Prefered shotgun loads for different game???

[gcrank1]

All by hand and very basic. One thing I discovered quickly is that wads and such should slide in pretty freely or it bulges the plastic case to make chambering difficult or impossible. a stiff card wad on top and ring of hot wax to seal and its done. If I had the right thing to do roll or star crimps I guess I would go that way; just dancin' with who I brung.
For the common 12 and 20 if I can buy factory for $5/bx I figure why reload.

[Rummer]

My bird experience is limited to pen raised birds. First time out I was really concerned about cripples, so I used 12GA, 1.5oz, #6 shot @ 1420.  Needless to say there were no cripples.  I really like the 20 ga shooting 1 oz of #6 @ 1250.  When I hit the birds, they just folded up & died.  Because the gun is lighter & kicks less I think the 20 gets the nod from here on out, especially for the pen raised birds I am likely to shoot in the forseeable future.

[Couger]

Rummer, what "bird" are you shooting?

1-ounce of #6's isn't too big even for pen raised pheasants or chukars,
but a 1-ounce load of #7 1/2's at @1220fps could be the cat's meow too.   


By the way, after blasting those first birds with that 12 gauge load at 1420fps, was there much left to eat?   

[Rummer]

The birds were pheasants & chukars. 

We were on a guided hunt on a preserve so the dog would retrieve the bird and the guide would carry it.  It was hard to tell who shot what bird.  But when we skinned all the birds later, none were tore up.  I was surprised by that.

I only fired my 1st barrel, choked IC, so the larger pattern may have caused fewer pellets to hit the birds.

You say 7.5's? Might try that next fall.  Does the increase in # of pellets tear up the birds?

[Couger]

oops - double

[Couger]

Actually Rummer,  I'm gonna back off and say "anyone" should shoot whatever works best in their scattergun, that they are happy/most confident with!

Was looking at a reloading manual that reminded me of some things, and lots to be said for #6's but also 7 1/2's, or visa versa.

I like them both, but would choose the larger pellet myself in a 20ga (or even 28 gauge) if tweeking the correct choke tube gave the right kind of pattern (in my gun).  I already know for upland loads1220-1250 feet-per-second is all the VELOCITY I generally need,  if I can get my shotgun to print consistent even patterns, at NORMAL RANGES.

I didn't always believe that, but I remembered I made one of my all-time great shots with a load of 'sixes.'  Maybe i can elaborate on that later, but best thing I can tell anyone is to take the time and test-pattern what loads they want to use IN THEIR gun, and then choose what they think they'll be happiest with. 

Also keeping a hunting log and record of what works too (shots fired under wharever conditions, and then game taken) could help indicate successful trends to be followed as well.