Best 2 3/4" 20 guage load

[redman25]

I have an old Winchester 1400 20 guage Imp Cyl. Looking for suggestions for a good load to shoot through it for ruffs and also some quail. I almost exclusively shoot 12 guage, but I would like to shoot the 20 over my new pup for a while first.

[Oldfarmer]

There is no best shell for every gun. Each gun handles shell differently. You need to shoot some paper and see which one your Winchester handles best. It may not be most expensive or highest power ones. What you don't want is something that has holes in the pattern it throws.

[yetinme]

My best luck has been with reloading and experimenting.

[redman25]

Good enough. I'll buy a few boxes and do some paper shooting.... Thanks

[JMc]

I've shot them all and it probably is best to pattern your gun; however, I am having more "kills" with the Fiocchi Golden Pheasant loads. I have shot both the 2 3/4 and 3 and do not find an advantage with the 3. Good luck!

[Mollyontherun]

Last month I hunted wild Phez. with my 20 g. Auto with Modified Choke.

I usually use 3" but decided to go with a standard 2 3/4 Remmington Phez. Load # 4.

I was very satisfied. I put down three birds.... one shot over the dog. Doubled on two who flushed flying away at right to left at a distance of 20 to 30 yds.

Best Wishes to you.

[Onk]

The most used shotgun I own is a old savage 20ga. pump my dad gave me when I was like 11 I guess. I have shot tons of shells through that gun and have found that Winchester #6 shot 2 3/4 shells seem to be the best all around load for my hunting area with quail and pheasant being the local birds here. Have shot that same shell in another 20 ga. and would have been better off throws rocks. I have read on here of shells made by Kent I think it was, that are a cheaper shell that seems to work well for most everyone that has used them. The down size seems to be that they are a little more dirty shooting shell, but I plan on seeing if I can find them and putting some down on paper. I do know expensive does not make it good and cheap does not make it bad when it comes to shot shells (IMO)!

[Meller]

I've had real luck with #5's, that being said it's still best to shoot and see what your gun handle's best.
Let us in on your finding's.

[Greg Jennings]

For quail, standard Win AA skeet loads are hard to beat.

[Mountaineer]

Ruffed Grouse...Kent 1-7 1/2s

Quail...As above or any 7/8-7 1/2s

Thru IC---7 1/2s will give the most plusses.

Patterning is always a good idea for many specific purposes but for grouse and quail, all will fall to an IC choke pointed correctly...tho it may be of interest to determine pattern spread more than % or evenness of spread at the closest ranges.
But I would not waste my time putting doubt in my mind, in this case.
This from a fella who buys pattern paper by the 8" roll.
The specific shell or choke is often the most overthought and unimportant part of the shot for either critter.
Not much won't work.

[Buckeye_V]

I always try and pattern each shotgun I buy, but there are some generalities that cross all makes and models. Like size of shot and number of shot in the load. For grouse, I like to throw as many bb's in the air as possible as wide as possible. IC is OK, but I prefer the skeet or spreader chokes with 8's. I currently shoot Rio's that seem to have a bit more punch than a standard Winchester, Remington or Federal load. I buy them by the case from a group of guys that buys them by the skid for sporting clays. I have killed wild grouse, woodcock, planted quail, chukar and pheasant with them. My wife shoots them with no issues.

Good luck and have fun!