Gamebore's "groundbreaking" eco-friendly cartridges

According to last year's Game Shooting Census, Gamebore is the leading cartridge brand in the UK, with some 30% of those who are loyal to one brand or another opting for Gamebore. Quite apart from being up there with the best in the marketing game (seriously, who doesn't want to use Black Gold or Dark Storm? They sound like cocktails!), Gamebore loyalists cite consistency of performance among the key drivers of their passion for the brand. The same survey showed that more than half of Guns would be more likely to use steel shot if it were possible to use biodegradable wads.

Couple this with the rather sudden annoucement from the shooting organisations on the five year phase-out of lead shot, and an increased focus on environmental responsibility, many in the shooting world have been waiting with baited breath to see what Gamebore will come up with to meet this particular challenge.

Two years of research

Of course, Gamebore have been on the case since long before the lead phase-out announcement. In fact, they've been looking at this since 2018, when they began investigating new materials and technology to meet the challenges facing the industry in the years ahead.

Extensive work began on developing a wad which would provide the best gas seal available in both a fibre load and a full cup design. Alongside this program, Gamebore worked closely with leading specialists in environmentally friendly approved materials.

The aim was to develop wads which offered not only much better performance but would also meet the high environmental standards we all face going forward. After a lengthy research and testing process, they began working with a material which has the strength to be used in high-performance loads, is 100% environmentally safe and is entirely stable in normal storage conditions.

The culmination of this work is two new products which will be on the market for the 2020 game season. Both utilise Gamebore's unique technology and groundbreaking new material. At the heart of these new products is the new Quad Seal™ system.

Having teased us with a short clip about a month ago, on Friday they released further details about their new range of cartridges using their Quad Seal technology. Although we have yet to get our hands on any of the new shells, George Digweed MBE has said that they are "perform as well as a plastic wad, if not better.”

Gamebore Dark Storm with Quad Seal Diamond Shot

The Quad Seal is patented and  manufactured by Gamebore. The thing that makes the wads stand out, say Gamebore, is that they have four sealing rings, giving an outstanding gas seal,  far exceeding that of even a premium plastic wad and is also beneficial when used in overbored barrels. The Quad Seal sits behind a fibre wad replacing the traditional over-powder card. This gives, we are told, far more consistent ballistics when compared to other wads available today. Quad Seal also increases downrange energy and knockdown power, since less gas leakage occurs down the barrel. Gamebore also say that recoil is reduced compared with standard fibre wadded cartridges. 

Quad Seal is 100% environmentally safe and will break down naturally in the environment within a shooting season. The Dark Storm with Quad Seal use Gamebore's F2 and M92S powder ranges for blistering but smooth performance and  Diamond Shot. Gamebore believe that this is a leap in cartridge technology and makes Dark Storm with Quad Seal the best game cartridge available. The new cartridge is available in late July 2020 and comes in 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36g loads with a range of shot sizes to suit the loads including 4, 5 and 6. At present these are only available in 12 bore.

Gamebore Dark Storm Precision Steel with Bio-Wad

Building on the Quad Seal design, this is a new full cup wad utilising the same cutting-edge material which is 100% environmentally safe. It incorporates all the benefits of the Quad Seal with the addition of a unique cup section. The Bio-Wad has petals with newly designed unique 45 degree overlapping edges, giving complete barrel protection. Manufactured in-house by Gamebore, the new Bio-Wad is specifically designed for steel shot. The high strength of the Bio-Wad means it is suitable not only standard steel loads but also high-performance steel cartridges for guns with the appropriate Fleur de Lys proof marks.

The new cartridge is loaded using Alliant US double-base powder which gives outstanding downrange energy and all-weather performance that cannot be duplicated using single-base propellants. Loaded with precision steel shot in 3,4 and 5 this new product will be available to order in late August. This significant advancement in cartridge design and technology demonstrates the cartridge industry's commitment to providing shooters with the latest innovation incorporated within the highest quality ammunition available.