Victory Sporting 21 gram 7½ plaswad 12-bore cartridges

As a positive plethora of lighter loads hit the markets in an effort to reduce both costs and recoil, so the manufacturers endeavour to increase this smaller load’s appeal to a wider audience. In keeping with this ongoing program Victory, already well known for their range of performance competition cartridges, have now introduced their new 21 gram Sporter load, manufactured in their Nicosia factory in Cyprus.

Currently only available as a 7½ plaswad the almost irresistible appeal is that they cost approximately £3-10p per lurid green and red box of twenty-five, or even less if you buy them by the thousand. Inside you’ll find each red plastic cased cartridge is 54mm (2¾”) in length, inclusive of the 16mm brass head, with simplistic and clear black print; the carton and presentation indicative of Victory’s efforts to effectively reduce packaging costs.

Internally, the short cup plaswad contains an average of 261 or 20.88 grams of precise 7½ shot sized pellets with no obvious misshaped shot throughout the three sampled cartridges. Beneath the simple plaswad cushion sits 1.17 grams of small green, disc cut, fast burn propellant, once again each sample tested identical to the one before. 

Chronographed through ½ choke and patterned with ¼ choke at ten feet and thirty yards respectively Victory’s Sporter impressed and frustrated in equal measures, although the later can be rectified by the shooter themselves. Two shot strings of five resulted in an impressive mean average observed speed of 1,336 fps with more than enough energy to cycle two different semi-automatic shotguns.

However, patterned at the aforementioned distance only a 194 or 75% of the shot found its way into the 29” diameter pattering card with noticeable, clay sized gaps within the inner fifteen inch centre. Interestingly an additional 30 or 10% of shot was to be found within an inch of the outer boundary of the pattern. Normally these flyers are never taken into account, most competition loads holding a minimum of 89% of shot or more within the industry established parameters of 29” - 30”.

This is the first mass produced 21 gram load to constantly and comfortable exceed 1,300 fps, to unfailing recycle semi-autos, offer true affordability combined with noticeably reduced felt recoil - but to ensure the Victory Sporter works, tighter chokes must be used. The theory is a lighter load produces more even, easily controlled patterns, but the Sporter’s sheer speed reducing this given premise. However, by tightening the muzzle restrictions by one if not two to ½ or ¾ you can hold the Sporter’s spread by significant margins, increasing shot percentage to over 82%. More than proven when shot over the cartridge’s intended discipline, good long distance kills were achievable although increased accuracy is required by virtue of the decreased quantity of lead, the overall sensation whilst shooting being that of a high performance 24gram load.

Once you remember you’re projecting significantly less lead towards your target whilst still maintaining speed, tighter chokes and a little mental application should see certain shooters able to take full advantage of Victory’s new, high – performance budget Sporter.

PRICE (PER BOX OF 25): Approx £3.10 approx per box of 25