I can shoot a mixed bag and you lot can tell me what kills are what!
Hmmm, that just proves we can't tell what shells
you're using ! Splendid skill coupled to tight 3/4 chokes is going to dust almost anything at any distance.
I have always taken mental notes of what shells feel and perform like, for years I have been looking for a cheaper replacement for Eley Superb 8's (and the odd 7.5's) and despite giving them all a fair trial of a thou at a time, the difference is perceptible to me. Now I don't believe they cost me targets because they're not up to breaking edge on 55 yard birds, but I certainly am not up to carrying the burden of knowing they aren't as good.
I've now shot nearly a thousand Evo 24g 8's using them either entirely or in 50% mix on most stands, do they pulverise easyish stuff at close to mid range, actually NO they don't, they crush them, do they break hard teal and looping 40 - 55 yard standard clays, YES, just but they don't crush them. Can I detect a difference in speed, absolutely. Can a robot shoot 100 straight at ESP with them, YES, can I, no way.
Reason is that the job of a shell is not to affect a break on a single target, five or ten times in a row, its more subtle purpose is to push me on and keep my mental state in the zone instead of in a state of doubt. I have enough to contend with as is, lazy breaks count but don't help.
There are plenty of good budget shells out there, all capable of 100 straight but to get the consistency of supply, breaks, speed, downrange performance and sensible recoil you need to pay just a tad more. I'm giving FBlacks a go this week, shot a slab a while back and they were awesome but price too close to Superbs to change, just hope the recoil is lowish but secretly know they won't be.