PENETRATION TEST

The total hits on the first box are influenced by the precision of my aim among other things. I will reshoot the Hull High Pheasant Fe4 steel shot cartridge with new boxes and check it again. However, these results should stand. Those with high first-box-hit count must have been well placed.

It is no surprise that lead shot cartridges outperformed steel shot. Steel is lighter and using larger shot to compensate gives a greater area to be forced through the target, whether cardboard or quarry. This emphasises the need for caution in range judgement and shot selection.

The Jocker Bio ISO Steel 27g result is interesting. With CIP (Permanent International Commission for the Proof of Small Arms) rules putting a ceiling on both momentum and velocity for steel shot cartridges, the effect is revealed here. The lighter shot load cartridge can be loaded much closer to the maximum permitted velocity without risk of falling foul of CIP rules for standard steel cartridges, which all those tested are. Both the Hull and Jocker cartridges use the maximum standard steel shot size of 3.25mm, but the heavier shot load restricts how fast cartridge loaders dare get to the 425-metres-per-second, maximumpermitted velocity. Exceeding this could condemn a batch from sale in any CIP (small arms proof commission) country.

The relative effectiveness of quality lead shot is shown by the Eley Zenith No 6 Cu (copper-plated, highantimony) shot. The good balance between the higher SG (specific gravity) of lead in a smaller diameter pellet resulted in an impressive penetration performance.

The Eley Pro Eco No 7 shot result will interest those who use clay target cartridges for shooting pigeon, rook, crow and such like. The lack of penetration with small sizes of steel shot must be borne in mind.

I hope this provokes thought and inspires some experimenting on clays and pattern boards. Remember that all lead shot cartridges can also be used in sound guns with more than half choke.