Q: Do you have any information on the .14 or .12 calibre cartridges? I would like to rebarrel a rifle in one of these calibres but what’s your advice on small calibre cartridges? A: There are some worthwhile small calibre cartridges around. The .14 is a unique calibre and a…
Ammunition
Ammunition is one of the core elements of the shooting experience.
Choosing the right load is key – and will depend on the gun being used, the level of shooting expertise, the quarry, the terrain and the target.
Is it best to buy online or visit a specialist supplier? Online is convenient but talking to somebody experienced could make a big difference to your shooting.
What are the laws on lead shot and steel shot? When should each be used?
Here our team of experts at Shooting UK give you the latest information on choosing and using the right ammunition, whether shotgun cartridges or air rifle pellets, with tips on storing, wearing and maintaining it safely.
We talk you through the best choices for clayshooting, gameshooting, pigeon shooting, wildfowling and stalking. What’s new on the market and which are the tried and tested favourites.
Being a responsible shooter also means being a safe shooter so we cover the safety rules when using ammunition too.
Shotgun cartridges | Clay cartridges | Air rifle pellets | Ammunition reviews |
How to choose the best air rifle pellets
Having the best air rifle pellets for your particular gun can make the difference between hit and miss. So how can you decide? Read through the following and you’ll be in a good position to make the right purchase – and make that all-important difference to your shooting. Best air…
How to match ammunition to your rifle using a chronograph
Q: I am after a cheap way of measuring the velocity of my .22 subsonic CZ rimfire so I can work out its trajectory. Is the new FX Chronograph any good? I use a lot of different chronographs to measure my rifle’s muzzle velocity. A: The new FX model is…
Why doesn’t everyone pick up their plastic cartridge cases?
What do you do with your empty plastic cartridge cases? Plastic wads are already verboten on many game shoots. But plastic cartridge cases are another matter. They are still very much the rule rather than the exception. Unlike wads, which are blasted to God only knows where, cases are much…
How to choose the best load for a 20-bore
A 20-bore shotgun is really used for game shooting and although 20-bores can easily and convincingly be used to shoot clays, most dedicated clay Shots use a 12. In this article I give overview of the most appropriate cartridge loads for differing quarry types. Ease of movement with 20-bore The…
The pros and cons of lead-free bullets
There is a growing push towards lead-free bullets. But what are the pros and cons of lead-free bullets? These are the advantages and disadvantages as I see them and of copper bullets. There are serious considerations for both but lead shot is, of course, being phased out over a five-year…
What happened when Bruce Potts carried out a high velocity ammunition test?
Speed, power and accuracy are essential for successful pest control — Bruce Potts tests six of the classic .22LR high velocity ammunition rounds to see which is the top performer. There is a vast number of manufacturers and styles of bullet to choose from – most popular are the .22LR…
What are the choices available if you’re looking for lead-free ammunition?
Like many people, you may be considering trying some steel shot for your game shooting this season. But with so much misinformation available online, how do you know where to start? Moving towards lead free ammunition We must begin by realising that what is right for somebody on Facebook may…
We asked some keen partridge shooters which cartridges they use. Here’s what they said.
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 Hull Cartridge Partridge Cartridge Lyalvale Express…
How does your shot measure up?
Like much in game shooting, our choice of shot size has evolved. The era before international corporations dominated the UK shooting market, and US-style marketeers brought professional persuasion to an unsuspecting public, was quite different. But not necessarily bad. There is much in modern game shooting to be proud of,…
Black powder licences … what you need to know
Thinking about using black powder? You’ll need a licence from the local police and a reason for using it. Having a gun proofed for black powder should be enough. Of course you can make your own black powder cartridges and you can also buy them if you prefer. But first…
What did our tester make of the latest ‘eco-cartridges’?
Margaret Heffernan, the writer and entrepreneur, said: “For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument and debate.” Shooting has had this in spadefuls of late, largely on the topic of cartridges. In February 2020, the British shooting organisations unanimously voiced their support for the phasing out…
Which lead-free airgun pellets would you recommend?
Q: After all the talk about shotgun shooters moving away from lead ammunition, I feel inspired to try using lead-free pellets in my airgun. Are there any brands you can recommend, and should I expect them to perform differently? Talking lead-free-airgun pellets A: Many of the reputable airgun pellet manufacturers,…
Taking a look at 24gm shotgun cartridges
The advantages of 24gm shotgun cartridges are often underrated and misunderstood. In addition to costing less and producing lower recoil they give you better patterns. This is due to less damage being done to the pellets during ignition and as they travel through the bores. The upshot to this is…
Why biodegradable shot cups are the way ahead for shooting
As we move inexorably towards a brave new world of shooting without lead or single-use plastic, I wonder how we will look back. I shall keep my powder dry on the lead issue. I have written before about my own positive experience of using steel for game shooting in my…
13 of the best clayshooting cartridges reviewed
Forty or so years ago when clayshooting wasn’t as big as it is now shooters used whatever cartridges were around. Then clayshooting started to really catch on and now there is a whole host of cartridges specially designed for smashing clays. Dedicated competition cartridges are available for 12-bore, 20-bore, .410…
Moving from lead shot to steel – what you need to know
Moving from lead shot to steel - the practicalities involved
How to store shotgun cartridges legally and safely
I want to keep shotgun cartridges in the loft, which never drops below freezing but does get a bit damp at times. I am not talking about keeping the ammo for a long time, but maybe buying a year or more’s supply at a time.
Steel yourself
Twenty years ago, when restrictions on the use of lead shot on the foreshore came in, the steel shot cartridges commercially available to wildfowlers were not good enough. Steel shot performance has been playing catch-up ever since and still struggles to slough off its poor reputation. But there was a…
Are copper bullets the way forward?
Using copper bullets for stalking? But isn’t copper toxic?” asked a friend. He is a staunch defender of lead ammunition. In a discussion about centrefire rifle ammunition, I suggested he read Megan Rowland’s recent piece in Shooting Times. She gave a detailed account of using copper bullets for stalking and…