Jimbob93 Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 (edited) Good Afternoon all. Hope you are all doing well? I have my first ever walked up day coming up soon (pheasant etc) and I wondered what cartridges you guys use or what you would recommend? I have only ever shot clays before and so I'm a bit stuck on what load and shot size to go for. I have a 12 gauge. You're help would be fantastic 😉 Cheers James Edited November 18, 2020 by Jimbob93 Forgot a few points Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 Just use whatever you have, it will work. If buying specially for the one day, then 28 gram of no. 6 or 7 is the standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 Just now, London Best said: Just use whatever you have, it will work. If buying specially for the one day, then 28 gram of no. 6 or 7 is the standard. That’s a +1 from me and I would add fibre wad as few shoots accept plastic wads these days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 Just now, Dave at kelton said: That’s a +1 from me and I would add fibre wad as few shoots accept plastic wads these days Good point, I forgot his clay pigeon stuff would likely be plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 Read Lloyds 28g 7s post below yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 Yes, if your a guest or a paying gun just check on the wad situation. 50yrs ago we all used Eley Grand Prix 5s and things seemed to die just the same. It is all down to what your likely to see. If on moorland/marshy ground you might get a chance of snipe and so 7s would be a good choice but put it in the pattern at a sensible range and it will work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 If you've only shot clays and only therefore have clay loads - having sensibly asked before buying any game versions - they may not be up to it. It's odds on that walking up you won't be firing too many so that expense will not be excessive. Some 30g 7s, 6s and as it's walked up and possibly rangey giving the cartridge some work to do, 5&1/2s. Any left over can be used for pigeon. If it's an organised do, just ask the organisers or a regular visitor- any of those mentioned will cover it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 3 minutes ago, wymberley said: If you've only shot clays and only therefore have clay loads - having sensibly asked before buying any game versions - they may not be up to it. It's odds on that walking up you won't be firing too many so that expense will not be excessive. Some 30g 7s, 6s and as it's walked up and possibly rangey giving the cartridge some work to do, 5&1/2s. Any left over can be used for pigeon. If it's an organised do, just ask the organisers or a regular visitor- any of those mentioned will cover it. Too much theory. I know a head keeper who only ever uses 21 gram 7.5’s and everything dies just the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 4 minutes ago, London Best said: Too much theory. I know a head keeper who only ever uses 21 gram 7.5’s and everything dies just the same. Yep, I've met him. He never shoots at anything beyond 35 yards. Good shot though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 You maybe want to consider the potential quarry for the area you’re shooting as you may need non lead for some proberably thinking it’s overkill but rc sipes in a 5 will put the longest range bird in the bag and take care of hares and rabbits in the tussock grasses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 54 minutes ago, Jimbob93 said: Good Afternoon all. Hope you are all doing well? I have my first ever walked up day coming up soon (pheasant etc) and I wondered what cartridges you guys use or what you would recommend? I have only ever shot clays before and so I'm a bit stuck on what load and shot size to go for. I have a 12 gauge. You're help would be fantastic 😉 Cheers James Buy a slab of Gamebore Blue Diamond - 28g 7 1/2 (they are UK size 7 shot). Put in open chokes, skeet and 1/4 if you have them. 1/4 and 1/2 max. There will be people there using all sorts of silly loads, 36g 4's, 34g 5's, Black Gold this, extreme game that. Use fairly open chokes, size 7 shot (if you can get 30-32g 7's even better), swing through and don't over think it. I have killed more birds stone dead in the air this year shooting 28g of 7 shot than I have in the past few seasons shooting 30-32g 6's and 5's. Many large cock birds, and many good pheasants at decent range. Mostly all walked up shooting as well so shot from behind. One gun was telling me how my 7's were no good and he offered me some 30g' 5's, almost forcing them into my hand. He missed the next 2 birds, both of which I proceeded to shoot stone dead in the air with 28g 7's. I said "Did I hit those?" as I then handed him his cartridges back. He said "Ah you just had to prove me wrong didn't you!" and laughed about it. If you are shooting ducks you will have to shoot steel anyway. If you can get them just take a handful of Gamebore Super Steel 32g 4's (can be used in any nitro proof gun). