Shotgun Cartridges for Clay Pigeon Shooting: 2026 Picks
Picking shotgun cartridges for clay pigeon shooting comes down to three numbers on the box: shot load, shot size, and wad type — get one wrong and you're chasing broken clays and a sore shoulder by the third round of 2026's shoot season.
- Eley Olympic Trap 28gram cartridges are the safe pick for trap and DTL shooters in 2026 — buy them.
- B&P F2 Classic 34g covers sporting and skeet stands without the premium trap price tag.
- Skip heavier game loads like Nobe Super Caccia 38g and Eley Pigeon Select 30g for clays — recoil and cost pile up over 100 birds.
- Fibre wad cartridges matter more each season as Irish grounds tighten plastic wad rules.
Why this matters
Most shooters buying shotgun cartridges for clay pigeon shooting default to whatever's cheapest on the shelf, then wonder why their shoulder aches after 100 targets or why the ground steward is picking through their empties. The gram load, shot size and wad construction on a clay cartridge aren't cosmetic details — they decide pattern density, felt recoil, and whether you're even allowed to shoot that load at some Irish grounds in 2026. Wildhunter Gunroom's cartridge range stocks the loads covered below, so you can match the cartridge to the discipline before you turn up at the stand.
Game cartridges and clay cartridges are not interchangeable, even though both come in 12 gauge. A load built to drop a pheasant at 40 yards carries more shot, more powder, and more recoil than anything you need to break a clay at half that range.
Who this is for
This guide is for clay shooters working trap, skeet, or sporting stands in Ireland — whether you're shooting a club night at 50 birds or an ICPSA-registered competition at 100-plus. It's written for people buying by the case, not the single box, where a few grams of shot load or the wrong wad material adds up fast across a season.
What to look for in shotgun cartridges for clay pigeon shooting
Shot load weight
Most clay disciplines cap the load at 28 grams, with some sporting and skeet formats running competitions at 24 grams. Heavier isn't better here — a 32g or 34g load buys you almost nothing extra on a clay at 25-35 yards but adds recoil you'll feel by shot 50. Match the gram weight to the discipline rules before you buy a case.
Shot size
Size 7 or 7½ shot is standard for trap and skeet, giving a dense pattern at the ranges clays actually fly. Size 6 opens the pattern for longer sporting presentations but drops pellet count, so it's a trade-off, not an upgrade. Buying size 5 or 6 hunting loads for a clay stand is the single most common mismatch new shooters make.
Wad type: fibre vs plastic
More Irish grounds are enforcing fibre wad only rules in 2026, particularly for game and sporting shoots run over farmland. Plastic wads still dominate trap and skeet loads because they seal the bore better, but if you're shooting a ground with an eco-wad policy, check the label before you load a case into the car.
Cartridge case length and chamber fit
Standard clay loads run 70mm (2¾ inch), which fits every 12 gauge chamber cut for 2¾ or 3 inch. This rarely trips people up, but it's worth a glance if you've picked up an older gun with a shorter chamber.
Recoil and round count
A 100-bird sporting round means 100 recoil impulses through your shoulder. Drop from a 32g load to a 24g or 28g load and you'll notice the difference by round three — less fatigue, faster recovery between stands, and a tighter group on the last 25 birds when your shoulder would otherwise be flinching.
Price per cartridge across a season
A few cents per cartridge multiplied across a 100-bird practice day, every week of the 2026 season, is the real cost comparison — not the price on one box. Premium trap loads cost more per cartridge than a mid-range fibre load, and most club shooters can't tell the difference in broken clays at 25-30 yards.
Top picks for 2026
Eley Olympic Trap 28grams — the competition standard. Built for ATA/DTL and Olympic trap disciplines at a 28 gram load with a dense 7½ shot pattern, this is the cartridge most Irish trap shooters default to for club and registered competition. It's consistent shot to shot, which matters more at 100 birds than at 25. Buy — get the Eley Olympic Trap 28g cartridges if you're shooting trap or DTL regularly.
B&P F2 Classic 34g — the sporting all-rounder. A heavier 34 gram fibre-friendly load that handles longer sporting presentations and skeet stands where you need a bit more pattern density at extended range. It costs less per cartridge than premium trap loads while still patterning cleanly out to 35 yards. Consider the B&P F2 Classic 34g cartridge if your club mixes sporting and skeet in the same session.
