Eley Hi-Flyer 12 gauge cartridges

People often think they need a powerful cartridge to down a game bird, when in fact the combination of numerous pellets can be the deciding factor. However, for longer birds and high-flying game, many manufacturers offer a higher velocity and smaller shot size cartridge if you think you need it.

Enter the Eley Hi-Flyer cartridge, which is designed as a universal field cartridge covering all aspects of game and vermin control, with the widest variety of shot and wad combinations suitable for all gun configurations, including semi-autos. Pricewise, Just Cartridges sell them for £357 per 1000.

The build

These Eley Hi-Flyers are designed as a hard-hitting round from the get-go, with either 28, 30 or 32-gram loads, all with a fibre wad system. They are available in shot sizes No 4, 5 or 6 in 32-gram, No 5 or 6 in the 30-gram, and No 6 or 7 in the lighter, 28-gram loading.

The cartridges come in a fetching purple colour for high visibility in the field, which makes visual collection amongst the undergrowth after shooting easier. The cartridges are well-sealed and a formed sixstar crimp ensures a smooth and even powder burn, whilst the 10mm brass rim height is easy to load quickly into any shotgun’s chamber. Due to their 67mm case length, they can be used in all shotgun types and are as ideally suited to rough shooting as they are on the game scene.

Performance

All have a velocity of approximately 1324 fps (404 m/s) and are fuelled by the excellent, CSB powder, which gives a very smooth and uniform velocities. Coupled to the generous and wellformed fibre wad system, this holds its integrity on firing and through the barrel to achieve good shot patterns down range.

We shot the Hi-Flyers through a Chapuis side by side with a half choke fitted. It achieved a total pellet count from the 32-gram No 4 shot load of 162 pellets, with 41 in the 15” inner circle and 121 spread outside. Being No 4 shot means a smaller pellet count, obviously, but we still had a very nice spread and evenness to the pattern overall. It is a harder-hitting cartridge, especially with the bigger No 4 pellets, which aid in tricky shots at longer range or high birds, strangely enough! They also functioned very well in the new Browning Maxus 2 semi-automatic shotgun, which would make a superb pigeon gun with the 32-gram, No 6 loading.

Conclusions

I have grown to like these Hi-Flyers, and as the name suggests, the load is intended for those wayoff birds, but actually, the cartridges are just as good for pigeon shooting or a day’s walked-up game or rough shoot. Plus, they work perfectly in any 2 ½” and up shotgun, including semi-automatics.