Big Al Posted October 5, 2013 Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 On general advice, I have bought some of the above, and I have to say I am having mixed results. This morning I noticed they seem to leave a lot of muck up the spout and I'm starting to wonder if I have a bad batch. Can anyone inform me if these are generally regarded as a clean burning cartridge, or is my experience normal. In the meantime I have switched back to Bornaghi 70mm steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfieri Posted October 5, 2013 Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 The only issues I have ever had with Gamebore is when they were stored outside damp must have got into powder and had lots of in burnt in barrels. Ever since they have been kept in warm room and no issues at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted October 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 (edited) Thanks. I already keep mine inside but I know the rfd had had them for quite a while. Edited October 5, 2013 by Big Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfieri Posted October 5, 2013 Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 I would guess they may have been kept outside. I keep mine next to radiator especially when cold and I do notice difference! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted October 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 Thanks. I will try that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archi Posted October 5, 2013 Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 How do you get on with the bornaghi steel and in what sizes? My local shop has some in but are only in 1s but was hoping as the ducks are usually high this would be a bonus as should carry more energy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted October 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 (edited) The only ones I can get are 36g 4s. I generally use steel 3s on duck but I find that they are good. Punchy but good. Better than some of the 3" loads out there. I can only speak for myself but I'd be happy to try the ones on foreshore duck. 36g of steel is a decent number of pellets so I would guess the pattern wouldn't lose out too much. Anything closer than ordinary wildfowling ranges though you could risk damaging the meat. Ones are not great for duck shooting - they are more suited to geese. Edited October 5, 2013 by Big Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 Some might be surprised at the lack of damage done by no.1 and BB to the edible meat on a duck (provided you don't blast them at short range). Indeed I often prefer a few big holes through the breast than lots of small ones to find inside after breaking bits off two teeth on steel shot. Mucky barrels often means incomplete powder burn and this can be created by cold on the day, damp or cold storage conditions. Game bore 3" no.3 mammoth steel 36 grm are my favourite all round duck shell, though I like Remmington Nitro steel no.2 more for Duck on the tide and opportunistic Geese as they hit a lot harder, I have shot teal with the latter over deeks at 25 yds with no.2 and found no big issues with overkill. BB steel is a big favourite of many for "pass shooting" Mallard on the other side of the big pond Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted October 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 Some might be surprised at the lack of damage done by no.1 and BB to the edible meat on a duck (provided you don't blast them at short range). Indeed I often prefer a few big holes through the breast than lots of small ones to find inside after breaking bits off two teeth on steel shot. Mucky barrels often means incomplete powder burn and this can be created by cold on the day, damp or cold storage conditions. Game bore 3" no.3 mammoth steel 36 grm are my favourite all round duck shell, though I like Remmington Nitro steel no.2 more for Duck on the tide and opportunistic Geese as they hit a lot harder, I have shot teal with the latter over deeks at 25 yds with no.2 and found no big issues with overkill. BB steel is a big favourite of many for "pass shooting" Mallard on the other side of the big pond Thanks Kent. That is interesting on both topics. Does using larger steel shot give you a greater range? Or does the pattern fail? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 I shot a pintail and a teal with 42g 1's this weekend and no real damage. These 3" super steel 36g 3's do seem to do the job though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlistairB Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 I was using 36g 3's and 4's yesterday and they worked just fine. I've always thought they were a little dirty but it doesnt bother me, the guns gets cleaned anyway. AB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 Thanks Kent. That is interesting on both topics. Does using larger steel shot give you a greater range? Or does the pattern fail? depends on the choke combo, but yes big steel usually give greater range. these high performance cartridges that leave flakes in the barrel are not burning efficiently, as the flakes are fuel. the expected pressure and speed is not reached. i bet if the carts were shot warm, it`d be a different ballgame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony G Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 Those gamebore mammoths must be good if AlistairB can hit stuff with them ! No seriously though