Yeah, the 7/8 ounce loads work, and recoil less than 1-ounce loads. It just depends on how much recoil you can take.
Aside from good shooting and sufficient pattern density, the key is hard shot, which doesn't flatten like soft shot does when it hits birds, so penetrates deeper. A lot of pheasant hunters insist on using larger shot, even 4's, but that's because they buy cheap shells with soft shot.
