hoggysreels Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 (edited) When l go shooting in the field l dont use 28g No 7.5 cartridges, though there are numerous spent cases of the aforemention littered about. I have mainly been using 34g & 36g No5 eley ( good ) & Lyalvale ( okay, but leaves heavy residue ) both 12 bore 70mm On numerous occasions I've had Crows/Rook/Magpie etc cross me at distance and lve held fire. What lm wondering is what is the maximum distance from tip of barrel to the bird is a practical distance. As a comparison ! ... if l were to use say ... No 7.5 70mm 28g cartridges. ( just out of curiosity ) No 5. 70mm 34g cartridge No5. 70mm. 36g cartridge No4. 76mm. 42g cartridge This is purely to gauge by comparison .... lve hedged to the side of, if its not within obvious range, dont shoot ... lm thinking l missing viable opportunities to knock them off ... any advice appreciated PS ... should have mentioned chokes are a 1/4. & 3/4. ... Edited March 5, 2013 by hoggysreels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 more limited by the shooter than the shell I should say and you don't want to educate them you want to kill them. you do right by holding back at present, though we all do the odd long one I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 You missed one .... 30g 6's ... I hit a pigeon at 62 yards and killed it dead in the air Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Throw the 7 1/2s aside for the clays, leave the wildfowling shells for the marsh and settle on the best all round cartridge for killing pigeons! 30 gramme 6s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 All of the shells above will cleanly kill birds out to 40 yards. Some of the above you can stretch to another 20 yards if you are capable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 You will be amazed at the range 34g of 5s will kill if you are good enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted March 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Well l'm far from a good shot ! I particularly mentioned Carrion Crows as it's those that mainly seem to fly across R-L-R etc When l first got back into shooting it soon became clear to me the limitations of 7 1/2 28g clay cartridges I dont shoot dozens of cartridges when l go out on the farmer and when l start docoying, l wont use anything less than 30g/32g .... the pleasure l get out of shooting in my mind is worth paying a few quid extra. Ive many times glance and raised the gun but held off firing ... to see the crows fly off scott free ... I use at leaat 34g 70mm 12 bore ... lve not used the 30g cartridges because lve as much the chance of a crow as a pigeon or Rabbits etc ... suppose the fact is there isnt an ideal single cartridge that suits all ... l take 34g & 36g with me and use the 34g in the 1/4 choke and a 36g in the 3/4 choke ... I mght mess about using different choke tubes ... its all good fun though, as its suppose to be me thinks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Well l'm far from a good shot ! I particularly mentioned Carrion Crows as it's those that mainly seem to fly across R-L-R etc When l first got back into shooting it soon became clear to me the limitations of 7 1/2 28g clay cartridges I dont shoot dozens of cartridges when l go out on the farmer and when l start docoying, l wont use anything less than 30g/32g .... the pleasure l get out of shooting in my mind is worth paying a few quid extra. Ive many times glance and raised the gun but held off firing ... to see the crows fly off scott free ... I use at leaat 34g 70mm 12 bore ... lve not used the 30g cartridges because lve as much the chance of a crow as a pigeon or Rabbits etc ... suppose the fact is there isnt an ideal single cartridge that suits all ... l take 34g & 36g with me and use the 34g in the 1/4 choke and a 36g in the 3/4 choke ... I mght mess about using different choke tubes ... its all good fun though, as its suppose to be me thinks Believe me, a 36gm cartridge is certainly not necessary for what you are shooting.You are just using more expensive cartridges for no reason. A 30 gm 6 will be plenty for the shooting you have described. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MK38 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Well l'm far from a good shot ! I particularly mentioned Carrion Crows as it's those that mainly seem to fly across R-L-R etc When l first got back into shooting it soon became clear to me the limitations of 7 1/2 28g clay cartridges I dont shoot dozens of cartridges when l go out on the farmer and when l start docoying, l wont use anything less than 30g/32g .... the pleasure l get out of shooting in my mind is worth paying a few quid extra. Ive many times glance and raised the gun but held off firing ... to see the crows fly off scott free ... I use at leaat 34g 70mm 12 bore ... lve not used the 30g cartridges because lve as much the chance of a crow as a pigeon or Rabbits etc ... suppose the fact is there isnt an ideal single cartridge that suits all ... l take 34g & 36g with me and use the 34g in the 1/4 choke and a 36g in the 3/4 choke ... I mght mess about using different choke tubes ... its all good fun though, as its suppose to be me thinks I personally like 30 gm 6 , but any cartridge 28- 32 gm 5,6,6.5, 7 or 7.5 will kill Pigeon or crow out to 40- 50 yds easy ....... and if you pace it out it's a long way ! I think your making it all to involved loading different shells in each barrel , just keep it simple.... I normally place my furthest decoy at 40 yds and tend not to shoot birds that are further out if i can help it. