20 bore cartridges for pigeon

[motty]

always cracks me up there's one bloke shooting 60 yard pheasants with an ounce of the cheapest 7.5s he had and that his kills are all clean.

 

7.5s are not suitable for nearly all live quarry in the uk. Maybe super close game but even then, why would you need to when there are other tools better equipped for the job?

 

Fact is 7.5s do not kill as effectively over a wider selection of species and distances most average people in the uk shoot, therefore you will certainly have more wounded game, not the right image for our sport.

 

I wouldn't expect to change your opinion on this, but to the uneducated novice, on a public forum, that's clearly bad advice and bad publicity for shooting.....

With all due respect, you are talking absolute rubbish.

[escortmagnum999]

To be honest they're the same price as 6s, I just used what I had, kept the ranges sensible and had no more runners than normal, but each to they're own. At 30 yards I doubt shot size plays a huge part but maybe I am a "novice". I'd never shoot trap shells at game, only snipe and woodcock, but seen plenty of grouse shot with 7 1/2s and partridge too. it still amazes me that people buy high end shells like black golds to shoot vermin but each to they're own.

Burn Him

. Ha ha!!

[wj939]

With all due respect, you are talking absolute rubbish.

Then why don't we use 8's and 9's over decoys? Each to their own but there is nothing sensible in using the wrong tool for the job. Yes black gold etc might capitalise on game shooting and the money involved to inflate their price, no question. But seriously, why don't we see 32 grams of 8 shot from hull, gamebore etc?

Why do nearly all manufacturers sell a pigeon load containing sixes, they as have many others, have done their research based on facts and years of experience.

 

Telling people to shoot 71/2,s on game is irresponsible. Still, an ounce of sixes for geese sounds the ticket too...,

[motty]

Then why don't we use 8's and 9's over decoys? Each to their own but there is nothing sensible in using the wrong tool for the job. Yes black gold etc might capitalise on game shooting and the money involved to inflate their price, no question. But seriously, why don't we see 32 grams of 8 shot from hull, gamebore etc?

Why do nearly all manufacturers sell a pigeon load containing sixes, they as have many others, have done their research based on facts and years of experience.

 

Telling people to shoot 71/2,s on game is irresponsible. Still, an ounce of sixes for geese sounds the ticket too...,

I don't recall telling anyone to shoot anything at anything. However, I would still use 7.5s at most species that I shoot.

I have used 8s and 9s for decoying, and I'm fully aware of the capabilities and limitations.

 

Why should I have to use what cartridge manufacturers 'recommend'?

I hope you are aware that many 'fowlers of yesteryear used 7 shot on geese.

[sitsinhedges]

Why would anyone limit their shooting just to save a couple of pennies per cartridge?

[fenboy]

i'm pretty sure if cartridge manufacturers thought size 7.5 shot was suited to game shooting then they would market it as such but i've never seen a size 7.5 game cartridge!,maybe others have seen such a cartridge but i have not.

 

Most if not all the continental 28 gram 7.5 loads that people buy cheaply are a English 7 , all the English brands offer a game load in a 7 shot , so it is entirely suitable.

[wj939]

I don't recall telling anyone to shoot anything at anything. However, I would still use 7.5s at most species that I shoot.

I have used 8s and 9s for decoying, and I'm fully aware of the capabilities and limitations.

 

Why should I have to use what cartridge manufacturers 'recommend'?

I hope you are aware that many 'fowlers of yesteryear used 7 shot on geese.

Many folk would use a 22. On reds or fallow but sense was seen and we put a minimum calibre law in place for the benefit of everyone. Yes they can be killed by the right shot in the right place but that's not the way it works for everyone.

Same with using clay carts on game. Sure, might work a bit, but why bother using a less effective tool to save either a few pence or because you refuse to believe it's best practise to use a larger shot size?

 

Point being the OP asked for recommendation, by supporting the 7.5 post, whether intentionally or not on a public forum your suggesting using them. It's horses for courses and I think the vast majority of people would say it's not the best choice....

 

All the best.

[Arley]

I prefer no 7 shot in 26gm or 28gm for my 20 bore S/S. Unless birds are 40 yards+ I don't feel I need anything bigger.

[JDog]

My recent experiences with my new 20 bore will be of little interest and possibly no benefit to anyone but here goes.

 

When I bought the gun last week I purchased the only cartridges they had which I considered might be suitable which were 25 gram 6 shot Hull Cartridge High Pheasant. Over the last few days I have shot some pretty decent pigeons on flight lines with those cartridges.

