Touchy subject - covered many times (like an old horse!) Cartridges

[Mark Jones]

I found Hull Sovs to be a great choice when I was getting them at a subsidised sort of rate. Now I pay full price I would rather buy more Kunt Velocities for the money and get more practice from them. I know they are a bit thumpy but I have a heavy gun and don't feel recoil is too bad. They may be a bit punchy in a lighter gun. Apart from that they are clean and peform well( If you keep them dry!!!)

 

[** Pending Removal **]

I found myself at West Kent Shooting School today and spent some time watching the ZZ selection shoot, there is no way I'd be shooting that with cheap 7.5's.   I would want a 1550 plastic load of 6%+ antimony 6.5's loaded into a pure brass shell with just the merest hint of plastic at the end, just enough to crimp up. 8)

You would not hit many with that combo :smile: you want less antimony ....not more :smile:

How was it going down there......? Were they friendly and did they welcomed you in and explain the whole thing to you ? 

Like I do when i am there and people are watching from the side.

 

[Hamster]

I spoke to Henry a bit but tried to let him keep focus, did ask about entering but thought better of it when informed it was going to take till 4.30. I spoke to one chap who seemed very friendly and explained most will be shooting either 6 or 7's in the colder weather. You could see a few strikes that failed to knock the centre out and a few early attacked birds that were convincingly smashed B)  , huge difference in peoples tempo's I thought.

What struck me was the number of truly beautiful guns on the rack, one or two with custom stocks but some superb timber.

 

[Stew]

Drop down a price level or two, go for Eley Olympics 28g 7 1/2 shot. I used to swear by Eley Superbs, but E/Olympics were no difference apart from price and are very clean in the tube.

Stop screwing your head up and stick to what you like!

All of us choose different makes either because we have shot well on the day with that shell, or it suits your budget.

Other peoples choice of shell will not make you get any higher scores or give you 10/15 extra clays.

Make your own choice Growl and stick by what works for you.

You need to get a standard set up you are happy with. Once you are in the cage, it is you, the gun, the shell and the clay. Get on with it and break it! :crazy:

 

[Hawkeye]

Personally I find it almost laughable to say this or that shell doesn't make a difference. Everything makes a difference, 21g against 24g makes a difference, you might kid yourself that it doesn't or quite simply not be on the required level to detect that difference (not being rude) but there is no way that an extra 50 pellets don't matter. Same with 24 against 28 and most certainly from shell to shell. 

The difference is not in a single shot though, no good breaking a few 85 yaaaaard crossers with something and declaring it fit for a king, regardless of shot size, load or speed - it's the overall package that makes a difference. You have to be happy with the whole package, the cost, speed, shot size and hardness, availability, pattern density, recoil, packaging even. Now I'm the first to admit that brass height is just a marketing ploy but the fact remains that manufacturers of top end clay loads will put their best blend into the dearer ones hence why most of us tend to prefer these had price not been a factor. 

Cheap shells are perfectly capable of helping you clean up some very tough stands but what they can't do is maintain your confidence levels right at the top, all the time. The slightest thing can let doubts enter your mind with obvious results, this is where the extra £30 matters, better breaks, hence easier to read hence easier to repeat. 

For once Hamster , I actually agree with what you have said. 

 

[** Pending Removal **]

For once Hamster , I actually agree with what you have said. 

Me tooooooo so it is very worrying :smile:

 

[Tim]

You could try RC 3 and 4, they are about VIP money.  Peter Wilson won a gold medal with the latter last summer.  I got them from Sporting Targets in Bedfordshire.

 

[Bebo]

I found myself at West Kent Shooting School today and spent some time watching the ZZ selection shoot, there is no way I'd be shooting that with cheap 7.5's.   I would want a 1550 plastic load of 6%+ antimony 6.5's loaded into a pure brass shell with just the merest hint of plastic at the end, just enough to crimp up. 8)

I was hoping to get down there to watch for a while as I've never seen ZZ in the flesh.  Had to work though :-(

 

[Hamster]

I was hoping to get down there to watch for a while as I've never seen ZZ in the flesh.  Had to work though :-(

It's actually more interesting to watch than regular clays since the flight paths are so erratic, I can imagine it getting pretty good near the end with a few left and money involved. :scared:   :fear:

 

[Clanchief]

You would not hit many with that combo :smile: you want less antimony ....not more :smile:

How was it going down there......? Were they friendly and did they welcomed you in and explain the whole thing to you ? 

Like I do when i am there and people are watching from the side.

Antimony,,,,,,,,,no one knew it was there until it was advertised, now we think more is good in lots of things.

 

[abbeygold]

FBLACK half choke job done.

 

[DoubleBarrelledDon]

you mean there are ready made cartridges available today??!!!!! that would explain the nasty looks from the people behind me the other day while they were waiting for me to top up the muzzle loader.....

 

[** Pending Removal **]

:smile:

 

[lksopener]

I think with cartridges if you perceive that one cartridge gives you an advantage then you should use that cartridge.

The theory being physcologically you will feel more confident and more than likely shoot better.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Or you can choose a really good cartridge.....that is proven on the World circuit......just saying....!

:smile:

 

[Hawkeye]

With so many brand's product's being produced by Maxam , surely that's the way to go.

 

[Growl]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm gonna stick with the VIP's for now, I feel very confident with them so it takes one variant out of the equation, cheers for the helpful suggestions all. Growl

 

[ips]

I think with cartridges if you perceive that one cartridge gives you an advantage then you should use that cartridge.

The theory being physcologically you will feel more confident and more than likely shoot better.

this is spot on, shotguns are not precision instruments and every cartridge will do the job all you have to do is point the thing in the right general direction and pull the trigger at the right time. Simples.

As the above says its all a matter of confidence and belief, same goes for gun choice. Yes some cartridges are cleaner, faster, tighter, recoil less etc etc but they all fundamentally do the same thing. Pick one your confident with and the best your pocket will allow. Then worry about shooting the target and nothing else.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

And then ......when you can hit things on a regular basis.....you 'might' want to look at a decent cartridge.

It is the difference in competition between 'always being the bridesmaid....never the bride'.... :smile:

But hey.......do what you want peeps.....advice is cheap until people get fed up of giving it :smile:

 

[ips]

I would guess that someone confident with his choice shooting fiochi top one would shoot better than someone not confident with his choice shooting shoot offs.

Point being that Confidence effects performance more than cost / quality of cartridge. On a good day you can shoot well with pretty much anything and on a bad day you can miss just as easy with 150 pound cartridges as you can with 300 pound ones. Same goes for guns.