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 And then of course the next question will probably be, what choke should I be using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 I’ve shot walked up with 21g 7.5s last year due to necessity and did very well. Fibre wad, 6s 28-30g would be standard but anything would work. If you have any duck on your shoot (England & Wales) ensure you have access to steel or non toxic shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 What the hell did we do when our choice was eley impax or Grand Prix? We killed things just the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 (edited) Whilst you can overthink these things it does, however, pay to at least consider some things. I'll list them and then why I conclude what I've concluded. 1) What chamber length is your gun? 2) What weight is it? AS YOU ARE WALKING UP THESE ARE MOSTLY IRRELEVANT AS YOU WON'T BE FIRING THAT MANY SHOTS. SO UNLIKE A FULL DRIVEN DAY THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SHOTS FIRED TO WORRY ABOUT BRUISED SHOULDERS - ASSUMING OF COURSE THAT YOUR GUN FITS. CHAMBER LENGTH ALSO IS ONLY RELEVANT IN THAT IS ISN'T RELEVANT. YOU WON'T NEED 36 GRAM LOADS SO ANY 65MM OR 70MM CARTRIDGE WILL BE ADEQUATE. 3) Is it just pheasants? 4) Or is it pheasants and "mixed" which may be woodcock and snipe and/or ground game? 5) What choke is you gun? THIS IS HUGELY IMPORTANT. IF JUST PHEASANTS YOU'LL BE OK WITH ENGLISH #6. IF GROUND GAME YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER ENGLISH #5. IF THERE'S LIKELY SNIPE AND WOODCOCK ENGLISH #7. THE CHOKE MAY HELP YOU GO UP A SHOT SIZE YET STILL MAINTAIN A KILLING PATTERN. SO YOU CAN...JUST ABOUT...IF PHEASANT AND GROUND GAME GET AWAY WITH 32 GRAM ENGLISH #5. IF PHEASANT AND WOODCOCK AND/OR SNIPE HALF CHOKE MAY AGAIN HELP YOU MAINTAIN A KILLING PATTERN WITH 30 GRAM ENGLISH #6 OR BETTER EVEN 32 GRAM ENGLISH #6. BUT IF YOUR GUN IS OPEN CHOKE AND WALKED UP WOODCOCK ARE EXPECTED AND/OR SNIPE YOU HAVE REALLY GOT TO LOOK AT 28 GRAM OF ENGLISH #7 OR IF NOT THEN 32 GRAM ENGLISH #6 AS A MINIMUM. So my advice and this is of course for walked up would be 32 gram of English #6 as a good all around cartridge as it has the pattern and, yet, put to forty-five yards the killing force needed on pheasant. It's not a combination I like for driven shooting and I'd go to either 28 gram English #7 or 30 gram English #6 for that in any gun. But for walked up those extra few pellets in 32 gram English #6 are helpful. Edited November 18, 2020 by enfieldspares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 6 minutes ago, enfieldspares said: Whilst you can overthink these things it does, however, pay to at least consider some things. I'll list them and then why I conclude what I've concluded. 1) What chamber length is your gun? 2) What weight is it? AS YOU ARE WALKING UP THESE ARE MOSTLY IRRELEVANT AS YOU WON'T BE FIRING THAT MANY SHOTS. SO UNLIKE A FULL DRIVEN DAY THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SHOTS FIRED TO WORRY ABOUT BRUISED SHOULDERS - ASSUMING OF COURSE THAT YOUR GUN FITS. CHAMBER LENGTH ALSO IS ONLY RELEVANT IN THAT IS ISN'T RELEVANT. YOU WON'T NEED 36 GRAM LOADS SO ANY 65MM OR 70MM CARTRIDGE WILL BE ADEQUATE. 3) Is it just pheasants? 4) Or is it pheasants and "mixed" which may be woodcock and snipe and/or ground game? 5) What choke is you gun? THIS IS HUGELY IMPORTANT. IF JUST PHEASANTS YOU'LL BE OK WITH ENGLISH #6. IF GROUND GAME YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER ENGLISH #5. IF THERE'S LIKELY SNIPE AND WOODCOCK ENGLISH #7. THE CHOKE MAY HELP YOU GO UP A SHOT SIZE YET STILL MAINTAIN A KILLING PATTERN. SO YOU CAN...JUST ABOUT...IF PHEASANT AND GROUND GAME GET AWAY WITH 32 GRAM ENGLISH #5. IF PHEASANT AND WOODCOCK AND/OR SNIPE HALF CHOKE MAY AGAIN HELP YOU MAINTAIN A KILLING PATTERN WITH 30 GRAM ENGLISH #6 OR BETTER EVEN 32 GRAM ENGLISH #6. BUT IF YOUR GUN IS OPEN CHOKE AND WALKED UP WOODCOCK ARE EXPECTED AND/OR SNIPE YOU HAVE REALLY GOT TO LOOK AT 28 GRAM OF ENGLISH #7 OR IF NOT THEN 32 GRAM ENGLISH #6 AS A MINIMUM. So my advice and this is of course for walked up would be 32 gram of English #6 as a good all around cartridge as it has the pattern and, yet, put to forty-five yards the killing force needed on pheasant. It's not a combination I like for driven shooting and I'd go to either 28 gram English #7 or 30 gram English #6 for that in any gun. But for walked up those extra few pellets in 32 gram English #6 are helpful. Er thinking snipe are waterfowl so non toxic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 Refer again to post no.2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 19 minutes ago, Dave at kelton said: What the hell did we do when our choice was eley impax or Grand Prix? We killed things just the same. But that’s in the old days before us oldies messed it all up 😂😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 41 minutes ago, London Best said: Refer again to post no.2. Too much choice spoils a good thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 49 minutes ago, Old farrier said: Er thinking snipe are waterfowl so non toxic? Er...no! Duck, geese, coot and moorhen. Not snipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggy74 Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 32g no.6 fibre wad Gamebore clear pigeon good all round cart. also available in 30g if you wanted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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