Gamebore Blue Diamond Fibrewad Cartridges

Where others introduce more new names for what is nothing more than an old load reworked Gamebore’s philosophy is to update their existing and established ranges of shotgun cartridges. Let’s face it, if it worked well back then there’s every chance it’ll work well now, a fact more than born out by their Blue Diamond range of competition ammunition.

Available in both 24 gram and 28 gram loads in shot sizes 7½, 8 and 9 in plaswad and fibre, the version that concerns us here is probably the most versatile, namely the 28 gram 7½ fibre. Offering levels of construction and performance that will appeal to club level and competition shooters alike, prices ranging from £4.95p to £5.25p per box of twenty-five dependant on exact specification, the ones tested somewhere in the middle at £5.10p although they’re all cheaper by the 1,000.

Delivered in a distinctive blue carton with Gamebore’s trademark yellow flashes, each Blue Diamond cartridge is contained within a translucent 57mm long blue case complete with a tight six-point crimp, medium length 12mm brass head and clear gold script. Where the quality of the Blue Diamond starts to become apparent is indicated by the inclusion of the Baschieri & Pellagri Gordon recoil reduction within each cartridge. Highlighted by the band that encircles the primer, this crushable shock – absorber system compresses on detonation reducing the cartridge’s own recoil in addition to that of the gun itself.

Pellets and Powder

Internally, the Blue Diamond utilises Gamebore’s ‘Diamond Shot’, each pellet polished as it nears the end of the manufacturing process, the residue of this buffing action leaving a lubricating film around each individual piece of shot and more or less eliminating irregularities, an average total of 320 pieces or 28-16 grams of shot contained within each. As a fibre load the shot sits atop an extremely dense wad and over propellant card, both noticeably tight within the case and theoretically tighter when travelling along the barrel, so reducing the pressure loss fibrewad loads can suffer from. The 1.42 grams of propellant is Gamebore’s square cut blue/green T2 that exhibits a silky virtually oily texture, the combination of these two properties enhancing the burn rate whilst promoting a more uniform combustion.

Through the Chronograph

Ten randomly selected cartridges produced a mean average observed velocity of 1,172fps, whilst patterning at 30 yards through ¼ choke gave a count of 285 or 89% within the 29” circle. Interestingly whilst those outside the diameter of the circle are usually regarded as ‘flyers’, in the case of the Blue Diamond a further 4% of shot was contained within an inch of the outer perimeter. Taken as a whole, the pattern both within and outside 29” boundary was one of the most even I’ve encountered with no overall concentration of shot and no gaps that would allow clays to pass through unscathed. 

On the Shooting Ground

Technicalities aside it’s around the layouts that counts, the environment in which the Blue Diamonds excel. Each cartridge used produced a comprehensive kill, even when it was the outer edge of the pattern that connected. Whilst far from a soft load, the effect of pulling the trigger produced a firm yet comfortable response, a firm crisp feeling that even the most recoil sensitive shooter would find acceptable and an extremely proficient all-round multi-discipline load with a full choice of shot sizes and wadding.

PRICE: £5-10p (Per box of 25)