Phesant Hunting Loads
By far the most popular shot size among amateur and professional hunters is the no.6 and the no.7 /12. The last one is efficient for most preserved birds ( some hunters even use the no.8 with some success but not worth mentioning ). Keep in mind that smaller shot sizes are recommended for closer ranges but they can’t break heavy bones and penetrate to the pheasant’s vitals at longer distances. The no.4 shot is very efficient if enough choke is used in order to keep the pattern core density high but we recommend using the no.5 / no.6 and less choke.
Remember that the usage of nontoxic shots is now recommended in some areas of the United States, regardless if you are hunting pheasant or any other type of game. Pheasant or other game bird hunters that hunt in those areas can’t use lead shots , the same situation can be found for waterfowl hunters for a few years now. The steel shot can work on pheasant as long as the pellet diameter is a couple sizes larger than lead.
Regarding gauges, the 12 gauge is getting more and more popular among hunters, as a matter of fact more pheasants are caught with a 12 gauge than with all the other gauges combined. The reason why hunters use the 12 gauge is because its heavier payload compared to other smaller gauges and because the 12 gauge has tremendous flexibility. If you prefer being in the field with trim and quick handling guns you should use smaller gauges for preserve hunting. If you do want to use the 12 gauge the most suitable load would be a light 7/8 ounce or one-ounce that duplicates the performance of the 28 gauge and the 20 gauge. The perfect combination for a regular double barrel gun would be a 1 1/8 ounce of 6s in the first barrel and 1 ¼ ounces of 4s/5s held in reserve for an eventual upcoming second shot. The best all-around load for shotguns might be 1 1/8 ounces of 5s exiting the muzzle at approx. 1200fps.
Moving on to the 20 gauge, some hunters prefer this one because some guns chambered for it feel and handle a lot better. Some guns recommended for the 20 gauge would be the Winchester 101 and the Browning Superposed Lightning. A very tough combination to beat while hunting with an over/under is a 2 ¾ inch load with 1 1/8 ounce of 6s in the bottom barrel and a 3 inch with 1 ¼ ounces of 5s for the eventual upcoming second shot.
The 30 gauge is considered by many hunters not enough for pheasant hunting but for shots out to 25-30 yards with the right load, is very efficient. Combining it with the Winchester Super-X or the Feather XS shotgun, the results are quite impressive.
The .410 Bore is growing in popularity among pheasant hunters although it still remains rarely used. The heaviest shot charge that can be hand loaded in the 3 inch shell is ¾ ounce. This load was offered by Remington and Winchester. This charge is also the standard charge weight for the 28 gauge. It is recommended to use ¾ ounce of no.6 nickel plated shot with the .410 Bore. In comparison with the Winchester and Remington hulls, the Federal 3 inch case is the best choice. The advisable thing to do if you prefer using the .410 Bore is to combine the heaviest loads you can find with the right chokes.
We have offered you only a few tips and instructions regarding loads, gauges and guns. For more information regarding this matter you should have a long discussion with experienced hunters and we are certain that you will find out other useful information regarding this matter.
