Q: I asked my local gunshop recently about budget cartridges and was told 21g cartridges ‘punched above their weight’, were competitively priced and would break clays virtually as far as…
Richard Atkins
Browning B725 Pro Master
Browning designers have been very busy over recent years, with a steady stream of new models reaching the market. Some, such as the XS Pro Sporter are based around…
Chokes for clay shooters: everything you need to know
Clay shotgun chokes increase a shotgun’s effective range and versatility. What clay shotgun chokes do Almost all new shotguns, whether they are for clay or game, over-and-under or semi-auto (even…
Gamebore Black Gold Dark Storm Precision Steel 32g No 3 steel shot with Bio-Wad
The story behind this review of Gamebore Dark Storm Precision Steel 32g with Bio-Wad cartridges In previous reports on new steel shot offerings from UK cartridge companies, I have explained…
Lyalvale Express Ultimate Steel High Performance cartridges on test
All four leading UK cartridge companies have clearly been put in an invidious situation as a result of recent calls for change affecting two of the most critical cartridge components:…
Will steel shot make my gun obsolete?
Probably the most common cause for concern with the proposed lead shot ban is: “Can I use steel shot cartridges in my gun?” First, I’d like to echo the words…
Eley Superb: what’s in a name?
We have already written about Eley Olympic Blues; now its Superb cartridges come under the spotlight. The Superb range sits neatly between the popular mid-range Blues and the top-of-the-range VIP…
Tungsten super shot – what is it?
Q: What is TSS? It seems to be a new type of shot for shotgun cartridges. I am particularly interested to know if it is non-toxic and could provide an…
Shot balling – how it can affect your shooting performance and how to prevent it
Although most shotgun shooters will have heard the term ‘shot balling’, some may not fully appreciate what it is, what can cause it and, more importantly, how to recognise and…
Eley Olympic Blues: why this cartridge has long been a firm favourite with clayshooters
I have fond memories of Eley Olympic Blues. The name has a long history since they originally launched as Eley’s premium Olympic Trap cartridge. I recall meeting Jackie Stewart (now…
Steel shot and lead: sizing up the differences
The move away from lead shot with what was originally a voluntary, phased transition to non-lead shot seems likely to dominate topics of concern for shotgun enthusiasts for some time…
Using non-toxic shot is a whole new ball game and this is why
The brief for this article was to look into what we already know – or rather, think we know – from our past experience with lead shot, and to consider…
Steel vs lead: testing pellet power with pizza boxes
One of the biggest upheavals to the way we conduct our shooting is unfolding before our eyes. The move away from lead ammunition continues to confound and divide those within…
Budget clay cartridges on test: how did they perform?
Budget clay cartridges from Gamebore We thought we’d investigate some budget clay cartridges from Gamebore. In today’s tough economic climate, there are more shooters seeking to trim their shooting expenditure.…
Steel vs lead cartridges: a pattern emerges
We now have the transition away from traditional lead shot that has served so well for so long and, I hope, will continue to do so, even if some areas…
Testing shotgun ammunition – Richard Atkins shares his process
Shotgun ammunition performance is something that has interested me since my youth and still does. Some may not understand why this is so but therein is the key: the more…
Steel shot vs lead shot – the hard facts about steel shot
Debate centred around steel shot vs lead shot is nothing new. When chatting with chums at the clay shooting club, or browsing internet shooting forums, it becomes clear that the…
RC7 cartridges on test – ‘The One’
RC7 The One cartridges We can be assured that any new product from Romagna Caccia, now RC EXIMPORT and known worldwide by the initials RC, will be of interest, so…
The Bio ISO Steel 27 cartridge from Jocker – it’s impressive
French company Jocker has become much better known in the UK in recent years and particularly so since its products have been distributed here by Shooting Star of Suffolk. Having…
BioAmmo’s non-toxic load
It is becoming increasingly evident how difficult the position cartridge companies have been plunged into is, following the rush to replace lead shot with non-toxic ammunition for game that enters…