Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Favorite dove loads

It’s almost that time just curious to what y’all are slingin at em!

Winchester AA Heavy Target Loads 7.5 shot size

I always shoot the 7.5 but kinda thinkin of tryin sum 6s ?

Winny AA's

Something throwing 3/4-1 oz of 7.5 or 8 shot. This is usually my reloads but I am not picky and will shoot factory without hesitation. Then it is more likely to be 1 1/8 oz of 7/8 oz as those loads are cheaper and most common.

I usually shoot 1 1/8 of 7 1/2's.. Our dove shooting isn't great but that was the load I used in Az. one winter when the shooting was fantastic..

As a side note, some where I have an article by Maj. Charles Askins, the Col.'s father.. He was a real shotgunner, he mentioned one fall he had a spare case of 6's and used them on doves.... The worked just fine...

Estate 1 oz 8s

In 12ga Remington Nitro 27 Handicap Trap load of 1 1/8oz of 7 1/2 shot.

In 20ga Remington Sure Shot 1oz 8 shot.

In 28ga Winchester AA 3/4oz. 8 shot.

6's

Same. Do get a (brief) chuckle out of the booming duck loads that invariably show up.

Not flying back this year; ya’ll have a blast, though.

Thanks for the feed back guys countin down the days just got a new 11-87 to try this year instead of the ol a5

Going forward I hope the Kent Steel Dove 20 gauge 2 3/4" 7/8 oz #6 work out as we have to use non toxic from now on. Bought some 12 gauge also 2 3/4" 1 oz #6

I shoot a 16 Gauge for dove and quail; normally shoot a 1 oz. or 1-1/8 oz. lead load - Estate, Fiochie, and Federal is what I have in stock - use them all interchangeably.

If you find doves to be insufficiently challenging, by all means shoot 6's. You are going to have to tighten up on choke to get the same pattern density at the same range as, say, 8's. I find that more pellets= more doves. When I was reloading, I used 9's. Doesn't take much to bring a dove down if you are on target. Same thought process as shooting 6 (lead) vs. 4 (again, in terms of lead shot) at a wood duck vs. a mallard. I don't need more of a challenge than an ounce of 7-1/2's or 8's gives me; an ounce of 6's is about 225 pellets per ounce vs. 410 pellets for 8's. If forced to use steel, then 6's might be necessary, otherwise no thanks.

I’ve found if the range is 30 yards plus less fly off that you know you hit with 6’s than the smaller sizes. As the distance increases 6’s will give you more dead in the air birds than the smaller. Inside 30, the extra no of shot with the smaller sizes makes no difference. They both work if you point well.

Shot enough of them to know without a doubt, 6’s give more clean kills than the smaller, if they have some distance. However, if one sits under a tree and shoots them coming in for a landing, the smaller are fine.

Cheap Federal 12ga 2 3/4” 1 1/8oz of 7.5s. It’s what I shoot at clays all summer.

20 gauge: Win AA Super Sporting. 7/8oz of 7.5s at 1300 FPS. This is a badass dove and quail load.

12 gauge: 3 dram 1oz or 1 1/8oz of 7.5s.

I prefer target loads over game loads because target loads have harder shot, and usually a good quality 1 piece wad. I'm not brand picky with my 12 gauge loads, Rem Nitro27s, Win AAs, Federal target loads, Fiocchi, whatever. I like loads that go 1200+ FPS.

I like 7.5s for doves, I've never bit into a piece of shot since I switched from 8s to 7.5s, and have no problem killing birds at 40+ yards. I also get less feather poof fly offs with 7.5s. I've never had a need for 6s for doves.

Hard to beat the good target loads you mentioned. Expensive, and most are not willing to pay that much. Aguila is making a target load that seems to be their equal, along with being more reasonably priced, if you know where to purchase them. Aquila shot has tested to be as hard as the target loads you mentioned.

In fact Aguila, out of Mexico is probably the primary source of the majority of lead shot being used today.

WW Superhandicap or Sporting Clays 7.5s in 12 ga (cycle my 1100 magnum fine).
When I ran a 20 OU or pump, liked the WW Expert 1 oz 7.5

F&W area mandates non toxic. Been running Rem steel 6 and 7's in a 12.

I've used those loads and similar ones with both #6 and 7 shot on dove plus more on birds running from snipe and woodcock to ruffed grouse with good success. The 7 acted like #8 lead shot and was a little light on grouse in my opinion but I have killed a lot of grouse with 8s over the years. I prefer the 6s as I would be more likely to use this type of load on quail or ruffed grouse but I would not be too concerned with 7s on dove.

As an aside, I found the smaller steel shot to pattern more like similar sized lead shot. In other words, a choke giving IC patterns with lead shot gave similar patterns with steel. #6 steel was slightly tighter and would typically pattern closer to Light Modified than IC out of the IC choke.