The key to long range bird shooting is to pack it tight. My process is:
1. Pour loose charge (110gr Pyrodex) tap the gun a few times to seat the load.
2. Take a 3-1/2" long wad and ram it home on the powder tightly.
3. Take an empty wad and fill with #4 shot (in my case) and pour in the barrel.
4. Take an overshot card, I use the ones Ballistic products sells. It is thick but packs everything great.
http://www.ballisticproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NC12
5. Load the primer, I use Remington 209 Kleenbores and they go off without a hitch.
6. Lots of practice for sure.I would have never taken that shot without practice.
When it goes off you can just tell that it will hit with authority and the kick is not really that bad if anchored properly.
I have not tried to load the card over the powder and the shot butI have a feeling it would have a tighter pattern. Cayugad may have tried it during his free time.