Don't get me wrong, but personally I don't think it matters what shot you use if you call them in close, therfor garanteeing the shot to count. I have shot all my birds under 25 yards.All with one shot useing #6's, &4's in 12 guage and 5's in 20 guage. My gun is a cheap Mossberg 500 w/ 26 in barrel in 3", bought from a pawn shop, set up with camo and a simmons scope. Less than $175 invested. I for one couldn't drag an expensive gun like a Bennelli thru all the mud and rain I end up hunting in. But thats justmho.