 

I ran out of those shells yesterday and rushed off to get some more but the shop had none left and I had to buy some 24 gram 6 shot by Gamebore. This afternoon I shot some real monsters coming into roost with those cartridges.

 

My mind is made up that I will not need anything heavier for any of my shooting.

[motty]

Many folk would use a 22. On reds or fallow but sense was seen and we put a minimum calibre law in place for the benefit of everyone. Yes they can be killed by the right shot in the right place but that's not the way it works for everyone.

Same with using clay carts on game. Sure, might work a bit, but why bother using a less effective tool to save either a few pence or because you refuse to believe it's best practise to use a larger shot size?

 

Point being the OP asked for recommendation, by supporting the 7.5 post, whether intentionally or not on a public forum your suggesting using them. It's horses for courses and I think the vast Majority of people would say it's not the best choice....

 

All the best.

 

Horses for courses? Absolutely.

I let my results speak for themselves. I have a few pigeon shooting videos on Youtube. Most of the pigeons I shoot are either killed with an ounce of 7 or 7.5. Give the videos a watch and report back on whether the cartridges are effective enough.

[Guest stevo]

i use fiochci top one in 7.5 ( english 7 ) at the min and find them spot on out to 40 - 45 yrds using full /full choke and i can assure you there musturd .

 

even BASC recomend 7s for pigeon shooting ,

and when i first started pigeon shooting 35 + yrs ago 7,5 english was about the only cartrdge you could get , they worked just fine then , and they still do .

Edited December 29, 2015 by stevo

[motty]

i use fiochci top one in 7.5 ( english 7 ) at the min and find them spot on out to 40 - 45 yrds using full /full choke and i can assure you there musturd .

 

even BASC recomend 7s for pigeon shooting ,

and when i first started pigeon shooting 35 + yrs ago 7,5 english was about the only cartrdge you could get , they worked just fine then , and they still do .

Good man, Stevo. These are one of my favourite cheap shells. I reckon the range can be pushed a few yards further than that, too.

Another favourite of mine are nsi prima. I shall be knocking a few pheasants down with these in the coming weeks.

[NorfolkAYA]

My recent experiences with my new 20 bore will be of little interest and possibly no benefit to anyone but here goes.

 

When I bought the gun last week I purchased the only cartridges they had which I considered might be suitable which were 25 gram 6 shot Hull Cartridge High Pheasant. Over the last few days I have shot some pretty decent pigeons on flight lines with those cartridges.

 

I ran out of those shells yesterday and rushed off to get some more but the shop had none left and I had to buy some 24 gram 6 shot by Gamebore. This afternoon I shot some real monsters coming into roost with those cartridges.

 

My mind is made up that I will not need anything heavier for any of my shooting.

+1 I recently switched to a 20b also, I use 24gm 6 and also find that that load of cartridge is very suitable. I have taken some high birds cleanly 👍

[Guest stevo]

Good man, Stevo. These are one of my favourite cheap shells. I reckon the range can be pushed a few yards further than that, too.

Another favourite of mine are nsi prima. I shall be knocking a few pheasants down with these in the coming weeks.

motty , I love the nsi prima but just cant seem to get a good supply at the min hence why I switched to the top one , but either is more than man enough to do the job .

 

in fact I was out on Monday crow bashing , I was using my CG summit with X2 muller U4's and top one 7.5 for a spot of crow bashing , had a great afternoon in the wind , ended up with 59 carrion and rooks for 74 shots , ranges where from 20 out to 40 yrds with the odd 45 yrd .

Edited December 30, 2015 by stevo

[tigger got stichs]

trust sporting competition 28g 71/2 eng 7 dogs dangles

[JDog]

Clearly I must follow the trend by selling all of my cartridges in no.6 shot and get some 7 1/2 ones.

[Guest stevo]

jdog ,

 

try some top one 7.5 ( english 7 ) they also do them in fibre too around the £145 - £155 depending on plaswd or fibre

[aga man]

jdog ,

 

try some top one 7.5 ( english 7 ) they also do them in fibre too around the £145 - £155 depending on plaswd or fibre

He might have trouble fitting those into his new gun stevo, he has upped his game and bought a 20!

 

 

JDog, keep on using those yellow ones

[Guest stevo]

He might have trouble fitting those into his new gun stevo, he has upped his game and bought a 20!

