marktattoo Posted September 14, 2022 Report Share Posted September 14, 2022 Anybody got any experience of using the Eley vip 20g steel 24grm, no 4 cartridges ?. I have a few boxes to try but something is telling me that might not be as good as I am used to on pheasants , normally use vip game lead 28grm/30grm no 6/5 which I am happy with but with the lead ban getting nearer looking for viable alternatives that are cost effective for the 20 gauge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamch Posted September 14, 2022 Report Share Posted September 14, 2022 Look on youtube for land officer - he has a few videos of using Eley steel 20s on pigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted September 14, 2022 Report Share Posted September 14, 2022 I posted on this last season. Used them on our small shoot good but not high birds and they were devastating in my OU with open chokes. Just ordered another 500 for me and a pal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas seal Posted September 14, 2022 Report Share Posted September 14, 2022 Hi Mark I’ve used a few thousand of them mainly for pigeons. I have killed pheasant, rabbits ,teal and mallard with them . I found them good enough I use them because of the bio wads. The fiocchi 20gauge steel are a harder hitting cartridge but they are high performance steel cartridge and have a louder report than the Eley . The Eley cartridges won’t have the range of the cartridges that you have been using. 28 and 30gram loads are 12gauge loads. More 20gauge steel cartridges with bio wads will be available with different shot sizes it’s just wait and see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktattoo Posted September 14, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2022 1 hour ago, Gas seal said: Hi Mark I’ve used a few thousand of them mainly for pigeons. I have killed pheasant, rabbits ,teal and mallard with them . I found them good enough I use them because of the bio wads. The fiocchi 20gauge steel are a harder hitting cartridge but they are high performance steel cartridge and have a louder report than the Eley . The Eley cartridges won’t have the range of the cartridges that you have been using. 28 and 30gram loads are 12gauge loads. More 20gauge steel cartridges with bio wads will be available with different shot sizes it’s just wait and see. good to hear good reports, we have a friendly pheasant shoot , we don't have many high birds , so will be sensible ranges . I hope Eley do fetch out heavier loads for the 20 gauge 24grm I use for clays , but to me seems a bit low on game , went for the Eley because of the wad as the ground we have has live stock on, so don't like using plastic wads. will give them a go on some drives and see what happens 2 hours ago, Dave at kelton said: I posted on this last season. Used them on our small shoot good but not high birds and they were devastating in my OU with open chokes. Just ordered another 500 for me and a pal. nice to hear, will give them a go, just got happy with my lead cartridges and never shot steel before , so still got the doubts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted September 14, 2022 Report Share Posted September 14, 2022 2 hours ago, marktattoo said: good to hear good reports, we have a friendly pheasant shoot , we don't have many high birds , so will be sensible ranges . I hope Eley do fetch out heavier loads for the 20 gauge 24grm I use for clays , but to me seems a bit low on game , went for the Eley because of the wad as the ground we have has live stock on, so don't like using plastic wads. will give them a go on some drives and see what happens nice to hear, will give them a go, just got happy with my lead cartridges and never shot steel before , so still got the doubts Don’t think in terms of the equivalent lead load. Get in front of the bird as usual and you will kill. Remember there are more pellets per ounce with steel but offset as you are a couple of sizes larger. I recommend you get a pattern at your normal range to build confidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudger687 Posted September 14, 2022 Report Share Posted September 14, 2022 (edited) 8 hours ago, marktattoo said: Anybody got any experience of using the Eley vip 20g steel 24grm, no 4 cartridges ?. I have a few boxes to try but something is telling me that might not be as good as I am used to on pheasants , normally use vip game lead 28grm/30grm no 6/5 which I am happy with but with the lead ban getting nearer looking for viable alternatives that are cost effective for the 20 gauge Eley lie to you about their shot sizes. Their size 4 is probably a size 5 - fine for close in work but may struggle a bit further out. If you can find a size 3 cartridge (3.56 mm) and can find a tight enough choke that's probably as good as you'll get in the 20 with steel. Bismuth would be a better choice in the 20 if you can afford it. Edited September 14, 2022 by Smudger687 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas seal Posted September 14, 2022 Report Share Posted September 14, 2022 Steel shot cartridges should always be marked in millimetres. As Dave said don’t compare steel to lead shot. If you go for large shot size in 20gauge you would be looking at 76mm magnum hp steel cartridges or load 24gram faster cartridges. Just pattern them at 30 to 35 yards and then go and shoot them. I’ve loaded 20gauge and 28gauge steel cartridges for years and they work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktattoo Posted September 15, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 (edited) 15 hours ago, Smudger687 said: Eley lie to you about their shot sizes. Their size 4 is probably a size 5 - fine for close in work but may struggle a bit further out. If you can find a size 3 cartridge (3.56 mm) and can find a tight enough choke that's probably as good as you'll get in the 20 with steel. Bismuth would be a better choice in the 20 if you can afford it. many thanks, Bismuth would be good but the cost is silly per box , just trying to find a cartridge that is up to the job, easy to obtain and not silly money, when lead is finally banned 12 hours ago, Gas seal said: Steel shot cartridges should always be marked in millimetres. As Dave said don’t compare steel to lead shot. If you go for large shot size in 20gauge you would be looking at 76mm magnum hp steel cartridges or load 24gram faster cartridges. Just pattern them at 30 to 35 yards and then go and shoot them. I’ve loaded 20gauge and 28gauge steel cartridges for years and they work. many thanks, not used steel at all up to now now but with up coming ban looking to switch but trying to find a cart that is uptown the job, affordable and easy obtainable Edited September 15, 2022 by marktattoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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