Saga Export 12 Gauge 32 Gram Fibre — the eco-compliant pick. A fibre wad cartridge at 32 grams that satisfies the plastic-wad restrictions showing up at more Irish grounds this season. It's not the cheapest option on the shelf, but it's the one you won't get turned away for at a farmland-hosted sporting day. Buy if your local ground runs a fibre-only policy.
B&P MB Classic 32g No6 — the budget pick. A 32 gram, size 6 load that suits longer crossing targets on a sporting layout without the price of a premium fibre cartridge. It's a reasonable second box to keep in the bag for the longer stands on a mixed course. Consider for practice days where cost per box matters more than pattern perfection.
What to avoid
- Eley Super Game 32grams — a game load built for pheasant and duck, not clay work. The extra shot weight and recoil add nothing on a stationary trap house or skeet house target. Skip for clay days.
- Eley Pigeon Select 30g Size 6 — designed for decoying pigeon over decoys at range, not for breaking clays at 25-35 yards. It patterns wider than you need and costs more per box than a dedicated clay load. Skip.
- Nobe Cartridges L Super Caccia 38g — a heavy hunting load with more powder and shot than any clay discipline calls for. Shooting 100 of these in a session will leave your shoulder sore for two days. Skip for anything except driven game.
“A cartridge built to drop a pheasant at 40 yards carries more shot, more powder, and more recoil than anything you need to break a clay at half that range.”
Verdict comparison table
| Cartridge | Load | Shot size | Wad | Best for | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eley Olympic Trap 28g | 28g | 7½ | Plastic | Trap, DTL | Buy |
| B&P F2 Classic 34g | 34g | 7/7½ | Plastic/fibre variants | Sporting, skeet | Consider |
| Saga Export 32g Fibre | 32g | 7 | Fibre | Fibre-only grounds | Buy |
| B&P MB Classic 32g No6 | 32g | 6 | Plastic | Long sporting stands | Consider |
| Eley Pigeon Select 30g | 30g | 6 | Plastic | Pigeon decoying, not clays | Skip |
FAQ
What's the best shotgun cartridge for clay pigeon shooting?
For trap and DTL, the Eley Olympic Trap 28gram cartridge is the competition standard in 2026. For sporting and skeet, a 32-34 gram load like B&P F2 Classic covers longer presentations without excess recoil.
What gram load is best for trap shooting?
28 grams is the standard trap load and the maximum most Irish and ICPSA competitions allow. Going heavier adds recoil without improving your pattern on a stationary trap house target.
Is fibre wad or plastic wad better for clays?
Fibre wad cartridges are required at a growing number of Irish grounds in 2026, especially farmland-hosted sporting days. Plastic wads still dominate trap and skeet loads because they seal the bore slightly better, but check your ground's policy before you load a case.
What shot size should I use for skeet vs sporting clays?
Size 7 or 7½ shot suits skeet and most trap presentations at close range. Sporting clays with longer crossing targets often call for size 6 to keep pattern density up at 35-plus yards.
How much does a box of clay cartridges cost in 2026?
Prices vary by brand, load and wad type, so check current pricing on the site rather than relying on last season's figures. Premium trap loads and fibre wad cartridges both sit above standard plastic-wad club loads.
Can you use game cartridges for clay shooting?
You can, but you shouldn't. Game loads like Eley Super Game 32grams carry more shot and recoil than any clay discipline needs, and shooting 100 of them in a session leaves your shoulder sore for no gain in broken clays.
What's the difference between a 24g and 28g load?
A 24 gram load is the lighter option used in some registered sporting and skeet competitions, producing less recoil across a long round. A 28 gram load is the standard trap and DTL weight and the maximum most disciplines permit.
Do all clay grounds in Ireland require fibre wads?
No, but the number enforcing fibre-only rules is growing in 2026, particularly at farmland and mixed game-and-clay venues. Always check the ground's policy before turning up with a case of plastic wad cartridges.
One last thing
The gap between a 24g and a 32g load feels small on paper but adds up fast — across a 100-bird sporting round in 2026, that's roughly a third more lead and powder passing through your shoulder for a target that doesn't need it. Buy the load that matches your discipline's cap, not the heaviest box on the shelf.