20 bore 3" mag cartridges
- Thread starter callie
- Start date
Why do you want such carts???
flytie
Well-Known Member
Callie, try these folks if you can get a group order together http://www.justcartridges.com/pricelists.html
These folks might know of a stockist locally, http://www.lyalvaleexpress.com/UK/index.htm as they are based near Lichfield.
Having used a 20 for some years, I cannot understand why you want to use magnums from a leightweight 20, unless you are wanting to shoot duck? If you are then reloading is the way forward.
Simon
These folks might know of a stockist locally, http://www.lyalvaleexpress.com/UK/index.htm as they are based near Lichfield.
Having used a 20 for some years, I cannot understand why you want to use magnums from a leightweight 20, unless you are wanting to shoot duck? If you are then reloading is the way forward.
Simon
Simon, Stone,:-I use the 20 mainly for pigeon shooting but of late I seem to be hitting birds, feathers every where but they just jink and fly on and I hate leaving pricked birds, I use 5s and 6s and just thought that using mags my stop this pricking and deck them....callie
Callie
Magnums won't stop this happening, it will probably added to the confusion
by all means change to a different cart choice and if these pigeons are a little on the high side then I think a bit more lead will cure this also
often people use a cheaper cart for pigeons which is where the trouble lies , as the cheaper cart may not often pattern the same as some of the more expensive known brands so consequence of this is pricked and missed birds which they normally would kill
I use RC T3's in 1 ounce 6's and I can assure you they work on the highest birds you would think about pulling at
they also in my mind out perform the RC semi-magnum 32g 5's I often use
or another alternate is Eley VIP 30g 6's a great pigeon/pheasant cart
50-60 yard pigeons are very killable just you need to put the pattern infront of the bird so they fly into it
sort of a head shooting technique as body shooting produces the runners as such
I like RC carts and rate them highly as they hav served me well over the years in the 20g
ATB
Magnums won't stop this happening, it will probably added to the confusion
by all means change to a different cart choice and if these pigeons are a little on the high side then I think a bit more lead will cure this also
often people use a cheaper cart for pigeons which is where the trouble lies , as the cheaper cart may not often pattern the same as some of the more expensive known brands so consequence of this is pricked and missed birds which they normally would kill
I use RC T3's in 1 ounce 6's and I can assure you they work on the highest birds you would think about pulling at
they also in my mind out perform the RC semi-magnum 32g 5's I often use
or another alternate is Eley VIP 30g 6's a great pigeon/pheasant cart
50-60 yard pigeons are very killable just you need to put the pattern infront of the bird so they fly into it
sort of a head shooting technique as body shooting produces the runners as such
I like RC carts and rate them highly as they hav served me well over the years in the 20g
ATB
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
Pattern always fails before penetration that is fact. As you have discovered!
Now you standard 2 3/4" load in a 20 bore is 28 grams. That is 198 No 5 or 252 No 7.
If you "up the ante" and go to a heavier "magnum" 20 bore in 5s or 6s with a 34 grams load you increase your payload to....226 No 5 and 288 No 6. Not much at all and in the way of things with a longer shot column you won't actually gain much.
Also you ability to get in a second shot will not be as easy!
My advice?
Use a standard 2 3/4" load with 28 grams of No 7. Hull Cartridge produce one with a fibre wad. That will give you over 340 pellets (Hull say 360 in theirs as they use harder 3% antimony) and a pattern that will virtually guarantee that a vital, killing or disabling spot, is hit.
Now you standard 2 3/4" load in a 20 bore is 28 grams. That is 198 No 5 or 252 No 7.
If you "up the ante" and go to a heavier "magnum" 20 bore in 5s or 6s with a 34 grams load you increase your payload to....226 No 5 and 288 No 6. Not much at all and in the way of things with a longer shot column you won't actually gain much.
Also you ability to get in a second shot will not be as easy!
My advice?
Use a standard 2 3/4" load with 28 grams of No 7. Hull Cartridge produce one with a fibre wad. That will give you over 340 pellets (Hull say 360 in theirs as they use harder 3% antimony) and a pattern that will virtually guarantee that a vital, killing or disabling spot, is hit.
There might be those who would say that 6s are about the biggest shot one might use for pigeons. I've always used 1oz of 7s in my 12bore for them.
Small load + big shot = sparse pattern
Sparse pattern + small bird = miss or wound
Therefore, perhaps stick to a standard load but buy 7s and keep the range sensible.
Small load + big shot = sparse pattern
Sparse pattern + small bird = miss or wound
Therefore, perhaps stick to a standard load but buy 7s and keep the range sensible.
Last edited:
i'd go along with that, having shot a 20ga for 38yrs
But i do reload 3" Steel 2's for GeeseThanks for the info folks, it seems that a better quality cartridge is the answer, a 2-3/4 than a 2-1/2, they are most likely cheaper than magnums, I had been using garlands own game but we won't go into that, yet again it seems that they're a letdown, fortunately there's a gunshop just up the road that has recently been granted they're RFD (airsoft and air rifles is they're mainstay) and as far as I can remember Eley is they're main supplier so I'll start with those and see how I get on. Cheers chaps....callie
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
Is Livens in Burton on Trent or Bate in Stafford near to you? I personally don't much like Eley. I don't think that they are as good a quality for shot size as are Hull Cartridge.
