Gareth82 Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Went out last week on the pigeon and Corvids using the gamebore super steel 32gr 5's and had good results tumbling most that flew into the patern of decoys, today I was out again with a friend, due to work commitments I asked him to get the same as last week but the only steel they had were the hull hv steel 32gr 5's, today was poor, for example I made three good shots on the bounce at crows that were a very good distance out, some Ferals and jackdaws came in and they were killed with ease how ever quite often the wood pigeons that came into the decoys didn't go down even with the biggest blow out of feathers I was sure they were done but flew on as Normal, I thought it was just me but my shoot buddy had the problem also? Maybe we weren't getting the pellet strikes on target but the feathers that blew out would suggest other wise, the dog was sent out incase they had fallen behind but nothing. Is it possible the shot were passing straight through the pigeon? I won't be using these again but I can't see it being the carts and surely it's my shooting. Gaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Any reason in particular that you need to use steel shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth82 Posted April 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Yes the kills are food for our bops, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 (edited) I have never used Hull HV 32 gr , but have used their Solway magnum and while they are ok they are not a patch on the Gamebore Mammoths. You were using one of the best steel shells on the market so its not so surprising that other stell shells strugle to perform as well. Try going up a shot sizes to 4s or even no 3 and you will find the gamebore 32 gr will perform even better. Edited April 26, 2015 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth82 Posted April 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Thanks for that I'll try a box and see. Just not confident with the hull hv after today. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Yes the kills are food for our bops, Ahh right, as said I've always read that you need to go up a couple of shot sizes so be worth a go....maybe restrict the range a bit and find what range they perform consistently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth82 Posted April 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Yeah I agree, will have a go on a pattern plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 I would have thought any steel 32gm 5 would be plenty good enough for pigeons. Maybe it was just an off day and you and your mate shot a bit poorly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuddster Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 i shoot steel to provide birds to a hawk breeder-I have used gamebore 32g 4's for the last 2000 shells-I do find steel doesnt have the killing power of lead over normal decoy ranges. howeve i think it down to the lower amount of pellets in a shell, due to the ratio of steel versus lead pellet size ie generally two sizes up for the lead comparison-so it comes down to a pellet or three of steel making contact rather than say 6 or 7 of lead hitting the bird. i abhor seeing birds hit and not coming down. i find half choke gives the best killing pattern over quarter choke when decoying. f. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncher Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 No mate some are poor ive had the same experience with express steel absolute pants ,I've shot close pigeons that look messed up only to watch them get up and start to walk off .the Gamebore steel are a good shell in fact I was using some the other evening on crows with a kicks high flyer choke in full clean kills to 50 yards . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 Ahh right, as said I've always read that you need to go up a couple of shot sizes so be worth a go....maybe restrict the range a bit and find what range they perform consistently Yes, that's precisely what I learned from various comments on the net, you need to up the shot size and load. So, when I switched to steel I did just that, 32g 4 or 5's, I even tried some 36g bombers, but I had exactly the same results as others have said, it simply doesn't give consistently good clean kills. I mentioned this to a Keeper friend of mine who also shoots a lot of pigeons, he said try 28gr 7.5's, so I did just that, and they give superb kills through my light mod, (3/8) choke. I use Gamebore Black Gold HV Steel, and they are a fantastic shell, every bit as good as an equivalent load in lead, I'm sure due to the increased numbers of pellets, (around 500, compared to around 350 in a 28gr 7.5 lead load). Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 I mentioned this to a Keeper friend of mine who also shoots a lot of pigeons, he said try 28gr 7.5's, so I did just that, and they give superb kills through my light mod, (3/8) choke. I use Gamebore Black Gold HV Steel, and they are a fantastic shell, every bit as good as an equivalent load in lead, I'm sure due to the increased numbers of pellets, (around 500, compared to around 350 in a 28gr 7.5 lead load). Cat. Learn something new everyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnytheboy Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 Speed kills when it comes to steel, these were over my chrono at one meter. Non Toxic Game 2.75" 1423fps Winchester Blindside 1 1/4oz 1413fps RC Atomic Steel 32g 1399fps Mirage Steel 32g 1396fps Gamebore Super Steel 32g 1382fps Rio Blue Steel 32g 1372fps Bornaghi Steel 36g 1290fps Cheddite Steel 32g 1282fps Cheddite Steel 34g 1262fps Hull Steel Game Extra 32g 1245fps Eley VIP Bismuth 32g 1152fps Gamebore Tung Mtrx 32g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 Yes, that's precisely what I learned from various comments on the net, you need to up the shot size and load. So, when I switched to steel I did just that, 32g 4 or 5's, I even tried some 36g bombers, but I had exactly the same results as others have said, it simply doesn't give consistently good clean kills. I mentioned this to a Keeper friend of mine who also shoots a lot of pigeons, he said try 28gr 7.5's, so I did just that, and they give superb kills through my light mod, (3/8) choke. I use Gamebore Black Gold HV Steel, and they are a fantastic shell, every bit as good as an equivalent load in lead, I'm sure due to the increased numbers of pellets, (around 500, compared to around 350 in a 28gr 7.5 lead load). Cat. Have you eaten any? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 No, but I've had no complaints from any of the Falcons and other birds of prey whose main diet consists of steel shot Woodies. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 I thought they might be a bit peppered for human consumption. Fine for BofP obviously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpigeon3 Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 You should try fiocchi hp35 no 5 steels.If you can get them. Excellent cartridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 I've tried Hull steel carts and hate them. Love Hull lead carts. Gamebore or Eley Lightning are good that I've used. Express were only ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 You should try fiocchi hp35 no 5 steels.If you can get them. Excellent cartridges Yes, been there, done that, tried them, in fact I've tried heavy load steel shells from Express, Rio, Eley, Fiocchi, Gamebore, Hull, but none of them will kill Pigeons over decoys as well as a humble 28g Gamebore load in 7.5, quite amazing isn't it..?? Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 (edited) Cat, are these carts available from just cartridges? Or if not, where are you getting them from please (I guess you're not that far from me). I looked on Gamebores website and couldn't see the ones you refer to. Thanks, Mick. Edited April 28, 2015 by mick miller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 This is partly due to them having a terribly designed website I must admit. I think I found them under clay loads but I need a fibre wad cart, the search continues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncher Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Yes, been there, done that, tried them, in fact I've tried heavy load steel shells from Express, Rio, Eley, Fiocchi, Gamebore, Hull, but none of them will kill Pigeons over decoys as well as a humble 28g Gamebore load in 7.5, quite amazing isn't it..?? Cat. Never found that at all, most quality steel loads will do the job just fine and 32 gram of gamebore steel 4 or 5 will match them all day long in the right hands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Yes, been there, done that, tried them, in fact I've tried heavy load steel shells from Express, Rio, Eley, Fiocchi, Gamebore, Hull, but none of them will kill Pigeons over decoys as well as a humble 28g Gamebore load in 7.5, quite amazing isn't it..?? Cat. I would say that is partly down to the fact that the shot is 2.5mm, which is obviously quite a bit bigger than a lead 7.5. If the speed is as quoted on the website (1400 fps) then I can totally see how they would be a good pigeon load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Cat, are these carts available from just cartridges? Or if not, where are you getting them from please (I guess you're not that far from me). I looked on Gamebores website and couldn't see the ones you refer to. Thanks, Mick. I get mine through Neville Jay at Essex Gun in Romford, they only do a Plaswad version as far as I am aware..? Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpigeon3 Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 (edited) Fibre steels are hard to come by. Edited April 28, 2015 by jpigeon3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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