Shotgun Cartridge Shot Size: How to Choose in 2026
Pick the wrong shot size or load weight and no choke, gun or skill fixes a pattern that's too sparse or too tight for the job — this guide breaks down how to match shotgun cartridge shot size to gauge, quarry and range for 2026.
- Shot size 6 handles most Irish rough shooting and clays; size 7.5-8 suits close-range targets only.
- 12 gauge with a 28-32 gram load covers pigeon, duck and general game shooting in 2026.
- Eley Super Game 32g in size 5-6 is the safe pick for mixed bag days: Buy.
- Fibre wad cartridges like Saga Export have replaced plastic wads on most Irish shoots now.
Why this matters
Shotgun cartridge shot size determines pellet count, pellet energy and pattern spread at range — get it wrong and you either wound game or blow clays to dust with wasted pellets. A size 6 pellet carries more energy at 30 metres than a size 8, but the pattern has fewer pellets in it, so the margin for aiming error shrinks. Cartridges like Eley Super Game 32g exist because manufacturers blend shot sizes to cover exactly this trade-off for mixed-quarry days.
Most shooters in Ireland default to whatever size 6 or 7 box is on the shelf without checking gauge, chamber length or choke constriction against the target. That works for clays at 20-25 metres. It falls apart on a pigeon decoying at 35 metres or a woodcock flushing at close range through cover, where the wrong pellet size means either no kill or a shredded bird.
What you'll need
- Your shotgun's gauge (12 or 20 bore is standard for Irish game and clay shooting) and chamber length (2.75in/70mm or 3in/76mm)
- Choke constriction fitted — full, half, quarter or cylinder
- The quarry or target type: clays, pigeon, duck, woodcock, rough mixed bag
- Typical shooting range in metres — most Irish shots fall inside 30-35 metres
- A few boxes of different shot sizes to pattern test before you commit to a case
The steps
1. Confirm your gauge and chamber length first
Every cartridge box states the gauge and chamber length it's built for, and putting a 76mm (3in) cartridge through a 70mm (2.75in) chamber is a mechanical mismatch, not a preference. Check the barrel flats or your gun's manual before buying a case of anything. Common mistake: assuming all 12 gauge cartridges fit every 12 gauge gun — magnum loads need the longer chamber and often a stronger action.
2. Match shot size to your quarry or target
Smaller shot numbers mean bigger pellets: size 4-5 for duck and goose, size 6 for pigeon and general rough shooting, size 7-8 for clays and small game like snipe. A size 6 pellet carries enough energy to cleanly take pigeon at 35 metres while still giving 200+ pellets per 32 gram load for good pattern density. Cartridges built specifically for pigeon, like Eley Pigeon Select 30g size 6, are tuned around this exact balance. Common mistake: using duck-sized shot (size 4) on clays — you'll break fewer targets with fewer, heavier pellets spread thinner across the pattern.
3. Pick the load weight for the job
Load weight, measured in grams, sits on every box next to the shot size — 28g and 30g loads suit 20 gauge and light 12 gauge clay work, while 32g to 36g loads suit heavier 12 gauge game and wildfowling. Heavier loads mean more recoil and more pellets, which matters on a long day at a clay ground where 100+ shells add up in your shoulder. Common mistake: loading a 36g magnum for a full day of clays — you'll be sore by lunch and the extra shot does nothing for a 20-metre target.
4. Choose shot material based on the shoot
Lead shot still dominates game shooting in Ireland, but fibre wad cartridges have replaced plastic wads on a growing number of shoots to cut plastic waste in the field. A cartridge like Saga Export 12 gauge fibre gives you a 32 gram lead load with a biodegradable wad, which some estates now require as a condition of the day. Common mistake: turning up to a fibre-wad-only shoot with a case of plastic-wad cartridges — check the shoot's rules before you buy in bulk.
5. Match choke constriction to the pellet size and range
A tighter choke (full or three-quarter) holds a pattern together at longer range and suits smaller shot sizes like 7 or 7.5 on distant clays. An open choke (cylinder or quarter) spreads the pattern faster for close, fast birds like woodcock in cover. Running a full choke with size 4 shot on a close crossing clay wastes most of the pattern outside the kill zone. Common mistake: leaving a full choke fitted for close-range walked-up shooting — you'll miss birds that flush inside 15 metres.
