Bruce Potts puts Hull’s High Pheasant cartridges through a full field and pattern board test and finds them more than just a classic option. Hull’s High Pheasant load comes in all shapes and sizes, but one of my favourites is the normal High Pheasant with a stiff 32g loading of larger No.5 shot, as I use these for squirrels and rabbits in thick cover – they work!
What Are the Key Specifications of the High Pheasant Load?
These High Pheasant cartridges use a 67mm case, CX primed, with a 16mm head, and although smaller than standard, they fit both classic and modern guns very well. They offer the performance of a 70mm load but are suitable for use in guns with a minimum 65mm chamber, i.e., older side-by-sides, etc., so they are commonly the only cartridge needed for your Purdey or modern over-and-under.
This load forms part of Hull’s Drop Dead Gauge range of cartridges, offering fast and smooth shooting characteristics with moderate recoil while using biodegradable fibre wads to propel the hardened shot. This helps to reduce pellet deformation and delivers uniform, dense patterns at longer ranges.
- Available Pellet Sizes: No.5 and No.6
- Available Shot Weights: 30g or 32g
- Pellet Count (30g): 234 pellets in No.5 shot and 297 in No.6
- Pellet Count (32g): 250 pellets in No.5 and 317 in No.6
The 32g No.5s on test today are a really good, hard-hitting round, and the larger pellets retain their energy at longer ranges. There are two ways to think about shot size: larger pellets deliver more energy but create sparser patterns with fewer hits, while smaller shot provides a denser pattern and more frequent strikes. What I like about the High Pheasant cartridge is that it always patterns well, so you have the advantage of a larger pellet and kinetic energy while not compromising on the pattern density. By contrast, the High Pheasant Extreme cartridges were developed to use the Xtreme shot, which minimises pellet deformation for uniform, tighter patterns downrange, using powders that achieve 1450fps but without excessive pressure or recoil.
How Are These Cartridges Constructed?
Visually, the cartridges are very striking, featuring a royal blue plastic case and a high brass head with a well-defined rim, making it easy for extractor claws to remove them from hot chambers. Similarly, the six-star crimp closure at the end helps ballistics and impedes the ingress of inclement weather. All the relevant load details are spelt out in bold gold on the blue casing, and overall these are very smartly made 12-bore cartridges.
Inside, this load features a fibre wad only, marking it out as a game cartridge. Hull uses a material that is specially chosen for its consistent density and thickness, and it is treated to a waterproof, anti-tear treatment. Hull’s extensive knowledge and 75 years of experience with fibre wads ensure that even with the modern trend towards overbored barrels, their wads and over-powder cards provide an effective gas seal. Thus, you have an environmentally friendly choice of fibre wad that does not compromise performance.
Powder-wise, Hull’s maxim of maximum performance, minimum pressure holds true for the High Pheasant loadings, as the propellants are engineered in terms of burn rate, pressure, and velocity to Hull’s own formula. All are ignited by the CX range of primers, globally acknowledged as the most reliable and consistent on the market today, with rigorous quality control checks including primer sensitivity to the environment. Finally, the shot, despite not being Xtreme, displays very good uniformity and a consistently spherical shape. It was bright and showed little to no deformation around the edges. The raw material is derived from recycled sources, with controls for diametric tolerances ensuring that shot sizes are regular. The control of spherical tolerances allows the shot to fly truer, producing dense, regular patterns. Varying the antimony content also ensures the correct shot hardness is achieved for each loading.
How Did the Cartridges Perform in the Field Test?
As expected, the cartridge produced a lovely, neat and uniform spread with no clumping of shot. Also, the recoil was noticeably light for a 32g loading.
Using a ¼ choke, there were 228 No.5 shot pellet strikes on the board, which is a good result for that shot size based on previous experience. The spread included a generous 104 pellets in the inner 15” sector, with the remaining 124 in the outer 30”. For a ¼ choke, the pattern was dense and evenly distributed from the centre outwards. Overall, a really good walked-up load on ¼ choke to drop but not “shred” game.
Similarly, the ½ choke produced some lovely patterns. We recorded an even denser distribution in the inner sector, with 167 of the total 280 pellets forming a concentrated swarm of No.5 shot exactly where it is most effective. The remaining 113 pellets were evenly spread across the outer sectors, and with this type of overall pattern, I would have no hesitation in using this load for longer-range vermin.
What Is the Final Verdict on Hull’s High Pheasant?
These High Pheasant cartridges are anything but standard in manufacture, design or performance. You can go for the Extreme version if you prefer, but the standard ones tested are just fine in my book. The High Pheasant range of cartridges, be it 12-bore or any other calibre in the range, offers top-notch performance you can rely on.
- Contact: Hull Cartridge – www.hullcartridge.co.uk
