How did you go about choosing your cartidges?

[Newbie_Louise]

I'm a couple of weeks away from being in a position to buy my own shotgun and cartridges, and whilst I have a gun lined up, I am floored by the number of cartridges there are out there to choose from. Even knowing the load, shot size and wad, there are alot to choose from across multiple brands, and then more to consider based on the discipline you shoot (I guess when you get really down into fine tuning things).

I get that alot of this is going to be opinion based, but I'd love to hear about how you went about choosing your cartridge of choice. Or, if you have a few you like for different things etc. Did you cycle through a few different brands before settlings, or have you just used one type from the get go. What were the most important considerations for you? Do cheaper shells have more recoil?

Appreciate you taking the time to share - I really am enjoying breaking clays immensley and I can't wait for that cert to drop through my letterbox!

Edited Sunday at 19:26 by Newbie_Louise

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, Welcome to PW, I have not shot clays for years so not up with the latest brands but there are some good clay shooters on here that am sure will be pleased to advise further, what shotgun have you got lined up ?, What Clay ground are you shooting ? 

Edited Sunday at 21:54 by oldypigeonpopper

[Scully]

For me it was always a compromise between what others advised and what was readily available locally. 
I’ve been through cheap and expensive and more different brands in all manner of configuration than I can recall. 
The local ground you shoot at will possibly dictate what you shoot, via what they stock, but you’ll eventually settle on one or two which appear to give you more consistent results. 
When that happens, resisting the temptation to change when you have a couple of ‘off’ days is important, because if you had good results and then suddenly don’t,  it isn’t the cartridge. 
There are no quick fixes and there’s an awful lot to learn over a long long time,  but it’s worth the effort. 

[enfieldspares]

Hello. Often there are outside "rules" that will set limitations on our choices. Thus for when I practice on clay pigeons the rules where I shoot at the excellent Normanton Shooting Ground are a maximum of 28 grams and a maximum size of English #6 shot. Now at Normanton I can use either fibre wad or plastic wad. So that sets my choice. No more than one ounce and no shot greater than English #6.

Now when it comes to live quarry where I shoot (or rather shot the last season but one) the rules were fibre wad only. But no limit on shot size nor on the payload of shot. So I could use what I wanted limited only by the characteristics of my chosen gun which was 2 1/2" chambers weighs 6lb 15 ounces and with open choke. Shooting pheasant with chance of partridge, pigeon and woodcock.

Which meant that I then look at what sort of pattern I need. Which for woodcock I want something well covered. So a cartridge with a minimum of two hundred and forty pellets. Yet I also don't want to riddle twenty-five yard pheasants. So I don't really want more than three hundred pellets. So what are my choices? They are those that generations of game shooters have used. These three: 1 1/8 ounce of English #5, 1 1/16 ounce of English #6 or 1 ounce of English #6 1/2. But I do not ever use 1 ounce of English #6. 

And from the three above it's what's available and and what price and when I've the money available for a slab plus personal prejudice that I have developed that favours either "full fat" 1 1/8 ounce of English #5 or 1 ounce of English #6 1/2. 

Edited Sunday at 22:07 by enfieldspares

[Westley]

Welcome to PW.

As it appears you intend to just shoot clays, for now, that really dictates what sort of cartridges you will need. Can I suggest you maybe stick with a 21 gram cartridge until you gain some more experience. They will be easier on your shoulder, considering that you may be shooting quite a few cartridges in a short space of time. Maybe consider a lesson with your new gun. You can then bombard your Instructor with questions, including your choice of cartridges. It's sometimes easier to explain things when you have a gun and cartridges to hand.

[ditchman]

Keep asking questions ...of

1. yourself...what are you looking for ....what build are you (weight)
2. ask questions of your gun..what weight what chokes..what range you are shooting at
3. and thirdly...................ASK LOADS  OF QUESTIONS....

none of us on here can give you the definitive answer...this is something you are going to have to work out for yourself....but keep asking "why"

the more you learn about chokes/cartridges/barrel lenght/fibre wad/plastic wad.......then you will start to answer some of your own questions..........

[Weihrauch17]

4 hours ago, Newbie_Louise said:

I'm a couple of weeks away from being in a position to buy my own shotgun and cartridges, and whilst I have a gun lined up, I am floored by the number of cartridges there are out there to choose from. Even knowing the load, shot size and wad, there are alot to choose from across multiple brands, and then more to consider based on the discipline you shoot (I guess when you get really down into fine tuning things).

