You may have already read our article here that covers views on the best affordable shotgun cartridges. Whether you’re new to the sport, leveling up, or chasing competition wins, the right cartridge keeps you blasting without busting your budget.
In this article the cartridges covered in the previous article (Fiocchi FBlu, Hull Superfast, Eley Select, Lyalvale English Sporter, Fiocchi Litespeed, Gamebore Velocity, Hull CompX, and Gamebore Evo) have been ranked for beginner, intermediate, and competition shooters.
For the specifics on each cartridge, check out this article.
Ranked from 1 (best suited) to 8 (least suited):
| CARTRIDGE | BEGINNER | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiocchi FBlu | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Hull Superfast | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Eley Select | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Lyalvale English Sporter | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| Fiocchi Litespeed | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Gamebore Velocity | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Hull CompX | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Gamebore Evo | 3 | 7 | 7 |
Quick Breakdown by Shooter Experience:
- BEGINNER: Hull CompX leads with low recoil, ideal for shaky hands, while Fiocchi Litespeed and Gamebore Evo ease you in.
- INTERMEDIATE: Fiocchi FBlu tops with tight patterns, followed by Hull Superfast for versatility.
- ADVANCED: Fiocchi FBlu reigns for precision, with Hull Superfast and Eley Select close behind.
Looking for more detail? Read on…
BEGINNER SHOOTERS
Newbies need low recoil, reliability, and forgiving patterns to build confidence.
| RANK | CARTRIDGE | HIGHLIGHTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hull CompX | Low recoil, light load, ideal for shaky hands; “not bumpy” over 100 birds. |
| 2 | Fiocchi Litespeed | Light recoil, consistent patterns, great for easing into sessions. |
| 3 | Gamebore Evo | Smooth, reliable for progression, perfect for school-to-club transitions. |
| 4 | Fiocchi FBlu | Very low recoil, tight patterns, solid for keen newbies. |
| 5 | Gamebore Velocity | Affordable, club-ready, but moderate recoil might tire beginners. |
| 6 | Hull Superfast | Versatile, but moderate recoil could overwhelm novices. |
| 7 | Eley Select | Manageable recoil, though long-range focus suits later stages. |
| 8 | Lyalvale English Sporter | All-purpose, but moderate recoil less beginner-friendly. |
INTERMEDIATE SHOOTERS
Mid-tier shooters want versatility, better patterns, and a balance of cost and performance.
| RANK | CARTRIDGE | HIGHLIGHTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiocchi FBlu | Low recoil, tight patterns, comp-ready feel loved by forum users. |
| 2 | Hull Superfast | Excellent mid-range patterns, moderate recoil suits growing skills. |
| 3 | Eley Select | Long-range punch, manageable recoil for tougher targets. |
| 4 | Lyalvale English Sporter | Versatile for skeet or sporting, solid patterns. |
| 5 | Fiocchi Litespeed | Reliable, light, though less versatile than top picks. |
| 6 | Gamebore Velocity | Good value and patterns, but recoil limits finesse. |
| 7 | Gamebore Evo | Smooth, but pricier; better for early progression. |
| 8 | Hull CompX | Light and easy, but load limits intermediate challenges. |
ADVANCED / COMPETITION SHOOTERS
Pros need consistency, tight patterns, and velocity for precision—but cost still counts to some.
| RANK | CARTRIDGE | HIGHLIGHTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiocchi FBlu | Low recoil, tight distance patterns, a value champ per influencers. |
| 2 | Hull Superfast | Strong mid-range patterns, velocity makes it a comp staple. |
| 3 | Eley Select | Proven in wins, long-range edge with manageable recoil. |
| 4 | Lyalvale English Sporter | Versatile patterns suit multi-discipline comps. |
| 5 | Fiocchi Litespeed | Consistent, but lacks punch for top-tier comps. |
| 6 | Gamebore Velocity | Decent patterns, though recoil and smoothness lag. |
| 7 | Gamebore Evo | Smooth, but not standout enough for competitive edge. |
| 8 | Hull CompX | Light load and low recoil limit high-stakes shooting. |
Quick Tips
Test a slab to match your gun—recoil varies by gun and ALSO by shooter (which is why I refer to it as perceived recoil). However hopefully the above narrows the choices down somewhat – choose 2 or 3 that seems to fit the bill for you and see how you get on. Drop some comments below too on your thoughts/views.
Are there any I have not included, that you think should be?
