The shotgun would have been no use without its cartridges. Much has already been written about the histories of shotguns but very little about the cartridges themselves. This comprehensive work has been produced to help to rectify this situation. Contained within the book are alphabetical listings of more than 1100 firms and their cartridges from the British Isles, including the Republic of Ireland. These range in time from the first years of breech loadings up until the mid 1950s. It covers the time when most shotgun cartridges were closed by rolled-turnover and an over-shot wad. It is a history of the cartridge and is well illustrated, bringing back nostalgia to many older shooting folk. It is also a history of the loading activities that once were common place in many towns and cities across the British Isles. No shooter should be without this book on his bookshelf and for the collector of cartridges it is a must.