Gear

We asked some keen partridge shooters which cartridges they use. Here’s what they said.

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With the partridge season starting on 1st September, shooters are going to be thinking about the best cartridges for partridge shooting.

So we asked around some experienced Guns for their tips and advice.

8 of the best cartridges for partridge shooting

Gamebore Dark Storm Quad Seal

Gamebore Dark Storm Quad Seal
Hull Cartridge Partridge Cartridge
Lyalvale Express Supreme Game
Eley VIP

“This is one of my favourites”, says Charles Bull of Just Cartridges. “It’s an Italian cartridge that delivers exceptional quality and performance.”
RC Professional Game

Gamebore Regal
Gamebore Regal

“Hull Imperial Game will suit any partridge predicament you may find yourself in”, says Charles Bull
Hull Imperial Game

RC4 SIPE
RC SIPE Extreme

The list above was suggested by Charles Bull of Just Cartridges.

He adds: “Lyalvale Express Supreme Game, RC Professional Game, Gamebore Regal and Hull Imperial Game are suitable for older English shotguns with 65mm chambers. “

What did the shooting instructor say?

Mark Heath of the West London Shooting School advises: “If you are shooting with a 12-bore, I would recommend 28g no 6, or even a 7 shot.

“A quarter and half choke will normally suit for the majority of partridge 25gram no 6 through a 20 bore. On particularly high partridge, consider upping the choke to a half and three quarters.

“I did use some 32g 5 ½ shot specialist partridge cartridges last year and they were very effective on partridge, grouse and pheasant.”

Best partridge cartridges for different sized shotguns

Taking into account the different bore sizes of shotguns, Shooting Times contributor, gameshooting coach and guntrade consultant Simon Reinhold suggested the following.

Diggory Hadoke who writes for Shooting Times and runs Vintage Guns commented: “Eley Impax was always a good choice and one of the best cartridges for partridge, though Gamebore Regal and Eley VIP – both with 28g (one ounce) are my usual loads.”

Conclusion

The Gamebore Regal gets the thumbs up from both Diggory and Charles so it’s considered to be one of the best cartridges for partridge shooting. The Eley VIP cartridge is another that’s particularly favoured.

All shooters should aim to eat what they shoot and you’ll find some delicious partridge recipes here. In addition, maintain your eco friendly credentials by using fibre wads, paper cases and always picking up spent cartridges.