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Pheasant Shot Size Question #5544690 01/15/15 05:30 PM
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FamousAmos Offline OP
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Will hunt a preserve next week. Plan to hunt with a 20 gauge over and under.

What shot size would your recommend? I think 6's. Too small?


“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
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Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5544726 01/15/15 05:43 PM
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#6 is perfect for a preserve hunt.

Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5544735 01/15/15 05:47 PM
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6's work, have killed a bunch of preserve birds with 7.5's as well.


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Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5544790 01/15/15 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted By: FamousAmos
Will hunt a preserve next week. Plan to hunt with a 20 gauge over and under.

What shot size would your recommend? I think 6's. Too small?


Works Perfect, I use high brass 7's a lot also


Don't shoot them point plank let them get a little space


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Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5544835 01/15/15 06:24 PM
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stinkbelly Online Content
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#6 over close dogs is excellent in 20.

Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5545033 01/15/15 08:17 PM
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Shootem' in the head so you don't ruin the meat!

Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5545287 01/15/15 10:29 PM
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either 6 or 7 1/2 low brass.

Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5545320 01/15/15 10:46 PM
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I'd go light loads on pen raised birds.


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Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5545578 01/16/15 12:28 AM
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IMO pheasants are nice size birds pin raised or wild I would use #5s no smaller
Fiocchi gold GPX #5s is all I use

Last edited by rdh1; 01/16/15 12:30 AM.

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Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: rdh1] #5547670 01/17/15 02:11 AM
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Originally Posted By: rdh1
IMO pheasants are nice size birds pin raised or wild I would use #5s no smaller
Fiocchi gold GPX #5s is all I use


Agreed. I have always used the Fiocchi golden pheasant load #5's (with that neat looking pheasant on the box) hunting wild birds. Have never hunted pen raised birds but don't see how that makes much of a difference. A friend of mine, long time pheasant hunter, thinks that with a dog there is less concern of shot size, but without a dog you want to drop em down so they are less prone to wounding and running away and hiding.

Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5547730 01/17/15 02:43 AM
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I've shot a lot of both preserve and wild pheasants, by this time of the year their feathers are fully mature and dense, making them a little tougher to kill. I would go with 6 shot for preserve birds shot over dogs inside of 30 yds. Early season 7 1/2 would work as well. Late season wild birds, where shots will be 35 to 45 yards, number 5 shot really comes into it's own.


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Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: ALM TXhunter] #5548000 01/17/15 01:04 PM
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Originally Posted By: ALM TXhunter
Originally Posted By: rdh1
IMO pheasants are nice size birds pin raised or wild I would use #5s no smaller
Fiocchi gold GPX #5s is all I use


Agreed. I have always used the Fiocchi golden pheasant load #5's (with that neat looking pheasant on the box) hunting wild birds. Have never hunted pen raised birds but don't see how that makes much of a difference. A friend of mine, long time pheasant hunter, thinks that with a dog there is less concern of shot size, but without a dog you want to drop em down so they are less prone to wounding and running away and hiding.


I prefer #4'S MYSELF,but we hunt Iowa and South Dakota...

Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5548091 01/17/15 02:27 PM
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I have harvested a ton of preserve birds with the Rio high brass, heavy load 7.5s. It surprised even me. I would probably suggest the 6 shot if it is mostly pheasants though.

Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5549430 01/18/15 01:46 PM
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7.5s will work just fine.

If these birds were getting up 50 yards ahead of you, I'd say 6s with a tighter choke.
Typically if hunting over dogs they are going to flush within a few yards of you. 20 gauge 7.5s will kill them all day long.
I used my 28 gauge last year in Kansas. Worked great.

If it will cut a tree in two, it'll kill a chicken.
No real need to pay big dough for fancy ammo.


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Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5566483 01/27/15 03:28 AM
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I normally use 6s in sd. But I used a 28ga with number 8s on a preserve hunt. Worked fine but I would have used bigger shot if doing it again.

Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5566530 01/27/15 03:50 AM
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I like fiocci I golden pheasant 5s on wild birds.

Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5582397 02/04/15 08:34 PM
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If you are shooting pointed birds 7.5 or 6 will work. Driven 6 or less.

Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5582465 02/04/15 09:09 PM
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I have been on several charity pheasant hunts where I wish I had brought 00 buck/30" barrel gun/extra full choke. People were shooting at birds that were 120 yards out and my closest shots opportunities were at 70 yards, lol. Normal walk up/point preserve hunts, 7.5's will do fine. I would still go with #5's because it is easier finding all the shot pellets while cleaning, rather than while eating!

Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5590673 02/09/15 05:47 PM
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You should ask your preserve folks - some have shot size limits. 7.5 is fine for released/pen birds.


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Re: Pheasant Shot Size Question [Re: FamousAmos] #5603253 02/17/15 01:47 AM
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Hunt Kansas yearly since 1995 and 5's high brass is the standard for those I hunt with and they have hunted there all their lives

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