Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 3/4 ounce vs 7/8 ounce on pheasants ?

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Have been following various discussions and articles on using the 410 on pheasants.

The Lyman Manual offers 3/4 ounce loads in the 3-inch 410. Twenty and 16 gauge fans discuss 7/8 ounce loads. And some 12 gaugers are downloading to 7/8 ounce loads for trap and suggesting them for pheasants.

Yet others are sticking with the 2-ounces of #2 copper-plated lead shot from the 10 gauge...

Has a world-wide consensus including Nobel Laureates been reached on the one-and-only-one true optimum load for pheasants yet ?


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Whatever load puts at least 4 appropriate-sized shot in a rooster at whatever range. The consensus seems to be six 6 or 5, with a few holding out for 7's or 4's. Probably 5-1/2's are ideal, if we really want to be loony about it.

This depends on how the shotgun/load patterns at the given range, not how much shot is in the shell. I have seen 28's that produced killing patterns at 40 yards with 3/4 of an ounce of 6's from a modified choke.

My present SxS .410 will pattern 3/4 ounce of hard 7's well enough to do the job to 25 yards from the right (IC) barrel and 30 yards from the left (full) barrel. It won't pattern 6's worth a darn.

+1 John, this is a discussion/argument that happens every year at the local hunt club! You have guys out there shooting 1 5/8 oz of shot because it kills better (so they say) very few are willing to step up to the patterning boards. I know in trap and sporting clays loads, I loaded my wifes loads @ about 1120 FPS and mine @ 1260 FPS with 1 oz of shot. In patterning them the 1120 FPS load was much more dense in the center but, being the man, I had to have something faster, louder and harder kicking...GRINS...I noticed I chipped alot of birds where she was dusting them! To make a long story short, all I load is the 1120 FPS load now..GRINS

I prefer 6 or 7 hits, but many with more ballistic experience tell me I'm wrong. I'm sure they are correct, based on the experiments that have been conducted over the years. I would lean more towards 7/8 oz, but if you center your birds I doubt if there is any difference.

Well my child hood friend shot and killed a lot of pheasants with a 410 with 3 inch shells and 7 1/2 shot. I started out with a 20 ga in a Winchester 1400. It was a clunky gun that didn't fit me well. I soon gotten an 870 in 28 ga. It was more expensive to shoot, but I started killing pheasants and ducks. Just as long as your gun puts the shot were you look. Now I shoot a Vinci, and just 2 3/4 sure shot shells from Remington, for most of my upland game hunting here in CT. Stocked birds, and short ranges. Mostly woodlands. I gotten my two on Saturday. It was the Opener, we get to shoot 10 for the season, and the tags cost 28 bucks. Have a great time, I fine it so peaceful to walk favorite places with a shotgun these days!

Our rule of thumb for pheasants was Max load 12ga #6 shot early season and #4 shot later, when they were a little wilder. I always use #6 shot in a 12 or 20ga, but I would not have any problem #8 or #7 1/2 shot early. I had a coworker that loaded Max load 12ga #9 shot for the first weekend of pheasant season. It was a great load, but you could always tell his birds when you cleaned.

I was a real quail killer in my younger years, over dogs, when there were lots of birds and I used #8 shot in a 12ga Rem 1100. But I was always like "Ned in the First Reader" with my Winchester Mod 42 .410ga pump full choke. Some guys can and some guys can't. I can't.

I missed a Grouse today with 1oz of 7.5s. He beat me to the opening and I was about at least a foot behind. It all makes little difference and none if you can't put the shot on the bird. 300+ pellets and I couldn't get 4 to the spot. 1/2oz would have done the deed if I was up to it.

1oz. of 6's pushed by Green Dot @ 1150fps on early wild birds,1 1/4oz. of copper plated 5's @ 1200fps late. A lot of time I use Nickel plated shot, not only does it pattern better, it also cuts feathers so it doesn't end up in the meat. True story!

These are the chit.....(grin)





I did actually pattern my shotgun yesterday, modified choke/45 yards.
Shot at a 12x12" steel plate, thinking there was about 15 BB's that hit it.
The creek chickens are smart, tough to get shots so it's nice to have the extra power.

dude, that's just not shoulder-friendly.

I walked for 4-5 hours yesterday, saw a dozen or so roosters, flushed about 8. Shot at one bird all day, took two shots and rolled him hard at 53 yards with the second shot.
Got within' 10 yards of a couple roosters but they wouldn't flush in the thick brush, ran off and flushed on the other side.
Need a dog!

You need to get Henry into the game!

Henry would try but he's just too damn small!


Gonna get a fullsize labpoodle, can you say badass?

(grin)

I'm with you, Sammy. That's what I call a pheasant load. Maybe when I'm old and feeble I'll cut back.

No this is not sholder friendly.

Ouch!