texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed, Trappernewt, casyoo
71987 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,416
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,769
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics536,999
Posts9,719,315
Members86,987
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds #5294524 09/08/14 03:59 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,773
G
Gone to Texas Offline OP
Veteran Tracker
OP Offline
Veteran Tracker
G
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,773
Last Monday for the opener I bought a case of Remington 2 3/4 1 1/4 oz loads in #8 shot. For whatever reason, just about ever bird I shot was wounded and not stone dead. I even had 1 that I shot, it helicoptered down, hit the ground, then as I was walking over to it, the bird got up and flew away like nothing happened.

Now, I am not the best shot around, I don't even claim to be, but has anyone had similar results with this ammo? I was using an Imp. Cly. choke.

This weekend I went out with a Mod. Choke and Estate 2 3/4 1 oz #7.5 loads and the doves were dropping dead as a door nail, only had 1 wounded out of 15 birds.

Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: Gone to Texas] #5294556 09/08/14 04:12 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,850
M
Merican Duck Hunter Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
M
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,850
Same thing happened to me opening day, in fact I was just talking to a buddy about that the other day. My guess, we were just missing, plain and simple!


Arise.Kill.Eat -Acts 10:13
Originally Posted by Nathan Nelson
I have read a bunch of stuff on the internet about Star Wars but that does not mean I can skin a deer with a light saber.
Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: Gone to Texas] #5294584 09/08/14 04:23 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
kmon11 Online Shocked
junior
Online Shocked
junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
Pattern your loads, is the only way to know what they are doing for sure. Have seen some that had holes a bird could be missed in the center of the pattern.


lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: Gone to Texas] #5294587 09/08/14 04:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 283
T
tinkerbell Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
T
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 283
In scenario #2 you tightened your pattern, and used a very slightly heavier shot which should carry more energy for deeper penetration. However, shot punching through doves usually isn't an issue.

All shotgunning is about putting pellets in the target, and if you were only putting 1 possibly 2 pellets in during scenario #1 that could be the problem, or putting 2-4 pellets in using scenario 2 could be enough of a difference.

Lastly, you were shooting 2 different loads, shot sizes, brands of ammo, and different chokes. Leading I would guess to vary different pattern densities coming out of your gun. So it's hard to compare.

Solution, buy a few boxes and varieties of ammo test which one gives you the best pattern for your dove load with your usual hunting ranges and chokes. Stick with the best one,and then you know if you miss or wound lots of birds it's you and not the ammunition!


A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.
Theodore Roosevelt
Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: tinkerbell] #5294608 09/08/14 04:32 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,355
T
TXGH Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
T
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,355
Originally Posted By: tinkerbell
In scenario #2 you tightened your pattern, and used a very slightly heavier shot which should carry more energy for deeper penetration. However, shot punching through doves usually isn't an issue.

All shotgunning is about putting pellets in the target, and if you were only putting 1 possibly 2 pellets in during scenario #1 that could be the problem, or putting 2-4 pellets in using scenario 2 could be enough of a difference.

Lastly, you were shooting 2 different loads, shot sizes, brands of ammo, and different chokes. Leading I would guess to vary different pattern densities coming out of your gun. So it's hard to compare.

Solution, buy a few boxes and varieties of ammo test which one gives you the best pattern for your dove load with your usual hunting ranges and chokes. Stick with the best one,and then you know if you miss or wound lots of birds it's you and not the ammunition!


clap


Joseph Trousdale
Host Texas Game Hunters TV
TXGameHunters.com

www.TXgamehunters.com
Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: Gone to Texas] #5294618 09/08/14 04:40 PM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,570
M
Marcstar Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
M
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,570
According to all old-stuck-in-the-past duck hunters lead shot brings down all birds stone cold dead so this thread is a hoax.

Nah...kidding of course...typically when I don't kill a bird dead it's because I made a shot just good enough to get a few pellets in it...it was not a great shot or it was from too far away.

I think what Tinker says is a given...you should go through the paces and see what your choke and load of choice looks like on paper. I'd just take a few scraps of cardboard out on your next hunt and shoot them from the distance you feel you should be shooting ideal shots from and see what they look like.


Originally Posted By: wal1809
Dear Lord please bullwhip me for saying this but I agree, Marcstar is in the lead. Please nobody use this as a quote!!!
Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: Gone to Texas] #5294622 09/08/14 04:42 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 227
A
Aggiedukmaster Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
A
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 227
I always shot those Remington Shells and I had the Same Problem a few years ago, I switched over to Mod. Choke and Use same shells but in #7.5 shot and Problem Solved!!!!!

SK


"ALWAYS BE YOURSELF: BECAUSE THOSE WHO MATTER DON'T MIND, AND THOSE WHO MIND...................DON'T MATTER"
Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: tinkerbell] #5294636 09/08/14 04:54 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,594
F
First_Chance Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
F
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,594
Originally Posted By: tinkerbell
In scenario #2 you tightened your pattern, and used a very slightly heavier shot which should carry more energy for deeper penetration. However, shot punching through doves usually isn't an issue.

All shotgunning is about putting pellets in the target, and if you were only putting 1 possibly 2 pellets in during scenario #1 that could be the problem, or putting 2-4 pellets in using scenario 2 could be enough of a difference.

Lastly, you were shooting 2 different loads, shot sizes, brands of ammo, and different chokes. Leading I would guess to vary different pattern densities coming out of your gun. So it's hard to compare.

