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Shot Shells
#7531122
06/10/19 04:28 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 920
TrackQuack
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 920 |
Hey Guys,
I have asked this before but didn't get much of a response. I have been hunting more and more upland over the past few years and always buy shells during off-season or big sales (I am CHEAP). Where do y'all buy your lead shells from and what shot size/FPS/OZ do you use for primarily pheasant but also quail are highly likely as well? I have generally just shot steel since i have been doing combo hunts or certain areas that require it but would like to have lead for my upland only trips when chasing pheasant.
Whenever I look, I generally find shells that are more for 2 3/4" #6 lead than i would ever spend on a non-toxic load. I am sure the market volume of steel at particular shot sizes allow better pricing but also wondering if I am looking at the wrong places/brands. Any advice is appreciated.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7531131
06/10/19 05:11 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,891
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,891 |
Your probably going to get a lot of different answers. For wild pheasant I generally use standard #6 2 3/4 Field Loads in either 12 or 20 Gauge preferably around 1300 to 1400 fps and nothing under. Not because they are cheaper than the marketed pheasant loads, but because I know that load shoots well for me in just about any brand and patterns well out of my shotguns with IC and M chokes. For the times I know a walk in unit also has waterfowl jumping opportunity like along a creek or a pond; I usually have a 2nd vest I can swap for outfitted with #6 Kent Tungsten Matrix or Bismuth again at least 1300 fps. Traveling two or more states away and the low limit on pheasant and ducks, I can splurge for a better non tox shell that shoots like lead out of the same chokes for hunting pheasant and bonus ducks in the occasional waterfowl area. If it is a quail area or dove are in season though, I will have several #7 steel in the vest. If I were a rich man, I would only shoot Tungsten Matrix for everything smaller than Geese.
Like you, I catch the off season sales and clearance Able Ammo, Rogers Sporting Goods, Bass Pro and Cabelas, Grafs and Sons, Midway USA, and anything that comes up in a search. Also I always search for Coupon codes before making an order.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7531219
06/10/19 12:12 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,415
RayB
red bone Bob
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red bone Bob
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,415 |
Because I like my 16 gauge I reload but that could be an option for you as well. Non tox components are readily available (not cheap 10# of bismuth is $140) but steel is.
There is time, and you must take it, to lay your hand on your dog's head as you walk past him lying on the floor or on his settle, time to talk with him, to remember with him, time to please him, time you can't buy back once he's gone" GBE
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7533119
06/12/19 03:24 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416 |
One ounce number 8 shot for me. I only hunt quail
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7533292
06/12/19 06:19 PM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 820
Red Pill
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 820 |
I prefer #6 for pheasant and #8 for quail. But I've taken both with #7 1/2, so that would be my compromise size. I generally shoot 1 1/8 oz because one of my guns really needs that much weight to operate reliably. So I've just settled on that and that's what I load.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7533315
06/12/19 06:33 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,415
RayB
red bone Bob
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red bone Bob
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,415 |
I like my 16 ga. for pheasants 1 oz.#5 and 7/8 oz #7 for quail out of my 20 ga. Although I have taken the 16 ga. for quail it's just the perfect split between 12 and 20. just my
Last edited by RayB; 06/12/19 06:35 PM.
There is time, and you must take it, to lay your hand on your dog's head as you walk past him lying on the floor or on his settle, time to talk with him, to remember with him, time to please him, time you can't buy back once he's gone" GBE
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7533490
06/12/19 09:46 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,832
Texan Til I Die
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,832 |
I use my 20 almost exclusively for pheasant and quail, mainly because it's lighter. Rio high brass #6 most of the time. If the quail are extra thick, I'll keep some 7.5 in one pocket of my vest and switch out when we're working singles. And yes, I've killed a couple of pheasant when I had the 7.5's loaded up.
Silver spurs and gold tequila keep me hanging on. Pretty girls and old cantinas give me shelter from the storm.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7553683
07/11/19 04:28 AM
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 64
The Olive
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 64 |
12ga 2 3/4 Monarch High Brass 1 1/4 in 6s for roosters, same shell just 7.5 for quail and doves too. My whole family only shoots the 7.5s for the entire Dove Opener. That stuff is amazing and worth the extra $2 a box. Shot my dove Opener limit on 18 shells last year, we were crushing them with that stuff heck I had two doubles on dove, probably never happen the rest of my life. We were just drinking coffee and laughing all morning about doubles...