I've used them for 3 seasons and get on really well with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlistairB Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 Those gamebore mammoths must be good if AlistairB can hit stuff with them ! No seriously though I've used them for 3 seasons and get on really well with them Cheeky ***! you only managed a couple on the hottest peg of all - what does that say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony G Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 I think you're in 8 next time Alistair,make sure you've got a pair of pruners or you won't get many either ! Anyway as per usual I was calling them in for the rest of you ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted October 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 depends on the choke combo, but yes big steel usually give greater range. Thanks. When fowling I always use half choke. Basically as tight as I can go with steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 8, 2013 Report Share Posted October 8, 2013 Thanks Kent. That is interesting on both topics. Does using larger steel shot give you a greater range? Or does the pattern fail? It kills better at range, increase in range is subjective. I know I can get Gamebore Mammoth no.3 to pattern brilliantly through my Kicks modified choke at longer range than the shot has the required umph! No.2 Remington start to get a little more gappy at 45 yds but contain the required energy to drop duck from fewer strikes ( I do not tend to shoot them this far out intentionally but it sometimes happens as the instinctive second shot gets fired ). I suppose the trick is knowing at what range your pattern or energy fails and stopping before that occurs. I test every shell I put through my gun choke now on paper and never assume on patterns, reliability can be an issue with some steel loads (retained shot-cups being quite common). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlistairB Posted October 8, 2013 Report Share Posted October 8, 2013 (edited) I think you're in 8 next time Alistair,make sure you've got a pair of pruners or you won't get many either ! Anyway as per usual I was calling them in for the rest of you ! I'll bring a machete Tony! The calling was good to be fair! Edited October 8, 2013 by AlistairB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted October 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2013 I suppose the trick is knowing at what range your pattern or energy fails and stopping before that occurs. Thanks again Kent. That was the crux of my original question. I wasn't getting the performance I was expecting beyond 30 yards with my mammoths. I was getting better with the 70mm Bornaghi. I have the Gamebore mammoths beside the radiator now! Thanks for all the replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowlingmad Posted October 8, 2013 Report Share Posted October 8, 2013 I have probably posted this a few times since I joined but I can not recommend the gamebore mammoths super steel enough! I think they are a cracking cartridge, I have not had a misfire or stoppage with them in my auto. They pattern better than ANY cartridge I have ever tested. And most importantly I get clean kills with them at reasonable ranges as you would want but above that I get clean kills at range. I think, as has been suggested already, the dealer had them in poor storage whether that was cold or dam or whatever. Use what ever combination you are confidant with, you will shoot better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 8, 2013 Report Share Posted October 8, 2013 Wait till you've dried them out and shoot them warm. Think you will like them as we all do. The large amount of fowlers who use and sing the praises of them can't be wrong. Hope you get the good results we are getting with them. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted October 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2013 Wait till you've dried them out and shoot them warm. Think you will like them as we all do. The large amount of fowlers who use and sing the praises of them can't be wrong. Hope you get the good results we are getting with them. Figgy Thanks Figgy. I'm sure I will. It certainly won't put me off trying. All those fowlers can't be wrong. I'm just a bit ****** off with the Rfd now. I can't get them locally and drove a 2 hour round trip to get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lister1 Posted October 9, 2013 Report Share Posted October 9, 2013 I need to get some more cartridges, I normally shoot remmington steel in 2 shot . Unfortunately Partridge guns nr holbeach are close at 5 and I wont be able get any by the weekend. However whittlesey gun shop is open a bit later and they do gamebore. So my question is.... shall I try some gamebore mammoths? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted October 9, 2013 Report Share Posted October 9, 2013 Both are good cartridges. The mammoths will be a little cheaper , but the Remmingtons have a slight edge on performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme1 Posted October 9, 2013 Report Share Posted October 9, 2013 Just got back from Montrose and they were selling 3" Mammoths for £9 for 10, nearly 3 time the price of the ones i took up. I really rate these as they work in the auto no problem unlike eleys lightening steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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