Home Small bore cartridge review

Small bore cartridge review

Small bore cartridges: One of my godsons kindly invited me to a small-bore day on his family-run shoot, during which an afternoon a gale sprang up.

This made the birds fly incredibly fast, and high.

So how did the small bores (one 16, three 20s and three 28s) that were used that day, cope with such terrific birds?

HULL STERLING GAME
On the 20-bore front, we had another Hull product in the shape of Sterling Game, Gamebore’s Traditional Game and RC’s now very popular SIPE.

These three were all being used in 28gm format and coincidentally, all with 5 shot.

Again the Sterling Game has been improved as part of Hull’s continuous programme of improvement and is smooth shooting with plenty of performance.

501 7C000000838 7Cbc3a Hull Sterling Game Cartridges Hull Sterling Game 20b
Shot Sizes: 5 & 6
Load: 28gm
Wad: Fibre
Case Length: 70mm
Powder: Nobel Sport
Muzzle Velocity: 1430fps
Price: £256

GAMEBORE TRADITIONAL GAME
This cartridge was being used in an old English side-by-side as it is somewhat gentler in the recoil stakes than Gamebore’s high performance Pure Gold load.

The use of a progressive powder allied to a genuine 65mm case made this an ideal combination for the older, lightweight shotgun that made its appearance for this day In Oxfordshire.

Gamebore Traditional Game 20b
Shot sizes: 5,6 or 7
Load: 28gm
Wad: Fibre
Case Length: 65mm
Powder: B & P
Muzzle Velocity: 1375fps
Price: £241

HULL HIGH PHEASANT
This new 16-bore load from Hull Cartridge really did the business on this particular day killing high birds as clean as a whistle.

Just like the Three Crowns cartridge it now replaces this shell is one that can be used in English guns with 2.1/2in chambers.

It’s a 1oz (28gm) load filled with either 5 or 6 shot delivering significantly higher performance than its predecessor with a muzzle velocity of 1450fps – a top notch cartridge that’s also smooth on the shoulder.

Hull High Pheasant 16b
Shot Sizes: 5 & 6
Load: 28gm
Wad: Fibre
Case Length: 67mm
Powder: Nobel Sport
Muzzle Velocity: 1450fps
Price: £261

ELEY VIP
And so to my favourite trio of 28-bores! One of the guests was using Eley’s 21gm fibre load in 6 shot, a cartridge re-branded last year as a VIP load rather than the Grand Prix it replaces.

Having the VIP moniker means that by default, its speed is 1425fps, but I haven’t tested this and I really think I should.

Without wishing to cast aspersions on the pilot’s ability, I didn’t see this combination kill convincingly and it may be that the slightly heavier payload of its grown up sister – the original VIP 24gm – may have been a better bet.

The latter was being used by my host’s father, but I couldn’t help notice his eldest son wipe his eye (albeit with a 20-bore) on more than one occasion on that memorable last drive at some amazingly sporting birds.

Eley VIP (formerly Grand Prix)28b
Shot Sizes: 6 & 7
Load: 21gm
Wad: Plastic or Fibre
Case Length: 70mm
Powder: Maxam
Muzzle Velocity: 1425fps
Price: £246

Eley VIP 28b
Shot Sizes: 5,6 or 7
Load: 24gm
Wad: Plastic or Fibre
Case Length: 70mm
Powder: Maxam
Muzzle Velocity: 1450fps
Price: £268

RC SIPE
This shell is now easily the best selling 20-bore cartridge, and with good reason.

Okay, you need to use an O/U capable of soaking up that bit of extra punch on the shoulder but this cartridge kills like no other – what more is there to be said?

Oh, apart from the fact that compared to the competition, it’s also pretty competitively priced.
RC SIPE 20b
Shot Sizes: 5 & 6 (continental)
Load: 28gm
Wad: Fibre
Case Length: 70mm
Powder: SIPE
Muzzle Velocity: 1450fps
Price: £259

BORNAGHI
As usual this was my 28-bore cartridge of choice – one loaded with 24gm of continental 6 shot in a plastic wad.

I am absolutely convinced that plastic does make a tangible difference, and particularly where the smaller bores are concerned.

These Italian shells are really crisp and sharp with killing power and, I’m sure, helped me kill my fair share of the final bag… 29 very sporting pheasants.

Bornaghi 28b
Shot Sizes: 5,6 or 7 (continental)
Load: 24gm
Wad: Plastic
Case Length: 70mm
Powder: NS
Muzzle Velocity: 1450fps
Price: £289

IN CONCLUSION
Would we have killed more birds with 12-bores? I don’t think so, the team shot well and returned a respectable kill ratio considering the quality of the birds that day.

The best thing about it (apart from my trip down memory lane) was that the birds were all wild and we even saw a brace of English partridge (strictly off limits I might add) on ground I never thought suitable for this little bird.

I can only hope I am fortunate enough to be invited back another day.