Performance Data
| Date | Range | Choke (Nominal) | 30" Circle Impacts (Total) | Performance (Nominal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19/11/2017 | 20 Yards | 0.015" (Modified) | 116 (136) | 85% (Cylinder) |
| 19/11/2017 | 20 Yards | 0.015" (Modified) | 129 (136) | 95% (Improved Cylinder) |
| 24/09/2017 | 20 Yards | 0.020" (Improved Modified) | 126 (136) | 93% (Improved Cylinder) |
| 19/11/2017 | 30 Yards | 0.015" (Modified) | 78 (136) | 57% (< Cylinder) |
| 19/11/2017 | 30 Yards | 0.015" (Modified) | 85 (136) | 62% (Cylinder) |
| 24/09/2017 | 30 Yards | 0.020" (Improved Modified) | 96 (136) | 71% (Improved Cylinder) |
| 19/11/2017 | 30 Yards | 0.020" (Improved Modified) | 78 (136) | 57% (< Cylinder) |
| 19/11/2017 | 30 Yards | 0.020" (Improved Modified) | 90 (136) | 66% (Cylinder) |
| 19/11/2017 | 30 Yards | 0.025" (Full) | 100 (136) | 74% (Improved Cylinder) |
| 19/11/2017 | 40 Yards | 0.025" (Full) | 52 (136) | 38% (< Cylinder) |
Performance Analysis
The Lyalvale cartridge is enjoyable to shoot, having very mild recoil, but disappoints in down-range performance, much as all relatively unbalanced cartridges are prone to do: once again, the SmallBoreShotguns team tests a .410 cartridge containing #6 shot and once again, it struggles to produce a usable pattern beyond 20 yards. It is the suspicion of the author that the same cartridge loaded with #7 shot, which is purportedly still available, would likely be significantly more effective.
Percentage-wise, performance is middling-to-good, with the large-for-bore shot size resisting deformation and causing the pattern to stay together relatively well out to 30 yards. We suspect that a relatively low muzzle velocity plays its part here too. Unfortunately, the low absolute pellet count means that this performance does not translate into a usable pattern density, with the cartridge struggling to get much past 21 or 22 yards with the mimimum density of 120 pellets in the standard circle. This aligns perfectly with our prediction from field testing in early September. Central pattern density is thin, which rules out the possibility of a re-evaluation using a 20″ circle – the picture painted would not be any better.
The cartridge did respond relatively well to choke and experimentation with the full (0.025″ constriction) choke, not normally employed during our pattern tests, did show a slight improvement in performance over and above the next tightest tube. The pattern did however show some signs of being blown, with low central pattern density and a hint of “doughnutting”, which suggests that further testing is unlikely to repeat the relatively good result shown in the table above.
The SmallBoreShotguns team do not like rolled turnovers and the movement of the shot pattern relative to the point of aim, likely partly because of interference from the card was visible when the full set of patterns were examined.
The Lyalvale cartridge is not the worst cartridge we’ve tested, but it’s by no means the best. It might do for the odd 20-yard pheasant on a walkabout and the author has killed a small number of wood pigeons, more or less successfully with it at short decoying ranges, but it would not and should not be anyone’s first choice cartridge for guns with 2½” or 3″ chambers.
Example Patterns
