pheasant loads

[upland-o]

What do you all shoot for your pheasant hunting? I used to shoot Fiochi but something about them just isnt doing it for me, I cant quite put my finger on it but im not happy with the round. It seems to me that im just not putting as many birds down as I have with other ammo and I genuinly feel like im shooting the same as I was when I was using other rounds. I shoot the golden pheasant 20 guage 2 3/4 1oz size 5&6.Im thinking about switching to winchester supreme 2 3/4 1 1/8 oz #6

[tfbirddog2]

I use Kents 5's to 6's no problems full knockdown power.

[vols fan]

20 guage .i shoot winchester6's on bottom, 5's on top. this is of course over dogs.

[Michael Jobe]

What do you all shoot for your pheasant hunting? I used to shoot Fiochi but something about them just isnt doing it for me, I cant quite put my finger on it but im not happy with the round.

I recently patterned Fiocchi's Golden Pheasant 16 ga load (1 1/8 oz #5) in my Ithaca 37 (Full choke). Pattern was absolutely worthless at 40 yards. Remington loads of 1 1/8 oz of #6 and #4 looked okay, though it was getting pretty thin with #4 at that distance, and I wouldn't be 100% confident in either load. Of course when I patterned at 20 yards, any load, 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz, would absolutely destroy a bird. :roll:

If you don't feel good about the Fiocchi's, dump 'em and get a 20 ga load you trust.

~Michael

[Englishsetterhunter]

i use federal lead five and sixes

[NE Vizsla]

Federal copper plated 6's and remington 8's ..depends on the situation. I had a box of that brand your taling about in the 12 gauge and i did not like them at all. For some reason i had problems with them cycling through my 1187..they would jam..i gave the rest of the box away, never have had problems with the Federal's or light Remington's.

[nj gsp]

I've settled on Winchester #6"s in the high brass hull for everything. They pattern best out of my 16ga. Although I've been shooting open chokes, last fall I started using the Fiocchi #5's for the second shot, but have found the need for the second shot hasn't arisen that often with the Winchesters. The Fiocchi's don't put out that great a pattern for me.

I also use the Federal Game-Shok in #7-1/2 for training and for quail.

All this aside, every gun is different so I would suggest buying a few boxes of different brands & types and patterning your gun. Let your gun tell you what will work best, not just other people.

[brdhntr]

For factory I like the 2 3/4 Winchester super X in 5's or 6's. 1 1/4 oz. pheasants forever load. When I hand load I like the Federal gold metal hull with Longshot powder, also loaded with 1 1/4 oz 5's and 6's.

[SouthDakotaBound]

I might have to go with Kents myself, I use them in my duck blind and I trust them, they are super fast, and can knock down anything.

[thunderhead]

You may switch loads and not see any improvement in the performance. If you think it may not be patterning well then you should see how it looks on paper. When you try a different load you can then truly see if you are getting a better pattern. You could also try a different choke too.

[Addict]

If I have to buy shells it's got to be the Fedral or Winchester pheasant loads going 1330 fps in #4's. I reload most of my shells and they mimic the Winchester commercial load very closely with pattern and velocity.

Addict

[Razor]

Winchester XX 4's they don't get away.

[muddycreek]

I would pattern loads till you find one that works, then stick with it. I have found the Fiocchi's work very well for me, but some others do not. I have friends that buy whatever is on sale, and always have a "Heinz 57" in their vest, diff shot sizes, velocity, etc... I for one need all the help I can get, so #5 Fiocchi Golden Phez from start to finish.

[Greg Jennings]

Am loading up for the Oct trip to ND now. All 2-3/4" 12 ga.

1. WW XX 1-1/2 oz copper plated 5
2. WW Super X 1-1/4 copper plated 6
3. Handload 1-1/4 oz lead 6. 1440 fps using Hodgdon Longshot
4. Handload 1-3/8 oz copper plated 5. 1385 fps using Hodgdon Longshot

I have a lot more than I need. I like to play with loads and I'm teaching my son about handloading. It's time that I cherised with my dad and I'm trying to pass it on.

I may also load some nickle plated 7s (not 7-1/2, 7) just for the fun of it.

Greg J.

[tdhusker]

Am loading up for the Oct trip to ND now. All 2-3/4" 12 ga.

1. WW XX 1-1/2 oz copper plated 5
2. WW Super X 1-1/4 copper plated 6
3. Handload 1-1/4 oz lead 6. 1440 fps using Hodgdon Longshot
4. Handload 1-3/8 oz copper plated 5. 1385 fps using Hodgdon Longshot

I have a lot more than I need. I like to play with loads and I'm teaching my son about handloading. It's time that I cherised with my dad and I'm trying to pass it on.

