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phesant load
I just bought some 3 inch 1 7/8 0z 6 shot phesant loads for this season what do you guys think I dont care bout recoil and they go 1210 feet per second
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RE: phesant load
I think you wasted your money on those shells. You should invest in a 10 gauge semi-auto with a 3 1/2 inch shell that would carry a 2 oz+ payload. That kind of gun has an added plus, it helps to build muscle.
Keep in mind that a 20 gauge 2 3/4 shell travels at the same verlocity, has less recoil and the gun weighs one hell of a lot less. The key to killing birds with a shotgun is ...practice, practice, practice. |
RE: phesant load
I was shooting 12 gauge 6 oz shot and was blowing the birds away....
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RE: phesant load
With a limit of 3 birds you need to pick your shots and enjoy HUNTING not killing I hunt Phesants with a 28ga # 6 and just follow my dogs and pick the right shots.
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RE: phesant load
I'd rather have a lower payload and higher velocity. I used to reload a 2-3/4" shell with 1-3/8oz of #5 shot at a little over 1330 fps. Lethal!
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RE: phesant load
Well I usly dont shoot this big of loads only reason is im going to desplaines next saturday with no dog
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RE: phesant load
most of shells i see on ground are 12ga..most are 7 and 1/2 shot and 2/3/4 inch long ,LOW BRASS..
i use no.5 shot high brass 2 and 3/4 inch ,12ga.for pheasants.i think no.6 shot is ok to.. from what i found its not the shell as much as it is your shooting as crazy said..when i was good shot ,i would use FULL CHOKE in my 12 ga. with low brass no.6 shot or 7 and 1/2.. i shot many a bird at 35 yards with that choke.. so, cutting thru bull, here is what i would use..if you are bad shot do to no practice, i would go with no.5 shot with a IC choke as most likely you are going to miss the shot on bird CLOSE,yes, most bad shots are close....i seen bad shooters miss at 10 yds and hit bird at 25 yards..so, you need a bigger bb to reach out ..as birds get more pressured, 5 shot and MOD choke is way to go.. now, good shooters can use 6 shot as they DONT miss to much ..so, bird at 10 yards is going down..they also can use tighter choke,like IM/FULL if they do miss and still get bird.. sounds confusing,doesnt it..its this simple, bad shooters need high brass bigger bb,good shooter can use low brass/highbrass and tighter chokes.. old timers used to say, use 7 and 1/2 shot as you are putting more bb in air, thats true but i seen pheasants shake off that size shot and i seen turkeys which are tougher bird ,go right down with shot of no.7 and 1/2..its 2 factors, 1 is type of choke you have, remember i said FULL with low brass ,thats why turkeys go down..second is what crazy said, he is right..GOOD SHOT will kill a pheasant with 7 and 1/2 low brass everytime..i seen it for 50 years,WHY??they are GOOD SHOTS.. |
RE: phesant load
2 3/4 shell HIGH BRASS( cant stress this enough) no5 or 4's(especially with no dog) FULL CHOKE 1250+ fps is also key....This has worked time and time again for me for wild pheasants...now if you go pen raised then I would go with 6's mod choke no matter what...
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RE: phesant load
also if you are goign to be walkign all day a 20 gauge is what you are going to want to carry
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RE: phesant load
ORIGINAL: petrey10 also if you are goign to be walkign all day a 20 gauge is what you are going to want to carry best shotgun i ever had..you should feel the 20ga in this baby,oh my,is that one light.. |
RE: phesant load
"JTM612" please excuse my initial sarcastic reply. I just recently returned from North Dakota. I was using two 20ga guns. On the first day I was choked IC/F. On the second day I changed to M/F. Even with my French Britt the shots were on the long side. I was using Fiocci #5s and sometimes #4 for the second shot. Even with a good solid hit where the bird fell from the sky appearing to be dead in the air, the bird would not be dead. If not for the retrieval by the dog we would have lost several birds.