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7553982
07/11/19 04:51 PM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,156
Smokey Bear
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,156 |
I like to load my own. Pheasant-1 1/4 oz # 5 shot. Out of a 2 3/4" 12 or a 3" 20. 1,200 fps + or - 1 1/4 oz # 4 bismuth. 2 3/4" 12. 1,300 fps for no tox. areas. Quail-1 oz # 7 1/2 shot. 2 3/4" 12 or 20. 1,200 fps + or -
Smokey Bear---Lone Star State.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7554111
07/11/19 07:13 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 474
Mundo
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 474 |
I shoot .28 7.5 shot on anything a dog points, including pheasant. I'd go to 6 or 5 for driven pheasants, but don't hunt them unless someone forces me to. Quail, and Huns get out there faster than pheasants and prairie grouse so the the load seems to be as effective for all birds. (If you hunt mostly quail you are always surprised at how grouse and pheasants need about 5-6 wingbeats to really get going.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Mundo]
#7554119
07/11/19 07:21 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,716
tigger
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,716 |
I prefer ones that have shot in them but ones I bought lateiy did not
Tigger If it isn't white it is not a birddog.
KC Lying is lying. Don't bitch about one doing it and condone another. That's called hypocrisy. _________________
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7554285
07/11/19 11:02 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,864
blanked
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,864 |
Night and day difference in bobs vs blue quail. Blue quail 1 oz of 6 shot
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: tigger]
#7554324
07/11/19 11:51 PM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,252
bobcat1
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,252 |
Bobby Barnett
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: tigger]
#7554422
07/12/19 02:27 AM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,868
Chet
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,868 |
I prefer ones that have shot in them but ones I bought lateiy did not Hang around me and stuff happens
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: blanked]
#7554760
07/12/19 05:31 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416 |
Night and day difference in bobs vs blue quail. Blue quail 1 oz of 6 shot Well articulated.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7559220
07/18/19 12:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,409
reeltexan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,409 |
It all depends on the type of shots that will be required, the cover, the distance, the style or type of hunt, even when in the season you will be hunting.
"Give me an Army of West Point graduates and I'll win a battle... Give me a handful of Texas Aggies and I'll win a war." - General Patton
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7579367
08/13/19 11:25 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,113
Flashprism
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,113 |
My daughter made a great decision and married a Kansas man. I hunt with his family in western KS and they almost to a man us 12 gauge 2 3/4 and 3" high brass # 5 shot. on quail here in texas I use 7 1/2 and 8 shot with open and modified over under chokes
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Flashprism]
#7580032
08/14/19 07:21 PM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 94
16ga
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 94 |
"almost to a man us 12 gauge 2 3/4 and 3" high brass # 5 shot"
I hunt once a year in SD with a guy that uses 12 ga 3" 5's. I like to hunt around him cause dogs get lots of cripple work. He thinks if he can see it, he can kill it.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7592089
08/28/19 06:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 205
ghostlight
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 205 |
Don't be afraid of the light it's just me.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7622030
10/02/19 07:54 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 363
Chaseh
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 363 |
We make at least one 5-day Nebraska trip every year, and I have shot everything from #5 and #6 Remington Long range 12ga and 20, to Rio's and Estates when on sale. Last year I was determined to only shoot my 20ga O/U, so I was shooting #6 Rem Long Range , around 1300fps, and crippled a couple but just wasn't dropping birds like hunts before. Switched to my 12ga 1100 and Kent Fast lead 2 3/4" 1.5charge #5 1420 fps and it killed the birds I shot at the remainder of the trip. Such a good shell, that we bought a case. Only bird that didn't look like he got knocked out of the sky with a baseball bat was our last bird of the trip. It was a "slut" bird, and took every load we sent his way, and finally succumbed to our fury about 25 yds into a standing corn field. It was at the taxidermist here in Waco less than 16 hours later.
We bought them at Sydney, NE Cabela's store for about 10/box.
Last edited by Chaseh; 10/02/19 07:56 PM.
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