20:20 vision - two new 20 bore shells from Eley

Many a game shot will have begun their shooting career on smaller bores. I started out with a .410 before graduating to a 20 and then eventually a 12. There is a tendency, therefore, to think of 20 bores as guns for youngsters or ladies, but nothing could be further from the truth. They’re elegant, lightweight, handle easily and are ideal for whippy partridges and walked-up shooting, the latter being something that lots of people re-discovered the joys of last season. It seems that many game shots are also coming around to the idea that smaller bores are not just for smaller people.

Over the last few months we’ve been exploring the latest shotgun cartridge offerings from Eley Hawk: the Maximum, a powerful lead cartridge designed for high-bird shooting; the Zenith Pro Eco, featuring their innovative hydro-soluble wad; and the Grand Prix Traditional Pro Eco Steel, the first steel cartridge designed for older shotguns. So far, these have focussed on cartridges for 12 bore shotguns, but here we’re going to study two new offerings featuring some of Eley’s recent innovations into 20 bore loads.

Steel shot shells with eco-friendly wads for 20 bore shotguns

Eley have seemingly been ahead of other UK cartridge brands in terms of bringing non-plastic wad steel shot cartridges to market; they were the first to release a steel cartridge with a biodegradable wad - VIP Steel Pro Eco - but until recently these were only available for 12 bore shotguns. Indeed, one of the comments most frequently seen when the topic of the phasing out of lead shot rears its head on social media is the scarcity of steel shot options for smaller bores.

Once again Eley seem to have stolen a march on the competition, with the release of the 20 bore version of the VIP Pro Eco Steel. Currently only available in 70mm cases and in 24g no.4, these are suitable even for use in guns with nitro proof, providing that the chokes are no greater than ½. This means that your 20 bore doesn’t need to bear the ‘fleur de lis’ proof mark in order to use these cartridges. As ever, when it comes to steel shot, if you are unsure if your gun is suitable check with your local gunsmith.

The wad system, which features a cup to deliver improved patterning, is made from a 100% water-soluble material that is entirely organic and non-toxic to the environment. When submerged in water the wads dissolve in 24 hours, and on land they degrade in around a month, totally disappearing into the soil within three months. The cartridge’s eco-credentials are capped off by their recyclable cases. 

The 12 bore VIP Steel Pro Eco have already found fans among wildflowers and driven game shots alike, and I expect this to be true of the 20 bore variant. So far, those that have been able to get hold of them have only had good things to say. “I’ve been really lucky to test a few of the new 20 bore VIP Steel Pro Eco Loads, and so far I have been very impressed on a number of elements, most notably the smoothness of the recoil,” game shot Matt Leyman (pictured above) told me, adding: “I can’t wait to give them a proper test come the start of the season, especially at the tall birds.”

Copper-coated 20 bore cartridges

Moving from steel into lead offerings, we have the 20 bore version of Eley’s premium game load, the Zenith. These 70mm fibre-wad cartridges are available in 30g No.5 and 6 shot as well as 28g No. 5 and 6 shot, and allow 20 bore fans to get the advantages of a copper-coated lead pellet that 12 bore users have been able to enjoy for some time now.

Because the copper is harder than lead, this thin coating allows for less deformation of the pellets as the shot goes down the barrel and through the gun’s choke, while still benefitting from lead’s deformation properties. This, say Eley, leads to better patterning in flight and thus more of the shot on target, and more power behind the shot upon impact with the quarry at range.

The Zenith has grown a loyal following in the few years it has been on the market, popular amongst grouse, pheasant and partridge shooters alike. When I asked renowned game shot and Eley Ambassador Gerwyn Jones for his views on them he told me:

“I have been using Eley Zenith cartridges for three years now and wouldn’t ever look back. The consistency and ability to kill cleanly at long ranges has been fantastic, and I’ve never once had a misfire. I tend to use a 12 bore for most of my shooting, but when I have shot the 20s they have been equally impressive on all quarry species; the same qualities shine through in both gauges without a doubt.”

Ensuring the future of 20 bore shotguns

As I mentioned above, I used to love shooting a 20 bore and am giving serious consideration to making my next gun a 20, so I’m thrilled to see that Eley are giving these elegant, lively and enjoyable guns a bit of much-deserved love and attention. I’m especially pleased to see a steel shot option, which will help to give confidence to smaller bore users everywhere when it comes to the transition away from lead shot in game shooting when the time comes. Anything that makes this change as smooth and as painless as possible can only be a good thing! 

Over the winter I enjoyed breaking some clays on the farm back home with the old 20 bore I used as a teenager. It was a little short in the stock, but perhaps next season I ought to get hold of a few boxes of these to try out on my brother’s partridges!