Found two flats of Gamebore Pure Gold 2 1/2 shotshells at a local dealer that he has had for a long time. They are #6 shot, what would that translate in US?

Assuming this is the equivalent of British #6's they would be approximately US #7.

Yes, they are equivalent to U.S. 7's. Be aware, despite the fact they are 2.5", they have substantial recoil. I bought a flat for a 6# English sxs and they were pretty brutal. I'm using the balance in my rainy day double, an SKB 100.

Pressure 8122psi 16ga Gamebore "Traditional Game" 2.5 felt 28 grams #6 shot.

I can also attest to the stoutness of the loads. Though, I think it is manageable.

I've used them in a variety of 16 ga guns (model 12 pump, Rem 11-48 semi and various sxs) on SD late season wild pheasants and have been completely satisfied with the results. Late season I'm usually layered up to the point where recoil isn't an issue!

Somewhat larger than US 7. 270/oz per the Brits, while our 7's are 299/oz. I've done a pellet count on that very load (assuming you're talking about the 30 gram/1 1/16th oz variety). Give you almost exactly the same pellet count (280-290) you'd expect in a 1 1/4 oz load of US 6's. I've killed quite a few pheasants with that load.

http://www.hallowellco.com/shot_size_chart.htm

I just used the 6's on a pheasant hunt. they were more than adequate. I liked them, actually.

Never felt like they was too much recoil.

Not sure of the sources of the numbers in the Hallowell chart. But the source of the British numbers, when it comes to "equivalency" between US 7 and Brit 6, does not agree with what I find in my "Eley Shooter's Diary". And since Eley makes British shotshells, you'd think they'd be pretty accurate. They say 270 for Brit 6's. 299 for US 7's comes from most charts I've seen in the past. That's what I find in both a Lyman shotshell handbook and John Taylor's "Shotshells and Ballistics".

Of course as the Lyman book points out: "Pellets per ounce calculations based on soft, chilled shot. High antimony and/or plated shot is lighter. Actual count will vary depending on brand and lot." (Which I've confirmed by counting pellets in various factory loads, and my own reloads. Sometimes significantly.)

However, when it comes to Brit/US equivalents, I will buy Brit 4's = US 5's (both listed at 170/oz). And I won't quibble with Brit 5's = US 6 (220 to 225, respectively). But I don't think a 10% difference between Brit 6's and US 7's even meets the "close enough for govt work" standard.

When dabbling in shot sizes in order to compare apples to apples it is best to use SI units or say mm. If I recall correctly, Gamebore Diamond shot sizes are as follows:

#4s - 3.25mm
#5s - 3.0mm
#6s - 2.8mm

I know I have some #7s(2.4mm) and may have some #6s that I'd cut open & measure if need be.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

There were once many shot towers in the Us & sizes were not the same from any of them. What won out & became standard was the Tatham Bros of New York tower. The sizes are based on the number 17. Subtract the shot size from 17 & you get the diameter. Thus #4 = 0.13 (3.30mm); #5 = 0.12 (3.05mm); #6 = 0.11 (2.79mm); #7 = 0.10 (2.54mm). For "Chilled" shot these run approximately per ounce respectfully, #4 = 135, #5 = 173, #6 = 225 & #7 = 299.

England's standard was The Abbey Improved Chilled Shot Co, Newcastle-on-Tyne. their #6 listed at 270 per ounce. They also had Walker, Parker, Limited, London & Gateshead which listed #6 @ 278-290 per ounce. Abbey Co also listed a 6* @ 300 per ounce, with a note this size was Much Used by London Loaders & for export.

There is little doubt there is much confusion over shot sizes. However, any way you slice it British #6 is closer to US #7 than any other size, & if you go back & read my post right here in this thread I did say "APPROXIMATELY". I did not Say Nor Imply, they were One & The Same. I stand by that.

I have serious doubts that the end results of a shot would be affected in 1 of 1,000 shots whether the shot was 270 or 300 per ounce, To quote Nash Buckingham, You First have to hit it. There is more to be gained by learning to shoot than by Nitpicking over a bit of difference in pellet counts.

Miller, I don't know where you got the numbers in your 2nd paragraph above, but something is screwed up. The smaller the #, the larger the shot. Whatever it has been in the past, Eley currently lists 6's at 270/oz; 7's (which are a closer equivalent of our 7 1/2's than their 6's are to our 7's) at 340/oz. You wouldn't have 300 6's when you also have 270-290 7's. To go by your "approximately" standards, that would make Brit 6's and Brit 7's "approximately" the same size. Which makes no sense. Especially with the 6's being the smaller of the two.

