By Don GolembieskiB&P Technical Director
Baschieri & Pellagri of Northern Italy has been a family owned and operated business for generations. Like the famed Ferrari automobile artisans, B&P has raised the manufacture of their shotgun shells to the highest level of quality and pride in craftsmanship. As you would expect, neither of these companies would ever sacrifice quality for quantity.
For instance on quality, B&P’s shot is definitely a cut above the rest. It’s the pinnacle of shot quality, with its uniform diameters and roundness that produce superior pattern qualities across the entire line. They also tailor antimony for hunting and different targets, use a special Moly like coating in their Diamond Line, as well as have some nickel plated loads. B&P’s Gulandi wads are world renowned by shooters and reloaders. They match each unique wad to the load to produce the best patterning, uniformity and shot density. There’s quite a variety of wads too, ranging from low temperature ice resistant wads to photodegradable, to dispersant or spreader loads as they are referred to here in the US, to their incredibly accurate slug wad. By the way, these slug loads are the most accurate I have ever fired.
I know you’ve heard it all before, but until you have tried the Gordon System you won’t believe it. It’s a three piece hull design with a shock absorber incorporated into the base. Think about shock absorbers did for the ride in your car. It reduces recoil, and as a side benefit it cushions the resulting thrust of the shot on ignition. This aids in better shot uniformity, fewer little dents in the shot, which produces more uniform patterns. So there you have the complete Shot Shell System that B&P is famous for.
Now, even the largest shell manufacturer is reluctant to add another shell to their product line. This is even a bigger decision for a smaller volume, high quality, specialty manufacturer like B&P. It’s a big decision, because manufacturers don’t feel that they are adding as many new customers as redistributing the purchases of their existing customers. In theory, purchasing spreads out more across the line by offering more choices which drives up the production cost of each shell.
After considerable discussion, we’re pleased to be adding some really nice shells to the B&P American line. The new 28 gauge shells have already arrived. The rest of the new shells will come in mid-September.
The 28 gauge has been a making a modest comeback in the States. Unfortunately, world-wide usage isn’t as good. Consequently, this Spring B&P decided to shut down 28 gauge production indefinitely. Our 28 gauge shooters were panic stricken. So, our President came to the rescue by buying a full container load of 28 gauge shells to enable a production run. The 28s are back in the same 7.5 and 8 shot, but their velocity has been kicked up from 1230 fps to 1300 fps. There’ll be plenty of clays and upland birds a droppin to these 28 gauge beauties.
Our current F2 Legend in 20 gauge, with a velocity of 1210 fps, will remain available in both 7/8 oz and 1 oz loads. However, we’ll be adding a F2 Legend, 20 gauge, only in 7/8 oz, and only in 7.5 shot, that will do 1280 fps. This shell is intended for the Sporting Clays venues as well as a light recoil hunting load.
Our MB Long Range, 12 gauge, at 1330 fps, is famous for bringing down rooster pheasants that seemed almost out of range. Outfitters swear by these shells. They are a Nickel Plated load. Utilizing our very high quality shot as a base, then plated. We feel this nickel aerodynamics enhancer provides better energy transfer at distance. Camps can be split on use for flyer loads but here’s your chance to prove your point with the new 7.5 shot size. Look for our MB Long Range, 12 gauge, 1 ¼ oz, at 1330, with nickel plating, and the rest of the MB Long Range Line in 4,5, and 6 shot sizes.
The Sporting Clays 12 gauge shell at 1260 fps was only offered in 7.5 and 8.5 shot. Why? I don’t’ know. I think it was just an oversight. Soon, the Sporting Clays in 1 oz and 1 1/8 oz will also be offered in 8 shot. No mystery here, it’s about time.
Finally, the MB Dispersante (dispersal shell or spreader loads here in the USA), 12 gauge, 1 1/8 oz, 6, 7, 8, at 1330 fps had been in the line, but it was terminated just as it began to have a following. Dispersal shells have been around for many years, but they remain little known to most shooters. These shells rely on either a paper or plastic disc placed at the top of the shot column. You’ve got it, the wind resistance forces the disc back and in flight and elliptically disperses the shot pattern. For real quick shots at grouse, quail or pheasants in heavy cover, dispersal shells will pay off. On the range, they’ll take some of the guess work out of those pesky rabbit targets.
Adios, and good shooting.
