You shooting #6s does more damage to the bird than a larger payload of larger shot. I clean around 2000 birds a year that are shot off my property and I've seen what every combination of loads do to the birds.
I reccomend the real heavy stuff when there is about a foot or more of snow on the ground, the wind is blowing 30mph and the birds get up at the other end of the field when you step out of your pickup in the crunchy snow. Hunting is tough, and when a shot presents itself you WANT a dead bird.
Yes, I also shoot geese with that Kent Faststeel load. When you head shoot the roosters it don't matter what they are hit with
ORIGINAL: HighDesertWolf
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..