FIELD NOTES / BRITISH SHOOTING GUIDE
What does 28g No. 7½ mean?
28g is the total weight of shot. No. 7½ is the size of each pellet. They describe different things; neither is the amount of gunpowder.
Read a typical box label.
Example: 12-bore · 70mm · 28g · No. 7½ · fibre · lead.
Gun bore
The cartridge must match the gun’s bore. This is not the pellet size.
Case length
The nominal opened case length, not its shorter, crimped length. Check chamber compatibility.
Shot weight
28 grams of pellets in total. Not the weight of one pellet, the complete cartridge or the powder.
Pellet size
Also written 7.5. A size designation, not 7.5 millimetres and not a pellet count.
Wad type
The wad separates the powder from the shot. Some grounds require fibre or an approved alternative.
Shot material
Lead, steel and bismuth behave differently. Read the material as well as the shot number.
Label basics: Eley Hawk’s cartridge guide. This example is not a particular product specification.
Bigger number, smaller pellet.
Within the usual numbered birdshot range, No. 9 is smaller than No. 7½; No. 6 is larger than No. 7½.
Exaggerated comparison, not actual diameters. UK and overseas shot-number conventions can differ; check the maker’s stated diameter.
28g versus 24g
With the same pellet size and material, 28g contains more pellets than 24g. It does not contain larger pellets. In fact, it contains about 17% more by weight.
7½ versus 6
With the same shot weight and material, the larger No. 6 pellets mean fewer pellets in the load. Pellet size, pattern density and the target all matter.
Does heavier mean better?
No. More shot does not automatically mean a better pattern or longer effective range. Recoil also depends on velocity, the load and gun weight.
Cartridges for clays.
For ordinary 12-bore club Sporting where lead is allowed, 28g No. 7½ is a straightforward starting point.
These are conventional lead-load examples, not mandatory settings. Follow the ground’s wad and shot restrictions and the rules for your particular event.
| Use | Typical starting point | Why consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| English Sporting / Sportrap | 28g No. 7½ or 8 | Common general-purpose clay combinations. |
| Lessons / comfortable practice | 21g or 24g No. 7½ or 8 | Lighter loads can be comfortable for longer sessions. Confirm reliable cycling in a semi-auto. |
| English Skeet / close clays | 24g or 28g No. 9 | Small pellets give a high pellet count for close presentations. |
| DTL | 28g No. 7½ | A conventional choice for outgoing clays. Olympic disciplines have different load limits. |
Further context: Headley’s discipline guide · Current CPSA rules.
Pigeons, pheasants and other quarry.
Ordinary 12-bore lead-load starting points, only where lead is permitted and accepted by the shoot. They are not recommendations for extreme-range shooting.
| Quarry / use | Starting point | Practical context |
|---|---|---|
| Woodpigeon | 30–32g No. 6 | A conventional pigeon load for ordinary decoying or flighting. Pattern the chosen load. |
| Pheasant | 30–32g No. 5 or 6 | A general game starting point. Bigger or more distant birds do not justify shots beyond proven limits. |
| Partridge | 28–30g No. 6 or 7 | A traditional lighter game-load example for appropriate presentations. |
| Rabbit | 30–32g No. 5 or 6 | A conventional game-load starting point. Ground conditions and a safe shot-fall area are essential. |
These starting points combine BASC’s quarry and shot-size guidance, its woodpigeon code, and manufacturer load ranges. They are not fixed recipes for every gun or distance.
Pigeon example
Gamebore Clear Pigeon is listed in 30g and 32g No. 6, with fibre or plastic wads and a 70mm case. Choose a version that matches your gun and ground.
Game example
Gamebore Super Game lists fibre-wad 30g and 32g No. 5 or 6, plus 28g No. 6 or 7, in a 65mm case. These illustrate the game-load combinations above.
“Vermin” covers very different species and circumstances; there is no universal vermin cartridge. For wild birds, identify the species and confirm the current legal authority and conditions before shooting.
Steel needs its own choice.
Do not buy the same number automatically when changing from lead to steel.
Steel is less dense than lead. BASC’s general guidance is to increase pellet size when moving to steel, for example from lead No. 6 to steel No. 4. Check the manufacturer’s quarry recommendation, proof requirements and choke limits for the exact load.
For pheasants, BASC lists steel No. 3 or 4 as examples. A suitable load depends on the gun and the presentation; payload alone does not establish suitability. Bismuth also needs its own selection.
Before choosing a box.
Match the bore and approved chamber length; confirm proof and choke compatibility; check the shoot’s shot-material and wad requirements. Pattern-test the chosen combination rather than relying on a brand name or heavier load.
Manufacturer examples were checked on 27 September 2026. They are reference options, not claims about current shop stock or the best load for an unexamined gun.