You may have heard older shooters wax nostalgic about the smell of a fired paper shotgun cartridge, how it reminds them of being young again when the summers were endless and the guns much cheaper. It is true, there is something quite enjoyable about shooting paper cased cartridges, however there may also be a strong environmental case for shooting paper cased cartridges this season too.
No matter how fastidious a gun is at cleaning up after himself on a peg, there always seems to be a rogue cartridge hidden under the leaves of a young rape plant or amongst the fallen woodland leaves. These plastic empties will keep turning up for generations to come if left in the countryside. As has been said elsewhere, we would be livid if someone threw their empty water bottle on the ground during a shoot, so why do we accept plastic empties littering the countryside? Whilst it is true that plastic cartridges can be recycled by Agri-Cycle, we should be looking to reduce our plastic consumption overall.
A Brief History of Paper Cartridges
Paper shotgun cartridges became more common in the mid-1870s, before this cartridges were all brass. In March 1903 Eley introduced the ‘Grand Prix’ shotgun cartridge which was varnished and soon became the benchmark that British shooters measured all other cartridges by. This cartridge was named after an award won by the Eley brothers in Paris in 1900. The varnished cases helped to repel damp weather, however there had been other cartridges which were waterproof (due to the use of water-resistant adhesive and multiple layers of paper) on the market for several years already.
Today’s Paper Shotgun Cartridges
Here are the top paper shotgun cartridges that are currently for sale on the UK market:
Hull Cartridge
Three Crowns
This cartridge is available in 12 bore, 16 bore and 20 bore options.
Hull say these cartridges come in “Quintessential English loads ideal for fine guns” and provide the shooter with the “Classic values of [a] paper case without compromise on performance”. The fibre wads and card obturators in these cartridges are all biodegradable.
| Gauge | Shot Load | Shot Size | Wad | Case Dimensions | Velocity |
| 12 | 28g | 6 | Fibre | 65mm-12mm-2.5″ | 1395 |
| 12 | 30g | 5, 6 | Fibre | 65mm-12mm-2.5″ | 1395 |
| 16 | 26g | 6 | Fibre | 67mm-16mm-2.5″ | 1360 |
| 20 | 25g | 6 | Fibre | 67mm-16mm-2.5″ | 1410 |
Gamebore
Regal Game
“With long established credentials for smooth shooting, this is the quintessential game load for English side by side guns but incorporates modern powders and shot technology to perform on todays game. A true 2 1/2″ case.”
| Gauge | Shot Load | Shot Size | Wad | Case Dimensions | Velocity |
| 12 | 28g | 6 | Fibre | 2.5″ | 1425 |
| 12 | 30g | 5, 6 | Fibre | 2.5″ | 1425 |
| 12 | 32g | 5 | Fibre | 2.5″ | 1425 |
Eley
Grand Prix
“Grand Prix Paper case is the forerunner of all cartridges we know today a classic load delivered in a cherry red paper varnished case this 67mm classic is perfect for your cherished gun.”
| Gauge | Shot Load | Shot Size | Wad | Case Dimensions | Velocity |
| 12 | 30g | 5, 6 | Fibre | 67mm – 2.5″ | 1186 |
Impax
“A true English classic the Eley Impax is the smoothest game cartridge we produce for grouse shooting. Loaded in the classic 28 gram 6 and 7 shot configuration. The paper case version is lacquered using the long established Eley Pegamoid method dipped and dried to perfection to increase the shelf life and prevent the natural ingress of water through changes in humidity. It’s a true work of art.”
| Gauge | Shot Load | Shot Size | Wad | Case Dimensions | Velocity |
| 12 | 28g | 6, 7 | Fibre | 65mm – 2.5″ | 1356 |
Classic Game
“Classic Game paper case cartridges contain the very best ingredients for game shooting in traditional guns. Copper coated shot to create the best in killing patterns. PSB+ powders to ensure the best consistency from shot to shot. Dipped and coated in pegamoid lacquer for a luscious finish and a practical waterproofing. Each outer box is then carefully hand packed and wrapped to ensure product freshness.”
| Gauge | Shot Load | Shot Size | Wad | Case Dimensions | Velocity |
| 12 | 30g | 5, 6 | Fibre | 67mm – 2.5″ | 1356 |
| 20 | 23g | 6 | Fibre | 67mm – 2.5″ | 1292 |
Purdey
“Purdey has collaborated with the Hull Cartridge Company to develop a new range of Purdey cartridges.
“Purdey cartridges are of the highest quality, providing ultimate consistency shot after shot with dense, even patterns whilst maintaining comfortable recoil. Everything has been taken into consideration in order to improve the consistency of ejection through the use of quality components. Clear packaging and labelling ensure that you are easily able to choose the most suitable load for every shooting situation.”
| Gauge | Shot Load | Shot Size | Wad | Case Dimensions | Velocity |
| 12 | 28g | 6 | Fibre | 65mm – 2.5″ | 1395 |
| 12 | 30 | 5, 6 | Fibre | 65mm – 2.5″ | 1395 |
| 20 | 25g | 6 | Fibre | 67mm – 2.5″ | 1410 |
