phesant load
11-14-2006, 08:27 PM
#21
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PA.
Posts: 5,195
RE: phesant load
ORIGINAL: backcountryjlaf
Here is my personal opinion. There is no correct shell. Personally i won't shoot anything smaller than a number 6 on pheasants, i usually load 1/4 oz 2 3/4 inch #6 in a modified 12 guage for my bottom barrell, and then a #5 1/4 oz in 2 3/4 inch in a full choke for my top barrel. I worked out my loads as fast as i could get them, and i have downed birds with number 6 shot at 40 yards (havn't found a number 6 load that will do this consistenly yet, but i've done it) I find that shots inside of 30 yards in my gun my number 6 does the job every timed, and if i want to stretch it out a bit the heavier pellets give me a bit of extra range.
I think that you should look at what most of your shots are, and what kind of shooter you are. If you kill most of your birds inside of 20 yards, a number 6 will do just fine, and you might want a heavier load with a wider choke, if you are going to do a lot of long range killing you are going to want big velocity with enough weight to do some damage, and a tight choke that is going to give you some sort of pattern at that range.
To be very honest i think to much focus is put on shells, if you buy decent shells and make good shots you are going to kill birds. Very seldom does the shell make the difference, but it does on occasion, so why not be prepared. There are a few good sites that reveiw steel loads and rate them but i havn't found any for lead yet.
Here is my personal opinion. There is no correct shell. Personally i won't shoot anything smaller than a number 6 on pheasants, i usually load 1/4 oz 2 3/4 inch #6 in a modified 12 guage for my bottom barrell, and then a #5 1/4 oz in 2 3/4 inch in a full choke for my top barrel. I worked out my loads as fast as i could get them, and i have downed birds with number 6 shot at 40 yards (havn't found a number 6 load that will do this consistenly yet, but i've done it) I find that shots inside of 30 yards in my gun my number 6 does the job every timed, and if i want to stretch it out a bit the heavier pellets give me a bit of extra range.
I think that you should look at what most of your shots are, and what kind of shooter you are. If you kill most of your birds inside of 20 yards, a number 6 will do just fine, and you might want a heavier load with a wider choke, if you are going to do a lot of long range killing you are going to want big velocity with enough weight to do some damage, and a tight choke that is going to give you some sort of pattern at that range.
To be very honest i think to much focus is put on shells, if you buy decent shells and make good shots you are going to kill birds. Very seldom does the shell make the difference, but it does on occasion, so why not be prepared. There are a few good sites that reveiw steel loads and rate them but i havn't found any for lead yet.
not to go into all details..he said heavy dram loads like 3 and 1/4 powder push pellets and deform them..he said you will get a2 ft sideways pattern NOT a pancake pattern at 30 yds and beyond..this causes a lot of pellets to not get to bird etc..
to sum it up, he rec using only 2 and 3/4 inchLOW BRASS ,3 drams and1 oz shot..1 oz shot will STAY TOGETHER all way to target..he has point,skeet/clay shooters also told me that is reason that they use those type ofloads for their shooting..its not cost of the HEAVY GAME LOADS, IF THEY WERE BETTER they would use them on skeet etc, its that the pellets stay together..
also expert said, we are foolish to buy the heavy game loads, they are a marketing ploy..
i was set back on this too but it made sense after you think it over ..he should know, he testedthis out..
after that i went back to just 2 and 3/4 inch,1 oz shot ,3 drams and low brass on grouse and i shot pheasants with it too..i knocked pheasant out of air dead at 40 yards with that load..
no more high brass heavy field loads ever again..if someone is interested in this experts article i will try to find it on internet..
11-15-2006, 05:33 PM
#23
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 21
RE: phesant load
I would completely agree with you, i don't load anything heavier than 1/4 oz, I'vehad my loads chronographed (thanks to a freind in the physics department at the University of Alberta) and they are just as hot as anything else that i've loaded, but i never thought much of deformation. I still get good patterns out to 35-40 yards, and in terms of how hard they hit it simply comes down to how fast they are moving.
Does anyone have any experience with the plated lead shot??? I'm also looking into getting some non toxic shot that i can put through my over unders does anyone have any suggestions? The kent Cartidge company makes a "traditional upland load in a 6 that is supposed to do 1400 fps" and it's only 10 bucks a box. I refuse to pay 4 bucks a shot, and i'm not going to put steel through a $3000 hinge action.
The only reason i want non toxic is because once in a while i'll come across some ducks while i'm out upland hunting.
Although i would agree with the previous response, most of the 1 oz shells you see breech the 1200 fps mark, and from a physics point of veiw the faster two object of the same mass are travelling the more energy they will retain. If a magnum load gives you better velocity than that's what i want to be shooting at long range. There is definately something to be said for pellet deformation at that range though. There is one thing i know for sure. A good shot with a bad shell will kill a lot more birds than a bad shot with a good shell.
Does anyone have any experience with the plated lead shot??? I'm also looking into getting some non toxic shot that i can put through my over unders does anyone have any suggestions? The kent Cartidge company makes a "traditional upland load in a 6 that is supposed to do 1400 fps" and it's only 10 bucks a box. I refuse to pay 4 bucks a shot, and i'm not going to put steel through a $3000 hinge action.
The only reason i want non toxic is because once in a while i'll come across some ducks while i'm out upland hunting.
