Shooting pigeons can be a tricky business: not only are these birds wily and fast, but they are tough to bring down at the best of times. The right cartridge will increase your shot-to-kill ratio significantly and there are a few key ingredients that you’ll need to produce the perfect red-letter day.
What is the the best shot size and load for pigeon shooting?
If you have done your reconnaissance, set a good decoy pattern and are tucked away in your hide that is perfectly blended to the scenery, then you have a good chance as the grey masses come piling in. Pigeons have incredible eyesight and if they see you move, they will jink away making one of the hardest shots – now you see it, now you don’t - as you fire in to thin air. A good cartridge will of course help, but it needs to have a good pattern and down-range performance as the pigeon's thickly feathered body can make it a tough bird to kill cleanly.
Size 6 or 7 shot is ideal for decoying, putting plenty of pellets in the pattern and with ample knock down power. In terms of size of load, you need enough to give a good pattern, but go too heavy and you will be feeling it on the shoulder by the end of the day. So somewhere between 29g and 32g will be ideal offering comfort, pattern and power.
Pigeon specific cartridges also need to represent good value and whilst we have seen significant price increases over the last year, as with everything else, the following should provide you with something suitable. All of these cartridges are 70mm so all should work faultlessly in semi autos.
Best value for money pigeon shooting cartridge
Based on Gamebore’s eponymous Clear Pigeon this is available in a 30 or 32gm load in eco friendly fibre wad only. At £288 per thousand for the 30gm and £303 for the 32gm, this also represents the best value pigeon cartridge currently available, ticking all the boxes as discussed above.
30g - £314 / 1000
32g - £326 / 1000
Best selling cartridge for pigeon shooting
The next generation of Clear Pigeon was developed in conjunction with Andy Crow and is available in a 30g or 32g load in plastic or fibre wad. Whilst it has continued to evolve, this cartridge has been around for yonks and it is quite telling that it is as popular now as it ever was, with good reason. This is the best selling pigeon cartridge of them all and it’s big sister Pigeon Extreme - as used by Mr Digweed - is not far behind.
30g - £344 / 1000
32g - £354 / 1000
Best high velocity cartridges for pigeon shooting
As the name suggests and with a velocity of 1425fps, Super Fast is no slouch. Very hard hitting, but comfortable with that slightly lighter load than average at 29gm, this cartridge has proved extremely popular with pigeon shooters far and wide. Available in plastic or fibre wad, it has been known to be used by pigeon shooter extraordinaire Tom Payne.
29g - £341 / 1000
Best pigeon shooting cartridges for semi-autos
With a load of 32gms, this is the Pigeon Select’s big sister and with a muzzle velocity of 1400fps is a hard hitting cartridge. Notoriously good in semi autos, this cartridge has a large and loyal following. Now available only in a fibre wad, Eley is making it’s contribution to the environment as well.
32g - £349 / 1000
Best all-rounder pigeon shooting cartridge
The 29gm load was developed as a money saving idea back in the days of the soaring cost of lead. Obviously we have plenty of other factors at play now keeping prices high, but Pigeon Power has endured for it’s quality and the ability to deliver time after time. It is also very reasonably priced and available in plastic or fibre wad.
29g - £334 / 1000
Increased costs over the last year or so are making life difficult for us all and as we know, it is not just shooting or cartridge prices that are affected. These pigeon cartridges still offer great value however, due to economies of scale and the use of better value components like cases with short brass heads.
The manufacturers are doing their bit and with the cost of shooting increasing for plenty of reasons, we may all choose to do a little more pigeon shooting and try and get to grips with that most sporting of birds, the humble pigeon.
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