I get that alot of this is going to be opinion based, but I'd love to hear about how you went about choosing your cartridge of choice. Or, if you have a few you like for different things etc. Did you cycle through a few different brands before settlings, or have you just used one type from the get go. What were the most important considerations for you? Do cheaper shells have more recoil?

Appreciate you taking the time to share - I really am enjoying breaking clays immensley and I can't wait for that cert to drop through my letterbox!

For a 12 bore and Clays 24g of 8's will do the job with little recoil, there are no bad cartridges these days so don't over think it!

[sam triple]

For me it’s down to price , comfort, and what wads clay grounds allow , 

I only buy fibre wads as 3 shoots I go to only allow these and I personally don’t like throwing plastic around the countryside 

I’ve tried expensive to bargain basement, I found there’s not a lot between them especially at my level ,Kent carts I found dirty and horrible . Super fast bit thumpy in the shoulder used to get for under a fiver price has near doubled , Eley great carts especially the Ambers again got too expensive, White Golds great again to expensive, now I’m using Fiochi light speed 26 grm fibre smooth relatively clean and at a reasonable price , but shop around places like Mole Valley sometimes have discounts on , whatever you choose enjoy your shooting 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Simply buy the cheapest that you can get repeatedly and buy a small amount (250) initially.

[ditchman]

8 hours ago, Weihrauch17 said:

For a 12 bore and Clays 24g of 8's will do the job with little recoil, there are no bad cartridges these days so don't over think it!

proberly the best advice on this thread."dont over think it".........KISS.............keep it simple stupid

[Newbie to this]

By their colour, general consensus is that Red cartridges are a lot better than any other colour cartridges. 

[BobbyH]

So when it comes to cartridges and my experience....

I fist off shot the TT21's then moved onto TT1 24grams, as thats all i had given to me on lessons, so i stuck with Fiocchi.

Then i tried Eley, as i was given a slab of Superbs for winning a competition, and the Superbs were brilliant, so i bought some Olympic Blues in #9 for skeet.

 

Now the ground i shoot at stocks and orders only Fiocchi, so i have just got 2 slabsd of FBLU 28 Gram 7.5's for DTL, TT2 Skeet #9.5 for Skeet and TT21's for lessons i give out.

 

When choosing, i try and go with reviews, price and availability.

[Newbie_Louise]

21 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, Welcome to PW, I have not shot clays for years so not up with the latest brands but there are some good clay shooters on here that am sure will be pleased to advise further, what shotgun have you got lined up ?, What Clay ground are you shooting ? 

Hey! I'm going for a beretta 686, and I'm shooting at Bisley. Definitely a wealth of advice to be found here!

20 hours ago, ditchman said:

Keep asking questions ...of

1. yourself...what are you looking for ....what build are you (weight)
2. ask questions of your gun..what weight what chokes..what range you are shooting at
3. and thirdly...................ASK LOADS  OF QUESTIONS....

none of us on here can give you the definitive answer...this is something you are going to have to work out for yourself....but keep asking "why"

the more you learn about chokes/cartridges/barrel lenght/fibre wad/plastic wad.......then you will start to answer some of your own questions..........

I know it's going to come down to what works for me, but I was definitely interested to see what thought process and questions others had asked themselves. And the answers have definitely given me some food for thought, and points for consideration!

Thanks everyone for your responses so far - it's really great to start talking with people about these things. I've been shooting at Bisley, and know I've been using 21g Hull cartridges of some type. I tried the 28g a couple of times and heck was that a massive difference! I'd gotten used to the others, so definitely felt those!

Edited 22 hours ago by Newbie_Louise

[Fellside]

As I think has been mentioned above go for lighter loads - 21 or 24 grams. They break clays perfectly well. Everyone will have their own individual favourites - as cartridges are often experienced differently by various people - recoil and timing etc. Therefore opinions differ widely. After a while you’ll discover your own favourite ‘confidence cartridge’. I hope you have a great time learning. Welcome to the sport (and Pigeon Watch). 

1 minute ago, Fellside said:

As I think has been mentioned above go for lighter loads - 21 or 24 grams. They break clays perfectly well. Everyone will have their own individual favourites - as cartridges are often experienced differently by various people - recoil and timing etc. Therefore opinions differ widely. After a while you’ll discover your own favourite ‘confidence cartridge’. I hope you have a great time learning. Welcome to the sport (and Pigeon Watch). 

P.S forgot to mention - don’t be lured by the ‘faster is better’ marketing ploy. Those cartridges only serve to thump your shoulder and your purse more than necessary. 

