With the pheasant season finally here, hopefully we will all have some shooting to look forward to. As we are all well aware, Avian Flu will curtail our season somewhat but pheasants are certainly less affected than partridges have been.
The best shot size and load for driven pheasant shooting
Over the last fifteen years, there has been a trend towards heavier loads and larger shot sizes which is not always the best way forward. The reason for this is that you start losing the pattern. To put this in to context, a 28gm load in 6 shot has around 270 pellets and a 36gm in 4 shot gives just 220 pellets in the pattern or thereabouts.
The most common load these days is a 32gm 5 shot giving about 250 pellets, so the 5 shot is the one to go for in my view – 4 is too big. And of course they will kill just as well if you put it up the front end.
Highest Performance Pheasant Cartridges – Gamebore, Dark Storm
Gamebore’s Dark Storm range offers drop dead performance and with their innovative Quad Seal technology, gives fantastic shot to shot consistency just like a plastic wad but fully biodegradeable. Top end muzzle velocities and their exclusive Diamond Shot for more consistent patterns complete the picture and with a superb range of loads, there is something for everything.
- 28gm - £417 per 1,000
- 30gm - £442 per 1,000
- 32gm - £474 per 1,000
- 34gm - £507 per 1,000
- 36gm - £532 per 1,000
Buy Gamebore Black Gold
Best Value Pheasant Cartridges – Just Cartridges – Purple Fury
These are perfect for pheasant with two ideal loads in either 31gm 5 or 6 shot or 33gm in 4’s or 5’s for those taller birds. Smooth shooting with Gamebore’s Quad Seal technology and Diamond Shot they have bags of performance and all the advantages of the Gamebore manufacturing process. In their sexy purple livery they also have the added advantage of being great value for money.
- 31gm - £430 per 1,000
- 33gm - £453 per 1,000
Buy Purple Fury
Best Traditional Load – Hull – Imperial Game
Renowned for producing great traditional loads suitable for older English shotguns with 2½” (65mm) chambers, Imperial Game manage to provide suitable performance with comfortable recoil. In a genuine 65mm case if they are good enough for Royalty, they are good enough for you. A variety of loads mean Imperial Game will deal with all but the highest pheasants.
- 26gm - £404 per 1,000
- 28gm - £414 per 1,000
- 30gm - £433 per 1,000
Buy Hull Imperial Game
Best All Round Pheasant Cartridge – Eley – VIP
The VIP name has for many a year been synonymous with game shooting performance. In a variety of loads to suit whatever your quarry may be, they provide the ultimate in suitability from grouse to pheasant. With superior ballistics, moderate recoil and consistent patterns, VIP will give everything you need whatever bird you are pursuing.
- 28gm - £393 per 1,000
- 30gm - £418 per 1,000
- 32gm - £443 per 1,000
- 34gm - £478 per 1,000
- 36gm - £513 per 1,000
Buy Eley VIP Game
Best Niche Pheasant Cartridge – Lyalvale Express – Ultimate Power
As the name suggests, this cartridge is ideal for pheasants, whatever their height. Building on their traditional sister stable of Supreme Game, Lyalvale Express developed Ultimate Power specifically for the next generation of performance. Loaded in a 70mm case and with continental shot sizes, these shells provide exceptional knock down power at range.
- 30gm - £424 per 1,000
- 32gm - £459 per 1,000
- 36gm - £529 per 1,000
Buy Lyalvale Express Ultimate Power
Most Underrated – RC – HPF3 Hyperfast Game
RC’s HPF3 range is seriously underrated in comparison to it’s sister products SIPE and SIPE Extreme. With the renowned RC quality, these cartridges have amazing down range energy but are very soft on the shoulder. The SIPE Extreme also kill extremely well, but will also kill your shoulder if you find yourself in the hot spot. A wide variety of loads mean they are entirely suitable for pheasants at all ranges.
- 28gm - £424 per 1,000
- 30gm - £434 per 1,000
- 32gm - £464 per 1,000
- 35gm - £539 per 1,000
- 36gm - £549 per 1,000
Buy RC HPF3
The Best Lead-free Pheasant Loads
And finally, if you need non-lead ammunition for your pheasant shooting, you could do worse than the relatively new BioAmmo Blue which uses an alloy of Bismuth, Zinc, Tin and Aluminium. Although more expensive than steel shot it is of course denser giving better down range energy and is considerably cheaper than pure Bismuth. The 25gm load is in a 67mm case (suitable for 65mm chambers) and all products feature not only a biodegradeable wad, but a biodegradeable case too. For more non-lead options, check out this article.
- 25gm - £599 per 1,000
- 27gm - £629 per 1,000
Buy BioAmmo Blue
Just Cartridges stocks a wide range of sustainable ammunition. For more information, click below.
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