shot size recommendations

[rvtrav]

  Hello to all,

  I am going to take a friend who hasn't hunted much to a pheasant preserve to hunt pheasants. in the past I have always used #6 shot and 11/4oz (12) or 1oz (20) loads, a mutual friend suggested just a target load of #7 1/2's even just 1 oz loads  would work fine for preserve birds.

   There may be a rule to using steel shot at the preserve too, so I am concerned about what loads or shot sizes to take.

  What all does everyone here use for pheasants and what recommendations would you care to share?
 Especially for a steel shot load? typically I use #3 or #4 for ducks in steel, but I would prefer not to ruin good pheasants for the table. Any opinions please?

  Thanks, Rvtrav

   

[RBishop]

6 should be fine.

[coyotejoe]

Assuming we're talking lead shot.
  I always used #6 as a kid just because that is what dad used. But you really can't discuss shot size without considering the gun and choke. You need two things to cleanly kill birds, enough pattern density to assure hitting the bird with several pellets and each pellet must have enough penetration to break bones and reach vitals. One or the other is not good enough, you need both. Number 5 shot has enough penetration to drop pheasants at 50 yards but if you're shooting less than 1 1/4 ounces from a full choke you will not have the pattern density to reach 50 yards with reliable results. Number 6 shot will penetrate well at 40 yards and one ounce from a full choke or 1 1/4 from modified choke should also deliver sufficient pattern density. Number 7 1/2 (why don't they make 7s) is deadly a bit past 30 yards and will deliver nice patterns from an improved cylinder with a one ounce load. Never even bother with shot larger than #6 from a .410 and #7 1/2 is better for most purposes in the .410. Number 4 shot has the penetration well past 60 yards but is pointless if the pattern becomes too thin at 30. It is likewise pointless to pepper a bird with a dozen number 8s at 50 yards where they will just rattle off the feathers.
 To really KNOW what is best in your individual gun you really have to shoot patterns on paper and look for any holes a bird could slip through. With all that said, my old hillbilly father was not far wrong with #6 shot and there really isn't much one can do with a bird gun that can't be done with one ounce of 6's.

[dukkillr]

Best pheasant loads:
3 3/4 dram
1 1/4 shot
First shot 6s
second and third shot 4s

You can easily kill tame pheasants with 7 1/2s but I'd still shoot 6s.  I used to shoot a charity deal every year that put on a "european" pheasant hunt.  It was hundreds of tame pheasants launched out of a tower.  Hunters were spread out more than a mile around the tower.  Lots of the shots, particularly down wind, were high shots that you wouldn't dream of taking with 7 1/2s on a real pheasant, but those tame birds are just not very tough.  For that shoot Federal provided their copper plated 1 1/4 oz 7 1/2 loads and they proved more than adequeate. 

I also put those hot 7 1/2s as my first shot when you may jump a covey of wild quail. 

[Ron T.]

I've always used #6 on wild pheasants, but I suppose 7½'s would be ok for pen-raised pheasants.  However, if you must use steel shot, then I'd go at least one shot size LARGER for steel vs. lead or "hevi"-shot.   


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

[Nimrod71]

I have hunted wild birds and pen raised.  Number 6's will be fine for both as long as we are talking lead.  For steel I use 3 inch #2's or 2 3/4 #4's.  I really like the #2's in steel.  In a recent hunt on wild birds I killed are recovered more birds shooting the steel than with the lead 6's.

[SHOOTIST TOO]

Pen birds I use 6,s but I have been going to South Dakato for 7 years now and use mostly 4,s. the are tougher and some of the shots are long.

[bilmac]

I did a lot of pattern testing with steel handloads. I was told that 4s made horrible patterns so I never messed with them. I started with #3s and they were alright and I killed a lot of mallards with them. Then I couldn't buy 3 shot one time so I bought a bag of 2s. Lo and behold when I patterned them, I was getting as many pellets in my circle with them as I had been #3s, so I started loading them and never looked back.

[Mohawk]

  Pheasants, #4 lead

[jbmi]

I've been hunting those darn birds for 50 years now and still don't know what # shot works the best. 
But after using everything from 7 1/2's to 4's I've settled on #5's.  (lead)
Now this is for wild birds that spook a few yards out, for tight sitting birds or early season birds that take off at your boot tips, back off to #6's.
Also adjust your choke to the shooting conditions, Mod. is a good all around choke, but I switch to Full for late season birds.