Hi Callie,
As well as the obvious disadvantages of using magnum cartridges, you also have the fact that a slow burning powder is required to reduce choke pressures from the larger quatity of shot atttempting to leave the barrel. So it'll f%*k up you aiming.
Basicaly IMO larger cartridges can reduce preformace, 3" in .410 has a poorer pattern over the smaller cartridges and is less effective (Pattern is at 30 yards and see for yourself).
3 1/2" in 12g which seems to have been developed for Turkey shooters in the US of A, may carry a big load but requires a considereable increase in aimed lead against the smaller 3" when up against geese for instance. Where as the same size load (2 1/4 oz) in a 10g can have a faster burning powder.
Hope this makes sense and I have not taught you to suck eggs...
aliS
As well as the obvious disadvantages of using magnum cartridges, you also have the fact that a slow burning powder is required to reduce choke pressures from the larger quatity of shot atttempting to leave the barrel. So it'll f%*k up you aiming.
Basicaly IMO larger cartridges can reduce preformace, 3" in .410 has a poorer pattern over the smaller cartridges and is less effective (Pattern is at 30 yards and see for yourself).
3 1/2" in 12g which seems to have been developed for Turkey shooters in the US of A, may carry a big load but requires a considereable increase in aimed lead against the smaller 3" when up against geese for instance. Where as the same size load (2 1/4 oz) in a 10g can have a faster burning powder.
Hope this makes sense and I have not taught you to suck eggs...
aliS
Claret_Dabbler
Well-Known Member
Callie, I have used a 20 bore for about 10 years, shot a lot of stuff with it. Funnily, I am not a fan of 6's in the 20 bore for some reason.
If I am shooting pheasants, I will use 1 oz loads of 5's, perferably Eley VIP, but Gamebore Pure Gold is pretty good also. These kill pheasants with some authority out beyond 35 yards.
If I am walking up, woodcock snipe etc, I use oz loads of 7's.
For pigeons, I will take the 12 bore with 1 & 1/8oz of 6's every time, never liked the 20 for pigeons, particularly roost shooting.
If I am shooting pheasants, I will use 1 oz loads of 5's, perferably Eley VIP, but Gamebore Pure Gold is pretty good also. These kill pheasants with some authority out beyond 35 yards.
If I am walking up, woodcock snipe etc, I use oz loads of 7's.
For pigeons, I will take the 12 bore with 1 & 1/8oz of 6's every time, never liked the 20 for pigeons, particularly roost shooting.
limulus
Well-Known Member
Dont blame the cartridges, it'll almost certainly be down to pilot error Callie. Give them another foot.
I've used all sorts of sh17e through my 20 and never suffered from pricked birds, clear misses a plenty, but when i'm doing my bit they die cleanly.
I'll be out roost shooting tomorrow with anything from 21g to 30g of anything from 5's to 8's and wont even look at whats going up the barrel. See it, kill it.
I've used all sorts of sh17e through my 20 and never suffered from pricked birds, clear misses a plenty, but when i'm doing my bit they die cleanly.
I'll be out roost shooting tomorrow with anything from 21g to 30g of anything from 5's to 8's and wont even look at whats going up the barrel. See it, kill it.
Another vote for SAGA. I have been shooting them for about 3 years now in the 20b, both for clays and general shooting purposes. A very good cartridge and sensible price.
Moonraker68
Well-Known Member
When I had an O/U 20 bore I used Eley VIP 30 gm 5 shot, which worked well for me. Changed to a side by side a few years ago, and now use Caledonian Classices - paper cased with 25 gm's of 6.5 shot; they are also very effective, but you can probably tell that I'm a sucker for nostalgia!
I'm not quite sure how the notional burning speed of the powder would affact the aiming.
This idea, namely that a longer thinner shot-column gives worse patterns than a short fat one for the same shot-load, is a familliar one.
The theory is, I think, that e.g. 1oz in a 20bore requires a higher pressure than 1oz in a 12bore (as witness the proof-pressures). The increase in pressure, as well as the increase area of contact of the shot-column with the bore (with fibre wads, at any rate) will increase pellet deformation. Pellet deformation increases the number of fliers, and thereby weakens the pattern.
It is in my view the most cogent argument against putting 12bore loads through 20bores or even 28bores, as seems to the the modern transatlantic habit.
I consider myself better off with a traditional light 12bore, but each to their own!
What I meant by that was that the slower burning powder which produces lower velocities would require an increase in the amount of lead you have to give a bird.
Dawnraider
Well-Known Member
I used to use Lyevale Express 2 3/4 in my 20g, no5's for roosters and rabbits very effective but always used the 12g for decoying but would think they'd be my choice if i had to,unfortunatley sold it a couple of years ago so i'll never know.
Neil.
Neil.
Similar threads
