird pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted June 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2012 24/25g 7s will do job just fine Special 20 express 25g 7s work well. Just got in she's had a couple of shots with the hull three crowns 23g 7's and liked them so for now well go with them, there only £55 a slab at the minute too so not too bad. 28g through a 20 will be pretty lumpy for a little lady I'd be lookin for some clay shells. 7.5 will still have plenty of pellets in it even if onl 21g, and will be comfortable to shoot, and cheap. At 30 yards you could fold them with 9s if you wanted. The game shells are just another few quid a box for some pretty bird pictures! The 28g are for me mate not the mrs, gonna see how the 7's work for her for now then see about the 7.5's at a later date. I know what you mean about game cart prices though same weight load same shot size but £2 dearer and I dont shoot any better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 18, 2012 Report Share Posted June 18, 2012 (edited) if you are absolutely adament to use low recoil ammunition for 12gauge, then use hushpower ammo. it should recoil less than any traditional load. magnasonic, hushpower, are made by eley and lylevale and avalable in 7.5, although i dont recomend lighter than 6 or even 5 in these light loads. hushpower 32g #5 seem very suitable. but maybe not in an automatic. but in a tube gun it seems like the most applicable cartridge compared to shooting 21g loads. dont be overy concernerd about the 32g load it should recoil about asmuch as a standard 21g load. it should still prove to be beyond adequate for the task at hand. Edited June 18, 2012 by cookoff013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 18, 2012 Report Share Posted June 18, 2012 if you are absolutely adament to use low recoil ammunition for 12gauge, then use hushpower ammo. it should recoil less than any traditional load. magnasonic, hushpower, are made by eley and lylevale and avalable in 7.5, although i dont recomend lighter than 6 or even 5 in these light loads. hushpower 32g #5 seem very suitable. but maybe not in an automatic. but in a tube gun it seems like the most applicable cartridge compared to shooting 21g loads. dont be overy concernerd about the 32g load it should recoil about asmuch as a standard 21g load. it should still prove to be beyond adequate for the task at hand. edit, just read its for 20 gauge. use hushpower 20gauge too., Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted June 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2012 edit, just read its for 20 gauge. use hushpower 20gauge too., I did think about Subsonics but it's getting them locally in 20g to try a box that's the problem, I wouldn't want to get him to order a Slab for her not to like them or get on with them. I've got her 23g 7's which she is comfortable with, just got me a slab of gamebore tradition game 28g 5's to play with for now, £59 which I didn't think was too bad seems I've paid more for 12b 28g 5's before. Atb Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted June 18, 2012 Report Share Posted June 18, 2012 I wouldn't buy Hushpower cartridges, I have found them to be very poor and so load my own version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted June 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2012 I wouldn't buy Hushpower cartridges, I have found them to be very poor and so load my own version. In what respect, pattern or knockdown capability? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted June 18, 2012 Report Share Posted June 18, 2012 In what respect, pattern or knockdown capability? They patterned well enough but were feeble to say the least. I wouldn't use them if they were free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted June 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2012 They patterned well enough but were feeble to say the least. I wouldn't use them if they were free. I'll definitely give them a miss then, I'm sure the 7's will do for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike525steel Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 21g 7.5s will murder them to 30 yards Mmmm. Shouldn't be encouraging 21g for anything with a pulse...... Many unclean kills me thinks Especially not 7's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 I wouldn't buy Hushpower cartridges, I have found them to be very poor and so load my own version. They patterned well enough but were feeble to say the least. I wouldn't use them if they were free. I'll definitely give them a miss then, I'm sure the 7's will do for now. Myself and Sitsinhedges have disagreed on this time over, but I found the 20g Hushpower 30g #5 subsonics pretty good, and killed some good high pigeons with them. If you can get a box, at least try them for yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdSolomons Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 Mmmm. Shouldn't be encouraging 21g for anything with a pulse...... Many unclean kills me thinks Especially not 7's Up to 30 yards will fold them flat. As long as your not pushing an long shots then no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 Myself and Sitsinhedges have disagreed on this time over, but I found the 20g Hushpower 30g #5 subsonics pretty good, and killed some good high pigeons with them. If you can get a box, at least try them for yourself I completely agree with that comment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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