Pheasant Loads

Best Shells for Pheasant?

Fiocchi Golden Pheasant
22
27%
Federal Premium Prairie Storm
18
22%
Kent Ultimate Fast Lead
4
5%
Winchester Super X High Brass
14
17%
Remington Nitro
7
8%
Other
18
22%
 
Total votes: 83

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roaniecowpony
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Re: Pheasant Loads

Post by roaniecowpony » Fri Apr 12, 2013 9:32 am

I'm shooting mostly 410 these days, even at wild pheasant. I use either Federal 11/16 oz game loads or Winchester Super X for 410.

But in looking in my gun drawers and cabinets, you'll find Fiocci Golden Pheasant in 20 and 28 ga, Eley in 20 ga, Remington Nitro Pheasant in 20 ga, and random brands in 12 ga (which get little use these past few years)

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roaniecowpony
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Re: Pheasant Loads

Post by roaniecowpony » Fri Apr 12, 2013 9:53 am

Just my experience on pheasant in cold or long shots, but shot size and pattern density at the distance of the target are what I pay attention to. ...And I'm shooting mostly 410, sometimes 28ga, and every so often, 20 ga. With the 410 it's always a balancing act of larger shot size for penetration vs smaller for pattern density and choke tossed in for more confusion. The same holds true for all gauges, it just gets more pronounced as the gauge/payload gets smaller. I just haven't had good luck with shot size smaller than American #6 (Euro shot is about one size smaller 5 = 6 etc.) at distances I've encountered over my Lab. Frankly, I prefer #5 in most gauges I shoot for SD or KS roosters. I've found a lot of 7 1/2 shot in birds I've cleaned that didn't penetrate well. So, I use #6 and larger on pheasant.

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Springer
Rank: Senior Hunter
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Location: North Dakota

Re: Pheasant Loads

Post by Springer » Fri Apr 12, 2013 8:09 pm

cjhills wrote:2 steel in whatever brand is handy. don't have to change when hunting water fowl areas. Don't fill the prairies full of lead. Cj
That is typically what I shoot. You never know when a flock of mallards will be sitting in that pond in the middle of the crp field.
Kevin

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roaniecowpony
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Re: Pheasant Loads

Post by roaniecowpony » Sat Jul 27, 2013 6:16 am

Now that Tom Knapp is dead, those guys that find 40-50 yard shots easy, should be dominating the competition and exhibition circuits.

fishvik
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Re: Pheasant Loads

Post by fishvik » Mon Jul 29, 2013 7:46 am

12 ga. 1 1/4 oz. #5 shot reloads at 1250 fps. or 1 1/8 oz. #6 shot reloads at 1250 fps. 20 ga. 1 oz #5 Remington Pheasant loads.

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