[wymberley]

Minefield isn't it? This because the choice is vast. The advantage of this is the fact that you WILL find something to suit. Consequently, pausing to have a look at your choice of gun can simplify matters considerably. Fixed choke somewhere between, say, Imp or 1/4 by 1/2 or thereabouts will do every thing you'll need as a novice and beyond. No constant fiddling or faffing about just concentrating on hitting the targets. Even if your preferred discipline is skeet, the chokes more suited to that can handle pretty much everything else except for the really long stuff simply by changing the cartridge if necessary.

[Mfozz]

Like a lot of things, people often stick with the brand they were introduced to when they started.  For me that was Browning and Miroku guns and Eley cartridges. That was back in the late 80’s when I was 10! 
 
I'm still shooting a Browning and still using Eley cartridges. I shoot 24 and 28g Selects 7.5 shot on the clays and find them decent for the price. 
 

Gamebore and Eley are the two biggest selling brands in the Uk so you can’t really go wrong with them. Hull are I think the next in the pecking order, and I know a few people who like the Superfast for clays on a budget. 
 

You can’t go wrong with the recognised names in my opinion, and they all do budget friendly carts. 
If budget is no issue, I think Gamebore Black Gold come out on top in surveys. 

[Newbie_Louise]

12 minutes ago, Mfozz said:

I shoot 24 and 28g Selects 7.5 shot on the clays and find them decent for the price. 
 

Thanks for your response...the Eley Selects were one that I was eyeing up actually!

I'm in a position to buy a few slabs to start...I wonder what the wisdom is in buying 2-3 brands to try and then taking a box of each to the grounds to try.

The JustCartridges place is around 45 mins from, so could order online then go for a nice drive to collect!

[oldypigeonpopper]

15 minutes ago, Newbie_Louise said:

Thanks for your response...the Eley Selects were one that I was eyeing up actually!

I'm in a position to buy a few slabs to start...I wonder what the wisdom is in buying 2-3 brands to try and then taking a box of each to the grounds to try.

The JustCartridges place is around 45 mins from, so could order online then go for a nice drive to collect!

Hello, That is where i go sometimes as it is not far from me in Abingdon, I need to pick up some 20 Bore Carts soon,  You may find Comp X a good cartridge as they shoot softer than most clay carts i have used, Also Pellpax have them quite cheap and discounted for larger orders with free delivery, also found Gamebore velocity very punchy, You may find Just Carts let you buy a few brands say 4 slabs and still get discounted.

Edited 20 hours ago by oldypigeonpopper

[Fellside]

17 minutes ago, Newbie_Louise said:

Thanks for your response...the Eley Selects were one that I was eyeing up actually!

I'm in a position to buy a few slabs to start...I wonder what the wisdom is in buying 2-3 brands to try and then taking a box of each to the grounds to try.

The JustCartridges place is around 45 mins from, so could order online then go for a nice drive to collect!

Yes - good idea. Once you have a favourite, just keep repeat buying. I was trying to resist recommending an actual product, as it’s best if you discover what you like personally. However, the CompX mentioned by oldypigeonpopper  are pretty soft shooting and consistent. Have used thousands of the 24 gram version. 

[oldypigeonpopper]

10 hours ago, Fellside said:

Yes - good idea. Once you have a favourite, just keep repeat buying. I was trying to resist recommending an actual product, as it’s best if you discover what you like personally. However, the CompX mentioned by oldypigeonpopper  are pretty soft shooting and consistent. Have used thousands of the 24 gram version. 

Hello, I just checked out Comp X prices , prices seem to have shot up, near £300 a thousand, That was Just Carts, As i mentioned Pellpax in Norfolk are doing free delivery and discount for bulk buy, Make contact first, It is not a cheap sport anymore but still good to enjoy with friends or go in competitions

Edited 9 hours ago by oldypigeonpopper

[Mfozz]

Trying a few different cartridges will help you find out which one feels the nicest to shoot. Everyone feels recoil differently and every cartridge recoils/feels different to shoot, the differences can be hardly perceptible to night and day different.  Only having a shoot will tell you what a cart is like. 
That being said, I’d say you only need to buy a 25 box of each cart you want to try and you’ll be able to feel the difference and make your decision. 
 

Perhaps try Eley, Gamebore and Hull in 24 and 28g, that would be 6 boxes of 25.  See which you like best and then get stuck in. 
 

 

 

[Bigbob]

I tend to use 6s for all my game shooting so tried a few different brands to see what suited my gun and me