Don't waste your money on #7s. I would not shoot anything smaller than #6 and favor heavier shot. Do yourself a favor and spend a couple of nights at the Trap & Skeet range. It will most certainly help. Good luck and good hunting,post some photos when you return.   |
RE: phesant load
ORIGINAL: Crazy Horse RVN "JTM612" please excuse my initial sarcastic reply. I just recently returned from North Dakota. I was using two 20ga guns. On the first day I was choked IC/F. On the second day I changed to M/F. Even with my French Britt the shots were on the long side. I was using Fiocci #5s and sometimes #4 for the second shot. Even with a good solid hit where the bird fell from the sky appearing to be dead in the air, the bird would not be dead. If not for the retrieval by the dog we would have lost several birds. Don't waste your money on #7s. I would not shoot anything smaller than #6 and favor heavier shot. Do yourself a favor and spend a couple of nights at the Trap & Skeet range. It will most certainly help. Good luck and good hunting,post some photos when you return.
i use no.5 HIGH BRASS,2 and 3/4 inch in my beretta uricka field 12g..i use mod choke and if birds flush real far out, full choke.. i carry 2 chokes with me, M/F..as the brush gets thinner and things die off i notice that my dog hunts farther out from me also..usually he hunts 20 yards, now its around 30..i think he feels he can see me farther out so he hunts farther out.. this causes LONG shots..also as you all know, they run a lot..real nice pictures, i like seeing them also..i dont know if i can ever get to hunt out there,but pictures make me feel, i am there.. |
RE: phesant load
ORIGINAL: Crazy Horse RVN I think you wasted your money on those shells. You should invest in a 10 gauge semi-auto with a 3 1/2 inch shell that would carry a 2 oz+ payload. That kind of gun has an added plus, it helps to build muscle. Keep in mind that a 20 gauge 2 3/4 shell travels at the same verlocity, has less recoil and the gun weighs one hell of a lot less. The key to killing birds with a shotgun is ...practice, practice, practice. Caldoc |
RE: phesant load
Shell choice should be made on what the shooter's abilities are and what they have confidence in. Everyone's hunting situation and ability is differerent and what is good for one might not be right for another.
For most shooters in a 12 ga. 1 1/8 -1 1/4 oz or 6 or 5's going between 1250-1375 fps should do the trick. The majority of hunters are extremely poor judges of distance and take shots beyond what they should alot of times. Michael McIntosh a retired writer for Shooting Sportsman and published author once wrote " I'm glad a few thousand pheasant over the years didn't know an once of 7 1/2's wasn't enough to kill them" |
RE: phesant load
For released pheasants this weekend I used 2 3/4" Fiocchi Golden Pheasants of 1 3/8 oz #6; choked at IC. In the other barrel I had 3" number 4 steel shot. Others in my group were using 3" Fiocchis. I shot the bag limit and only used the second barrel once (on a miss). Your results may differ.
Since I was carrying my 12 gauge, I wanted the birds to be rendered dead but edible. In addition, I sure didn't want anyone to accuse me of sky bustin'. |
RE: phesant load
I have been hunting for at least a decade with 20 ga. using 3" #6's or 5's copper plated. They have worked wonderfully...I get the lightness and ease of handeling with my 20ga with a 12 ga. payload. The copperplated stuff although more pricey penetrates better than lead and give me many more good kills. I use mostly Winchester and Federal stuff.
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RE: phesant load
You guys might think this is strange butI use #5 shot 2 3/4 or 3 inch 12 gauge shells all year long becauseI have lost many birds due to them getting wounded and running away. I am now scared to lose them and so I use Fiocchi and other top quality brands. I have not lost a bird yet this year. The meat gets shot up more butI would rather havethis than a lost bird any day. I have a skeet choke in my gun. It's my only choke and is quite adequate. By the way my fear of losing birds has caused me to run to downed birds and shoot the runners. Anyways, yes,I think that the load is quite adequateand should kill the birds.
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RE: phesant load
Depends on time of hunting season. How far out the birds are flying in front of you.
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RE: phesant load
Seems a bit much to me. I like 7 1/2's at about 1300 ft per second. If there is heavy wind, I would go to a 5 or 6. All 2 3/4 in shells.
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RE: phesant load
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. |
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. 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.. |
RE: phesant load
i shoot 2 3/4" 6 shot remington long range express loads. they knock them down for me.
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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. |
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? |
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.
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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. what choke do you use on 391 that gets best pattern?? |
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. |
RE: phesant load
I shoot a carlson light modified in my 391 for these late season birds that seem to fly a little further out. Earlier on the IC is the only ticket. Both pattern well as long as I don't try to press it.
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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
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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
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