I may also load some nickle plated 7s (not 7-1/2, 7) just for the fun of it.

Greg J.

The Longshot loads are just awesome. I started loading some a few years ago and still cannot believe the knockdown, stone dead kills you get on Pheasants. My favorite Longshot load is with Fed Gold Medal hulls and 1 1/8 oz of #6 thru an imp cyl choke, max powder on the chart. They kill like no other on early season pheasants and the range is hard to believe with 1 1/8 oz loads.

Later in the season when the birds are sporting heavier feather and down, I load 1 1/4 oz of 5's or 4's.

[Greg Jennings]

I may also load some nickle plated 7s (not 7-1/2, 7) just for the fun of it.

Chickened out on the 7's. Got nickel-plated 6's. WW209 primer, 33 gr Longshot, AA hull, Rem SP1 wad, 1-1/4 oz nickel plated 6's. 1440 fps. Can't wait to see what it does on the chinese ditch parrots.

[prairiefirepointers]

I've seen many a Kansas ringneck get swatted like it was hit by a tennis racket and keep on flying.. So I would rather be thorough than cripple birds. I use Fiocchi Golden Pheasant 5's in a 3" mag. Drops em like a bad habit.

[nj gsp]

I've seen many a Kansas ringneck get swatted like it was hit by a tennis racket and keep on flying.. So I would rather be thorough than cripple birds. I use Fiocchi Golden Pheasant 5's in a 3" mag. Drops em like a bad habit.

One time I hit a rooster here in NJ with #4's, knocked it three feet sideways in a big cloud of feathers, and it still flew about 300 yards before dropping like a rock. That was one long retrieve!

[Greg Jennings]

I may also load some nickle plated 7s (not 7-1/2, 7) just for the fun of it.

Chickened out on the 7's. Got nickel-plated 6's. WW209 primer, 33 gr Longshot, AA hull, Rem SP1 wad, 1-1/4 oz nickel plated 6's. 1440 fps. Can't wait to see what it does on the chinese ditch parrots.

Three of us shot the 1-1/4 6's at 1440 and 1-3/8's copper 5's at 13-something. We all liked the 5's better. Lots of wild flushes and heavy wind. That's all I'm going to load next year.

Greg J.

[thunderhead]

I like to use high velocity 5's in either nickel or copper plated. 5's will give more pattern density than 4's and more penetration than 6's. There really is no best pheasant load. You will have to use a choke that is appropriate for most of the range of shots you will encounter. You may start off the day with an open choke and find that the birds are flushing further out so you may have to change chokes. I carry my chokes in my vest so I can switch out when I need to. Shot your loads on paper and if it looks good go with it, otherwise try a different load. When you find something you like stick with it.

[BigShooter]

I don't pattern much anymore. I mostly use a Beretta 391 in 20 ga. except for Dec. birds when I use a 12 ga. I start with 6's in Oct, move to 5's in Nov. and use 4s or even 2s in Dec. or early Jan. If it's really windy I'll move down a shot size. The birds seem to fold just as well to Estate, Winchester, Federal or Fiocchi shells. It's easy to get spoiled with a nice pointing dog.

My brother knows a guy that says to shoot each bird three times, once in the air, once on the way down and once on the ground. That way you eliminate any cripples.

[jeogsp]

Winchester Super X super pheasant copper plated 1 3/8 oz. # 5's do the trick for me.

[Bird Dog 67]

Winchester Super X super pheasant copper plated 1 3/8 oz. # 5's do the trick for me.

They used to do the trick for me too until the prices went absolutely ridiculously through the roof! Great loads though.

[gonehunting4days]

I read an article ast year about pheasant loads and as far as the article went ,they recomended # 2 steel in a 3 inch magnum for less cripples and more dead birds. I tried it and it did real well I did not have as many cripples. This year I bought a case of Federal #3 in a 3 1/2" Mag for ducks and have been pretty happy so I tried it also on pheasant and I am happy with results.

[muddycreek]

Pheasants are tough birds, but 3 and 3.5 inch are way overkill IMO. I'd hate to see what happens when the dog points a covey of quail with those things in, ouch!

[gonehunting4days]

I don't have to worry about quail in MN, and I just let em get out there a little more before I shoot.

[Muskmelon]

Federal Premium (Pheasants Forever) in #4,5 or 6. Copper plated shot at 1500 FPS and you will have very few cripples. Speed kills!

[smackerquacker]

I shoot the same thing muskmelon, Federal copper plated 4,5 or 6 the PF box and am very happy with them. My SBE loves em. Don't show up to hunt with me with some low brass 7.5s. My poor dogs will be chasing your cripples all day long.