#8 or #9 shot? No way I'd want to pick out or eat all those tiny lead pellets. After skinning squirrels over the years with a #6 pellet stuck just under the hide that failed to penetrate fully into the muscle, I can't imagine that much smaller shot would have enough penetration at longer ranges. And at closer ranges I can't see loading the meat up with all those itty bitty pellets. I think #5's are a really good compromise between pattern density and penetration/energy for longish shots.


Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.