 

 

JDog, keep on using those yellow ones

oh right haha I think you could be right

 

in that case jdog , now you have moved onto the middle weight calibre you still get them in 20G there the Top 20 / 24 gram load fibre wad 7.5 ( still English 7) and quoted 1425 fps

 

about £195 per/thou

Edited December 30, 2015 by stevo

[wj939]

 

Horses for courses? Absolutely.

I let my results speak for themselves. I have a few pigeon shooting videos on Youtube. Most of the pigeons I shoot are either killed with an ounce of 7 or 7.5. Give the videos a watch and report back on whether the cartridges are effective enough.

I stand by my point. Over the range of vermin and game species in the UK, over the average distances they'd be shot by the average man, a 7.5 is not going to be as effective at giving clean kills as a larger pellet, fact.

If we all start throwing out our game carts and using clay carts there will be more cripples than necessary and that is not good for anyone.

 

You can take examples at each end of the scale to suit your argument but the vast majority of shooters tend to be in the majority for a reason. Horses for courses, exactly. Clays for clays and I'll stick to using game carts for game and I dont need YouTube to tell me what works better.

Edited December 30, 2015 by wj939

[Westley]

Clearly I must follow the trend by selling all of my cartridges in no.6 shot and get some 7 1/2 ones.

 

I have used Eley 'CT' 24 and 21 gram in 7 1/2's for Instruction on clays. However, I was Instructing a young lady on a game shoot who had brought her own 20 bore gun and cartridges. On the last drive of the day she was running low on 20 bore cartridges so I nipped back to my vehicle where I had 75, 21 gram 7 1/2's Eley CT with plastic wad. Although I would not normally use them for game, it was all we had. She finished the day on a high and I have to say all of the birds that she hit were down, with only a couple of runners (which were picked). I admit I was pleasantly suprised with the results, even if most were under 30 yards. I will stick with my 6's and 5's in my 20 bore, but only as it is a 'between the ears thing'. I personally do not think that 7 1/2's carry sufficient punch to stop a pheasant at over 30 yards, although the shot will penetrate. I have no doubt that I am totally wrong, but each to their own.

[motty]

Such a closed mind.

I stand by my point. Over the range of vermin and game species in the UK, over the average distances they'd be shot by the average man, a 7.5 is not going to be as effective at giving clean kills as a larger pellet, fact.
If we all start throwing out our game carts and using clay carts there will be more cripples than necessary and that is not good for anyone.

You can take examples at each end of the scale to suit your argument but the vast majority of shooters tend to be in the majority for a reason. Horses for courses, exactly. Clays for clays and I'll stick to using game carts for game and I dont need YouTube to tell me what works better.

[neutron619]

Such a closed mind.

 

So when was the last time you re-evaluated your own practices and tried - say - a #5 to see how things have changed since 1868 when you first decided you knew best?

 

Unless I've completely failed to understand the meaning of "horses for courses", I believe the chap was being quite open-minded when he implied that what is good for one is not necessarily good for another and had left it at an "each to their own" agreement to disagree.

 

Or is my grasp of English failing me?

[rbrowning2]

I think several factors are at work, ie shot size and load together with choke.

 

I have found English size 7 shot 2.4mm kills well in my 28ga at sensible distances with 24gm 3/4 choke.

 

Another I like a lot is shot size 6.5 or 2.5mm which is now difficult to find in a commercial cartridge which is why I like to reload,

It gives good energy and more pellets in the pattern than number 6 shot which helps in small gauge guns.

 

Clean kills are important, yes pricked or wounding does happen what ever the cartridge/gun, but no one should take pleasure in wounding an animal which may then die an agonising death just because they want to save a couple of quid, if so find another sport.

 

Stevo, the majority of fiocchi cartridges sold in the uk are English shot size or so they claim the top one size 7.5 is English 7.5 or 2.3mm not the size 7 you claim, however I have never taken one apart to check the actual shot size, which experience has shown at tines regardless of who the manufacture is or what the manufactures say may not always be what's on the box.

Which is yet another reason I like to reload.

 

 

 

 

Rb

[Guest cookoff013]

Guys shoot 7s steel at wildfowl.

 

It is just all to do with personal choice and live with the limitations.

I've helped guys reload, and one of the standard loads I print out is a 25g plaswads #6. The guy reloaded them for clays to try. But used all 50 on pigeons and ground game. For me they are about the lightest and smallest I'd ever go.

As for the 30yard argument, why limit to 30?

 

If one limits to sub and 30yards that could really limit the day.