One reason the differences are important when you're looking at what's on the box and we're talking foreign shells: Sometimes, when they make them for sale in the US, they use our shot sizes; sometimes they use theirs. If a box of 1 oz 7's is British, it's going to contain 340 pellets (or fairly close to it). US, it's going to contain something close to 299. However important that much difference may or may not be, if I'm buying 7's to get 7's, I'd rather have them be 7's rather than 7 1/2's. Otherwise, I'd just buy 7 1/2's to start with.

Larry;
The numbers in the 2nd paragraph were simply a typo they should have all been #6. I have edited it to read correctly. I have seen all these numbers from various sources over the years. For this [particular post I just grabbed my old Greener book & copied them off. The fact there has been different standards over the years is why there is such confusion. Even at the present standard of Brit #6 = 270 per ounce the answer to the Original Poster as to what does British #6's compare to in US sizes they are still closer to #7 than any other available, that's all I answered in the first place.

"IF" you'd just get off the Kick of Trying your best to make me look like a Fool on everything I post we'd both be a lot better off. I had given the original poster the info he was looking for & you had to try to make me look as if I knew not what I was talking about.

Whether they be US #7 or Brit #6* @ 300 to the oz that's 11% more shot than 270 per ounce. 270 per ounce has about 20% more shot per ounce than US #6 @ 225. "So Yes"; Brit #6 is closer to US #7 than any of our other shot sizes.

No attempt to make you look like a fool, Miller. Simply posting the current numbers for British and American shot sizes as listed in current sources (which are different than what is shown in the Hallowell chart you posted).

No question that Brit 6 is closer to US 7 than any of our other shot sizes. But it seems to me quite possible that someone selecting a load for hunting a particular game bird might want to know about the 11% difference . . . which equates to a pattern that's either 11% denser or 11% less dense, depending on which you pick. I've used factory loads of both Brit 6's and American 7's in the open barrel of my guns for pheasants. I prefer a less dense pattern, so I like the Brit 6's. (Might end up with a pellet or two less in the meat.) Late season grouse, or perhaps quail in the tight barrel of a double . . . I'd take the ounce of 7's. Smaller birds, denser pattern. Not a whole lot different than choosing between US 7's and 7 1/2's. Nice to have the 7's available if I want a pattern that's less dense than 7 1/2's (and slightly larger pellets) without dropping all the way down to 6's.

Too bad that both US 7's and Brit 6's are hard to find, in terms of finding them off the shelf. They're both good choices in that relatively large gap between US 6's and 7 1/2's. I'm glad that I can find both on the shelves in my gun room.

Hi Paul;
Still assuming that Gamebore is loading Brit sizes that would equal US # 6 2/3 size. Good Luck finding them. The closest thing you can find in US sizes is #7 & they won't be found at just any old shop, may have to special order. If you can use that size of shot Snap up those two flats of shells. There is, however, some question as to whether Gamebore is loaded with Brit or US sizes, so if that is critical to you, might need to ascertain for certain.

Sorry, we Got Sidetracked, over about 0.10" vs 0.103" diameter & the resulting 270 vs 299 pellets per ounce. "IF" however, they are loaded with US #6 then they will go to 0.110" size & have about 225 per ounce.

The real question here is NOT the difference between British #6 & US #7, but in fact, it is which system did Gamebore use for their shot size.

Hi, a few years ago I bought a number of the 12 ga Pure Gold here in Canada, and on a rainy day, opened a few to count and measure the pellets. Here's the info from my notes;

Pure Gold, paper case (12ga)
65mm (2 1/2")
Fibre wad
1295ft/sec. 6526psi

28gm (1oz) (28.6gm),
#6 shot (258 pellets, .103"-.109) "diamond shot"
ft/sec

28gm (1oz) (28.8gm),
#7 shot (311 pellets .096"-.102")
"Diamond shot"
1325 ft/sec
G1225TG28-7
-----------------
Super Game High Birds, plastic case (12ga)
65mm (2 1/2")
Plastic wad
30gm (1 1/16oz)(30.2gm),
#6 shot (293 pellets .101"-.106")
1350 ft/sec

Hope this helps!

Interesting. Went back to some old notes that I retained on pellet count. I got 275 Brit 6's in a 30 gram (1 1/16 oz) load, Pure Gold--but mine was the paper case/fiber wad variety. That would be essentially the same as Realco's count on his 1 oz load, adding the additional 1/16th oz.

If they're marked as Gamebore loads, I think they're all going to be Brit shot sizes. But if they're Kent made for the American market, those will be US sizes. I counted out one of their 20ga 1 oz 6 Ultimate Upland loads with diamond shot. Right on the nose at 225.

If you're looking for shells loaded with US 7's, RST has them. I've checked a couple of those, and they're very close to the 299/oz you would expect.