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocknee Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 All of the shells above will cleanly kill birds out to 40 yards. Some of the above you can stretch to another 20 yards if you are capable. I shoot occasionally with a very well known shot and with 32g 6s he regularly kills birds stone dead out to at least 70 yards not something I would attempt too often as it would result in too many pricked birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted March 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Very interesting reading other peoples opinions ... l think l will try a couple of boxes.of 32g No6 .. l like eley, recently been.using Lyalvale ... they really leave a heavy residue, and kick a bit, but other wise they are ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Stop fiddling about with your cartridges. You do not need to be considering all of those variations. As others have said 30gms of no. 6 will do you well enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted March 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Do you use 30g No 6 for all aspects of shooting ? I rough shoot mainly ... come across from Teal to Fox ... not done very much decoying. Decoying by its very nature indicated your quarry, l could understand having a one cartridge suits all when decoying, but sliding half a dozen 34g and 36g cartridges add to my days pleasure. Will try some 30g & 32g ... l will use the <32g cartridges with my sbs and 32g> with my O/U ... it all adds to the enjoyment of the sport ... those Crows might not be so smug next time out. I was surprised a few weeks back at the distance l dropped a Pigeon with my .410 and l was only using a 12.5g. 2 1/2 cartridge ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 From 36g to 28g of 6 shot will make no difference , put it in the right place will kill to 50 yrds + Teal should be non toxic as im sure you no but have shot more fox with 6 shot than any other as if they bolt within 20 yrds there dead even with 7 1/2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Another vote for 30gram 6's Check "corvid choas" in sporting pics. Some long shots taken there and not for a second did I doubt the shell choice. 32grms in a s/s must give you a hell of a punch and 34 is a bit of overkill on everyday rough shooting/decoying imho. But its entirely your choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Another vote for 30gram 6's Check "corvid choas" in sporting pics. Some long shots taken there and not for a second did I doubt the shell choice. 32grms in a s/s must give you a hell of a punch and 34 is a bit of overkill on everyday rough shooting/decoying imho. But its entirely your choice. i,m in the 30g 6s corner also, but have been using 29g 6 hull super fast, brilliant cart and even better price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ghost Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 I am confident at killing a bird with any of those above at 40 - 50 yards. I shoot with others who have the same confidence at 70 yards (good shots) and amaze me every time we are out at the birds they hit & kill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted March 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 The SBS kicks a tad .. but was advised to check lop ... bought a slip on recoil pad and its better'ish ... Anyhow thanks for the insight ... there appears to be a liking for 30g No6's ... will give them a go, though no one will convince me to use clay ground cartridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 i,m in the 30g 6s corner also, but have been using 29g 6 hull super fast, brilliant cart and even better price I also use the lyavale pigeon special that used to be 30g, then it went to 29grms also called the chasse. Its a cracking shell. It depends on which is cheaper when I'm the shop and also availability. More than confident to use either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 The SBS kicks a tad .. but was advised to check lop ... bought a slip on recoil pad and its better'ish ... Anyhow thanks for the insight ... there appears to be a liking for 30g No6's ... will give them a go, though no one will convince me to use clay ground cartridges They have their place - at the CLAY SHOOT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 (edited) I usually use a 28g or 29g load of 5s. They are light on recoil and will kill long range pheasants cleanly (provided you do your bit correctly) so are more than adequate for rangy pigeons and crows. They are also priced somewhere between pigeon and game cartridges, so not megga expensive. A great all rounder in my opinion. Edited March 6, 2013 by chrispti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Been using 32g No 6's for many years as they are the best deal from the guy we get ours from. Would be just as happy with 30's. The pigeons in my avatar pic all fell to the 32's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 As above, 30-32g size 6 will bag most things at sensible ranges and a few that aren't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 You will be amazed at the range 34g of 5s will kill if you are good enough That's me out of the running Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markyboy Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Stop messing about with differant loads and get some consistency and your shooting will improve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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