ORIGINAL: Rammer
I run a lodge and I reccomend for 12 gauge shooters this. 1 1/4 of #4 or #5s for opener with IC or Mod choke. Later in the season I usually bump it up to 1 5/8 or 1 7/8 of 2s or 4s with a mod choke.
If you are a steel shot shooter, I use Kent Faststeel #2s at 1560fps, works very very well on birds.
1 5/8 oz??? 1 7/8 oz ??? 2's and 4's turkey loads on a pheasant?? IMO thats over doing just a bit. I strongly disagree with ya!! its a pheasant not a turkey......[:'(] then the #2 fast steel thats just nuts thats the same load i use for 50 to 60 yards pass over shots on canadian geese. you obviously dont want your clients to enjoy a tasty entree of a pheasant breast rather you would have them eat pheasant burger peppered with shot.[:'(]
You really dont need anything more then hi brass #6's Ive downed birds asfar as 50 yards with hi brass #6's doesnt happen alot but the hi brass #6's will do it if you put your shot string where it needs to be..