Although i would agree with the previous response, most of the 1 oz shells you see breech the 1200 fps mark, and from a physics point of veiw the faster two object of the same mass are travelling the more energy they will retain. If a magnum load gives you better velocity than that's what i want to be shooting at long range. There is definately something to be said for pellet deformation at that range though. There is one thing i know for sure. A good shot with a bad shell will kill a lot more birds than a bad shot with a good shell.
11-15-2006, 09:12 PM
#24
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PA.
Posts: 5,195
RE: phesant load
a 2 and 3/4 inch ,1 oz,3 drams LOW BRASS has velocity of 1290..
a 2 and 3/4 inch ,1 and 1/8oz ,3 and 1/4 drams,LOW BRASS,has velocity of 1330..
i saw these at wal-mart for 3 dollars a box on 1 oz and 5 dollars on other..
yet HIGH BRASSin same oz was 10 dollars a box and velocity was 1255..
more cost and lower velocity in the HIGH BRASS..
interesting, isnt it?
a 2 and 3/4 inch ,1 and 1/8oz ,3 and 1/4 drams,LOW BRASS,has velocity of 1330..
i saw these at wal-mart for 3 dollars a box on 1 oz and 5 dollars on other..
yet HIGH BRASSin same oz was 10 dollars a box and velocity was 1255..
more cost and lower velocity in the HIGH BRASS..
interesting, isnt it?
11-22-2006, 10:16 PM
#25
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 68
RE: phesant load
The expert on the 2 3/4 shells was in the book called the Art and Science of Shotgunning. It is an amazing book in terms of discussion of loads and patterns. I have tried it out and stick with the low brass shells and 1 oz of shot. Gets the best pattern out of my Berratta 391. I get blown patterns when I go with the 3" heavy game loads. Take a shot at some plywood and see what works for your gun. Some of the larger bore guns like the Mossbergs and Remingtons actually perform ok wth the heavy loads. Berratta and Benelli are tighter barrels at the choke and need the lighter loads to pattern well.
11-23-2006, 11:23 AM
#26
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PA.
Posts: 5,195
RE: phesant load
ORIGINAL: stratofisher1
The expert on the 2 3/4 shells was in the book called the Art and Science of Shotgunning. It is an amazing book in terms of discussion of loads and patterns. I have tried it out and stick with the low brass shells and 1 oz of shot. Gets the best pattern out of my Berratta 391. I get blown patterns when I go with the 3" heavy game loads. Take a shot at some plywood and see what works for your gun. Some of the larger bore guns like the Mossbergs and Remingtons actually perform ok wth the heavy loads. Berratta and Benelli are tighter barrels at the choke and need the lighter loads to pattern well.
The expert on the 2 3/4 shells was in the book called the Art and Science of Shotgunning. It is an amazing book in terms of discussion of loads and patterns. I have tried it out and stick with the low brass shells and 1 oz of shot. Gets the best pattern out of my Berratta 391. I get blown patterns when I go with the 3" heavy game loads. Take a shot at some plywood and see what works for your gun. Some of the larger bore guns like the Mossbergs and Remingtons actually perform ok wth the heavy loads. Berratta and Benelli are tighter barrels at the choke and need the lighter loads to pattern well.
what choke do you use on 391 that gets best pattern??
11-23-2006, 08:17 PM
#27
Fork Horn
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 248
RE: phesant load
I know I'm just an Alabama boy but I went on my first pheasant hunt a few weeks ago in Kansas. I was using a browning gold with Mod choke and Fiocci Golden Pheasants #6's 2 3/4" It was plenty of load and knock down. I shot several birds in the 50yd range and they were dead when they hit the ground. I only lost 1 bird in 5 days of hunting. Had we had some dogs I think we could have found him. I do think your 3" shells are alot of over kill.
As for the pattern info and it pancaking at longer ranges I don't know that I totally agree. I shoot heavy fast 3 1/2" turkey loads and I get a good circle pattern out to 60yds. I have had the forcing cone lengthend in my gun. I think alot of shot defroming comes from that and if its solid lead shot. Plated shot will deform less and give better patterns along with your selection of chokes. Do you know where you read or saw this at? I would like to read their study and see how they got their info.
BTW most of my bird hunting experience has been dove hunting here in the south. This Pheasant hunting is some sho nuff fun stuff! I'm trying to plan another late season trip back for January.
As for the pattern info and it pancaking at longer ranges I don't know that I totally agree. I shoot heavy fast 3 1/2" turkey loads and I get a good circle pattern out to 60yds. I have had the forcing cone lengthend in my gun. I think alot of shot defroming comes from that and if its solid lead shot. Plated shot will deform less and give better patterns along with your selection of chokes. Do you know where you read or saw this at? I would like to read their study and see how they got their info.
BTW most of my bird hunting experience has been dove hunting here in the south. This Pheasant hunting is some sho nuff fun stuff! I'm trying to plan another late season trip back for January.
11-29-2006, 11:33 AM
#29
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location:
Posts: 445
RE: phesant load
hey. if u want mass quantities of sweet loads. get Remington Game Loads 1oz, 6 shot at 1290 fps. i count 209 pellets in the load and i use a full choke w/ it because im an excellent shot. only 4 bucks at Wal-Mart
11-30-2006, 10:34 AM
#30
Spike
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location:
Posts: 55
RE: phesant load
i'm from nd and do a lot of phesent hunting i shoot a beat up old wing master my grandpa bought for me at a action sale for $80 it has a mod choke no screw in choke tubes i reload my own shells with 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 4# or 5# over the last three years my dog has only had to chase one wounded bird its not always what you shoot but how you hit
