Richard Atkins reviews two budget cartridges that are back in the UK from French manufacturer Mary Arm
Richard Atkins has decades of experience testing guns, cartridges and accessories, and is our expert on all aspects of ballistics, shotgun performance and technical analysis
ON TEST: MARY ARM SCUD AND CYRANO TARGET LOADS
Anew name is being heard and seen on the clay target scene: Mary Arm. Their cartridges have appeared in the UK before but somewhat sporadically, and it’s a while since I last saw them. That changed recently with a call from Mike Bartlett. Many will recognise Mike as not only a serious and successful Sporting clays competitor but also the man who designed and manufactures the Magic Bore shotgun cleaning system.
Anyone with one of these will be aware of Mike’s attention to detail and insistence on quality. It is reassuring to know that Mike has applied his desire for quality in seeking out the Mary Arm cartridge range to promote in the UK. Not only is Mike a keen and talented shot but his partner, Cheryl Hall, is a champion shot in her own right. Cheryl is one of the UK’s most successful sporting clays shooters; we can be sure that these Mary Arm cartridges have been closely examined and tested by two people who really know what it takes to make big scores on serious competition layouts.
Mary Arm cartridges are made in Bergerac, France, founded 65 years ago by Jacques Mary. The company built its reputation on innovation and ballistic performance along with quality and rigour of loading. This excellence has been upheld by Jacques’ son, Pierre Mary, who is also passionate about hunting and Ball-Trap, and has continued to develop the brand’s success in France and internationally.
Among their extensive credentials, Mary Arm are used by winners of national, European and world championships. This tells us that Mary Arm clearly do know how to manufacture top grade cartridges. Naturally, all the premium cartridges sought by serious competitors come with a larger price tag and, with many shooters having to tighten their belts at this time, Mike has also sought to bring some of the competitively priced end of the Mary Arms clay cartridge range here. We take a close look at two of them this month: the Sport 28 SCUD, one of the most competitively priced 28 gram plastic wad loads around at a SRP of £180 per 1,000; and the CYRANO, a keenly priced BIOR wad cartridge at £202 per 1,000.
SPORT 28 SCUD
Sport 28 SCUD has been developed to offer an economically priced cartridge capable
