With the coming of breech loading, shooters then had to purchase cartridges. Often they did this from the firms that they had previously purchased components in muzzle loading. These firms either large or small were in the many towns across the breadth of the British Isles. They were firms such as gunmakers, gunsmiths, ironmongers, cycle agents, agricultural dealers and many more. These firms would purchase ready printed or stamped cases from the ammunition manufacturers along with powders and other components. They would then load and sell their own brands of cartridges, this in strong competition with each other. Their cartridge cases were often decorated with motifs like the town's coat of arms or a picture of game similar to a few that are decorating the cover of this book. In later years most of these firms had their cartridge brands loaded for them by the ammunition manufacturers.

This book is a history of those many firms and their brands of cartridges. It is also a very useful guide to people who like to collect these old shotgun cartridges, and what a grand hobby it is.