Solution, buy a few boxes and varieties of ammo test which one gives you the best pattern for your dove load with your usual hunting ranges and chokes. Stick with the best one,and then you know if you miss or wound lots of birds it's you and not the ammunition!


I'll add another little caveat on to this scenario. When he changed the amount of shot 1-1/4 oz vs. 1 oz. he most likely increased the speed of the shot-string by up to as much 200-250 fps. This, in conjunction with heavier shot density and tighter pattern can have a huge impact on bringing birds down. Plus, the leads you are giving the birds might be more suited to faster loads, i.e. getting the shot-string out in front of the birds quicker so you have more margin for error on the pattern.


[Linked Image]
Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: TXGH] #5294689 09/08/14 05:16 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 627
3
3 shots 1 kill. Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
3
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 627
Originally Posted By: jtprocaddie
Originally Posted By: tinkerbell
In scenario #2 you tightened your pattern, and used a very slightly heavier shot which should carry more energy for deeper penetration. However, shot punching through doves usually isn't an issue.

All shotgunning is about putting pellets in the target, and if you were only putting 1 possibly 2 pellets in during scenario #1 that could be the problem, or putting 2-4 pellets in using scenario 2 could be enough of a difference.

Lastly, you were shooting 2 different loads, shot sizes, brands of ammo, and different chokes. Leading I would guess to vary different pattern densities coming out of your gun. So it's hard to compare.

Solution, buy a few boxes and varieties of ammo test which one gives you the best pattern for your dove load with your usual hunting ranges and chokes. Stick with the best one,and then you know if you miss or wound lots of birds it's you and not the ammunition!


clap


cheers

Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: Gone to Texas] #5295126 09/08/14 08:38 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,773
G
Gone to Texas Offline OP
Veteran Tracker
OP Offline
Veteran Tracker
G
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,773
Thanks for the info! Sounds like I need to pattern my shotgun!

Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: Gone to Texas] #5295812 09/09/14 02:44 AM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 199
S
SaltyDawg88 Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
S
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 199
Opening Day I was shooting #8's also and was wounding birds, after half a box I switched to the #7.5's and birds have been falling ever since! It does not seem like a lot of difference, but I can verify for me that I knock down a lot more birds with my 1&1/8oz of #7.5 shot. I just had to burn up those #8's and I will never buy anything other than the #7.5's again.


Hunting with family and friends is the only way to live.
Who have you lived with lately?
www.GrangerGang.com
Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: Gone to Texas] #5295963 09/09/14 04:04 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,278
F
Fooshman Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
F
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,278
Butt shooting.


[Linked Image]

Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: Gone to Texas] #5296066 09/09/14 10:49 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
W
wal1809 Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
W
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
I am not a fan of a #8 pellet. 7.5 is where i draw the line.

Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: Gone to Texas] #5296258 09/09/14 01:19 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 74
R
rcxdm40 Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
R
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 74
I went to a rio high brass #6 load and it flat out kills them no more wounded birds.

Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: Gone to Texas] #5296735 09/09/14 05:30 PM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 903
E
Erich Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
E
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 903
shot size is directly related to energy and penetration at distance.....

#8 shot..while acceptable for dove....is relatively small. unless you're dove are pretty close and well within acceptable shotgun distance, you'll find that the #8 BBs lack the energy to penetrate very deeply.

I like to shoot a mod choke with #7.5 in most instances. for moderate distance dove...this will normally knock them flat. for up close dove on really good fields....an IPC choke with #8 or even #9 can be good. this will be in-effective at any sort of distance though.

I've hunted public fields where there were lots of white-wing flying up high, real high...mod chokes and 7 shot won't reach them. but full or xtrafull chokes with #6 shot will. the heavier shot carries distance better. at the far reaches of effective shotgun range....the pattern will be pretty spread out. you will likely only hit your bird with one maybe two pellets. the larger #6 bb will bring them down. at shorter distances the #6 will turn them into hamburger meat.

a pump action shotgun is the single most versatile weapon on the planet. look at your hunting situation and match accordingly.

I've hunted everything from dove/duck/quail/deer/hog/etc....all with a Remington 870 pump 12ga

everything from #9 shot to 000 buck to rifled slugs all thrown down the same mod choke barrel.


Outdoorsman
Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: Gone to Texas] #5296751 09/09/14 05:36 PM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 903
E
Erich Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
E
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 903
also...in dove loads.....for a 20ga...the standard shot charge is 7/8 oz shot and max a 1oz...don't buy ammo that advertises less. you might be saving a little money...but you're putting fewer pellets in the air meaning lesser pattern density and more misses. these loads also will not cycle well in autos.

for a 12ga....standard load is 1-1/8oz or max of 1-1/2oz shot. don't buy less for the same reasons above. you will see lots of 12ga with 7/8oz shot loads. these are cheap. they go bang....and I don't care to be on the business end of one. but they are generally much less effective.


Outdoorsman
Re: Dove Ammo and Wounded Birds [Re: Gone to Texas] #5297052 09/09/14 08:19 PM
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 175
A
ancuegar Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
A
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 175
i agree on the choke situation. i had the same problem in mow O/U with imp cyl and a modified choke and heavy dove loads. lots of wounded birds. now in my citori i have 2 modified chokes and heavy dove loads. works wonders on birds!

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3