6. Buy practice loads separate from field loads
For clay practice, a fibre or standard 28-32g cartridge in size 7 or 7.5 is cheap enough to shoot 100+ rounds a session without the cost of premium game loads. Save the higher-grade, tighter-patterning boxes for the days that matter — a driven pheasant day or a wildfowling trip. Common mistake: burning premium game cartridges on the clay ground, then running out of stock for the actual shoot.
7. Pattern test before committing to a case
Pattern a new box on paper at your actual shooting distance before buying 250 rounds of it. Count pellet strikes inside a 30-inch circle at 30 metres — a even, dense spread means the load suits your gun and choke combination. Common mistake: buying a full case based on the box label alone and finding out on the day that the pattern is too sparse for your choke.
Troubleshooting
- Pattern too sparse at range — you're likely running too open a choke for the shot size, or the load is too light for the distance. Step down to a tighter choke or bump the shot size down a number (smaller number, bigger pellet).
- Recoil is wearing you out mid-round — drop from a 36g or 34g load to a 28g or 30g cartridge for practice; the difference over 100 shells is significant on the shoulder.
- Cartridges won't cycle in a semi-auto — check the cartridge length and gas setting against the load weight; lighter fibre loads sometimes under-cycle older gas guns set up for heavier lead loads.
- Wounding instead of clean kills — the shot size is too small for the quarry's size and range. Move up from size 7 to size 5-6 for pigeon and duck.
- Steel shot damaging an older barrel — older fixed-choke barrels aren't proofed for steel; stick to lead or fibre wad lead loads unless your gun is steel-shot proofed.
Tools and resources
Building out a cartridge cabinet for 2026 comes down to a handful of shot sizes and load weights covering most of what you'll shoot: a 32g size 5-6 for game and pigeon, a lighter 28-30g size 7-7.5 for clays, and a fibre wad option where the shoot requires it. Wildhunter Gunroom stocks cartridges across these gauges, weights and shot sizes so you're not guessing off a single supermarket box. Keep the box label — gauge, chamber length, load weight and shot size — next to your gun until the combination is second nature.
What to do next
Once you've settled on the right shot size and load for your shooting, the next practical step is storage — cartridges and the shotgun both need to be secured correctly under Irish licensing rules. The related guides below cover gun safe options for licensed shotgun and rifle holders, including small-space setups and wall-mounting.
FAQ
What's the best shotgun cartridge shot size for general game shooting in Ireland?
Size 6 is the best all-round shotgun cartridge shot size for Irish rough shooting in 2026, covering pigeon, rabbit and mixed bag days. Size 5 suits duck and goose where more pellet energy is needed at range.
Is 12 gauge or 20 gauge better for shot size choice?
12 gauge gives you more shot size and load weight options, from 28g clay loads up to 36g magnum game loads. 20 gauge is lighter to carry and shoot but limits you to lighter loads, typically 24-28 grams.
What shot size is best for clay pigeon shooting?
Size 7 or 7.5 is standard for clay pigeon shooting, giving a dense pattern of small pellets suited to fast, close targets. Size 8 works for skeet-style close targets but has less range.
How much does a box of shotgun cartridges cost in 2026?
Standard game and clay cartridges run from roughly €7 to €15 per box of 25 depending on shot size, load weight and brand. Premium competition loads sit at the top of that range, budget fibre loads at the bottom.
Is steel shot better than lead for shotgun cartridges?
Steel shot is lighter than lead of the same size, so it needs a bigger pellet size to carry equivalent energy at range. Lead remains the standard choice for most Irish game shooting in 2026 unless your shoot specifically requires non-lead.
What load weight should I use in a 12 gauge shotgun?
A 28-32 gram load covers most 12 gauge clay and general game shooting. Step up to 34-36 grams only for wildfowling or driven game where longer range and bigger birds demand more pellets.
Can I use the same shot size for pigeon and duck?
Size 5-6 works for both pigeon and smaller duck species, but true wildfowling for geese and larger duck calls for size 3-4 for enough pellet energy at typical wildfowling range. Check local shoot rules before wildfowling with lead.
Does choke constriction affect shot size choice?
Yes — a tighter choke (full or three-quarter) holds smaller shot sizes together in a denser pattern at range, while an open choke spreads any shot size faster for close targets. Match choke to both shot size and expected range, not one or the other.
One last thing
The box label lies less than the marketing around it — shot size and load weight printed on a 32 gram size 6 cartridge tell you everything the pattern will do, no brand claim changes that physics. Pattern test on paper before committing to a full case in 2026; a 30-inch circle at 30 metres with 60%+ pellet coverage is the number that actually matters, not what the packaging promises.