THE switch to steel is now well under way, so Upperwood Shoot on Saddleworth Moor took the opportunity to conduct an objective experiment into whether a new generation of steel loads is genuinely capable of consistently and effectively killing the high pheasants for which this shoot is famous. Accordingly, a hand-picked team of experienced top Guns was invited by the Crowther family to carry out a field test on January birds.
Three different cartridges were provided by Marcus Simpson of Simpson Brothers Gunmakers in Peterborough. He brought Hull’s High Pheasant Steel Hydrowad and High Pheasant Extreme Steel, along with Gamebore’s dramatically named Dark Storm Precision Steel Bio-Wad. In fact, as the guests gathered round to have their guns checked for suitability to shoot these new loads, only one make, a pair of custom-built Italian Faustis, was deemed safe to fire the high-velocity Extreme Steel load. Simpson explained: “There are still not many guns that can take the very high-velocity steel loads, even among the modern American, European and Japanese guns being used today. It is important not only to check the barrel proof, but also the size of the chamber and the choking – it’s necessary not to have your chokes at the tightest.” The other two cartridges, for a more standard high
