New to hunting

[dmv9]

I'm looking at starting up hunting small birds (quail, pheasant, duck).

I'm a total newbie.

Any ideas on gear?

I'm thinking about a Remington 870 Express Combo 12 ga with light loads #8s.

Thoughts?

[Dip-Zag]

Go with 6 shot for pheasants and duck.

[Stilly bay]

I'm thinking about a Remington 870 Express Combo 12 ga with light loads #8s.

great Idea on the gun. I would use steel #4's or larger for ducks and pheasants.  lead #6 or 7.5's on everything else you can legally shoot lead at. lead  #8's are all right for quail and dove but 7.5's or 7's give you just a little more oomph.

[Kola16]

I'm thinking about a Remington 870 Express Combo 12 ga with light loads #8s.

great Idea on the gun. I would use steel #4's or larger for ducks and pheasants.  lead #6 or 7.5's on everything else you can legally shoot lead at. lead  #8's are all right for quail and dove but 7.5's or 7's give you just a little more oomph.

I use #2 for ducks. And as far as the gun, the 870 would be good, but a Tristar Viper is even better for just a little more 

[coveydogs]

Welcome to bird hunting.

Suggestion 1:  Pick up regulations and read them front to back a few times.

Suggestion 2:  Shells:  Legally you can only use steel for waterfowl.  #8's are not the best for everything.

Low number shot size is a larger bb.  Example #1's are a smaller quantity of larger bbs than #8's which have a larger quantity of smaller bbs per shell.

So basically you will need a few different boxes of shell depending on the birds you are after. 

My suggestion, people might have others but here it goes.

Geese: BB/#1  3 inch 12 gauge
Ducks: #2/#3 3 inch 12 gauge
Pheasants/Huns/Chuckar: #5 2 3/4 inch 12 gauge steel (I shot all steel because of where I hunt and always carrying steel I never limit myself on where I can hunt)
Quail:  #7 2 3/4 inch 12 gauge steel.

Depending on the location and regulations you can shot upland with lead which a lot of people prefer.  When looking at the difference between shot size moving between steel and lead keep in mind steel shot size listing is usually 2 shot sizes larger then lead for the same size bb.  So a #5 steel would be roughly equivalent to a #7 lead in bb size.  Size of bb is the same density of bb is different so to deliver the same amount of force on the target you will want to go 2 sizes larger with steel then lead.  Example #2 steel = #4 lead

Pick up some boxes of shells and pattern them in your gun to find the best brand for you.   

Lots more suggestions if you have specific questions.

[bobcat]

Depending on the location and regulations you can shot upland with lead which a lot of people prefer.  When looking at the difference between shot size moving between steel and lead keep in mind steel shot size listing is usually 2 shot sizes larger then lead for the same size bb.  So a #5 steel would be roughly equivalent to a #7 lead in bb size.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but are you saying that #5 steel shot is the same size as #7 lead shot? If so, that is not true.  #5 shot is the same size no matter if it's lead or steel.

And on another note, where do you find #5 steel shot? I've just never seen it. I've seen #4 and #6 but never #5.

[coveydogs]

Depending on the location and regulations you can shot upland with lead which a lot of people prefer.  When looking at the difference between shot size moving between steel and lead keep in mind steel shot size listing is usually 2 shot sizes larger then lead for the same size bb.  So a #5 steel would be roughly equivalent to a #7 lead in bb size.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but are you saying that #5 steel shot is the same size as #7 lead shot? If so, that is not true.  #5 shot is the same size no matter if it's lead or steel.

And on another note, where do you find #5 steel shot? I've just never seen it. I've seen #4 and #6 but never #5.

Yeah you are right sorry size is the same equivalent impact different: "No. 4 pellets made of both materials exit the muzzle of a shotgun at 1,350 feet per second (fps), they start their journey with the same amount of energy, but the lead pellet will strike a 40-yard target with 4.4 foot-pounds (ft-lbs) while the steel pellet will deliver only 2.4 ft-lbs. In order for us to deliver the same amount of energy per pellet with steel as with lead, we must increase its diameter by two sizes. In this case we would choose No. 2 steel, which delivers 4.4 ft-lbs at 40 yards, the same as for No. 4 lead."

Kent makes an Upland Fast Steel in #5.  Hard to find but when I do I buy it all. 

[dmv9]

Where can I find the regs online?

Thanks for all the guidance.

[Jrzbullelk]

wdfw.wa.gov

[Stilly bay]

Depending on the location and regulations you can shot upland with lead which a lot of people prefer.  When looking at the difference between shot size moving between steel and lead keep in mind steel shot size listing is usually 2 shot sizes larger then lead for the same size bb.  So a #5 steel would be roughly equivalent to a #7 lead in bb size.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but are you saying that #5 steel shot is the same size as #7 lead shot? If so, that is not true.  #5 shot is the same size no matter if it's lead or steel.

And on another note, where do you find #5 steel shot? I've just never seen it. I've seen #4 and #6 but never #5.

Yeah you are right sorry size is the same equivalent impact different: "No. 4 pellets made of both materials exit the muzzle of a shotgun at 1,350 feet per second (fps), they start their journey with the same amount of energy, but the lead pellet will strike a 40-yard target with 4.4 foot-pounds (ft-lbs) while the steel pellet will deliver only 2.4 ft-lbs. In order for us to deliver the same amount of energy per pellet with steel as with lead, we must increase its diameter by two sizes. In this case we would choose No. 2 steel, which delivers 4.4 ft-lbs at 40 yards, the same as for No. 4 lead."

Kent makes an Upland Fast Steel in #5.  Hard to find but when I do I buy it all.

im picking up what your putting down.

I read that #5's were actually more effective on pheasants that #4's because there was less feather balling. I never noticed a difference.

I really like #5 steel for closer shots but for longer shots it spreads out/ slows down too much for my liking. plus when steel shot gets that small its harder to find and nothing will ruin your day faster than a biting on steel shot.

for years my go to pheasant shot size was steel #2 in 2.75" shells.

to the OP make sure you really read up on those regs especially  if you haven't attended a hunters safety course.

[coveydogs]

Where can I find the regs online?

Thanks for all the guidance.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/

[dmv9]

IT IS UNLAWFUL TO HUNT:
•    Game birds with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells

The rem 870 is 4+1. How can this be a legal gun for hunting birds?

[coveydogs]

IT IS UNLAWFUL TO HUNT:
•    Game birds with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells

The rem 870 is 4+1. How can this be a legal gun for hunting birds?

Most come with a plug that limit the number of shells that fit in the tube to 2, then one in the chamber.  Plugs are removable but it requires a bit of dis-assembly.  My guess is that unless you are buying a home defense version of the 870 you will get a plug, just make sure to ask the store/person you are buying the gun from.

[dmv9]

Would the home defense version of the remington 870 be suitable for general birding? It has an 18" barrel versus a 26" barrel.

Does that affect performance, accuracy, etc?

[300rum]

Possible but not recommended.  I would just buy the express and then buy an 18.5" barrel for it from Brownells (may take awhile).  The last one I bought, i paid $130 for it. 

Would the home defense version of the remington 870 be suitable for general birding? It has an 18" barrel versus a 26" barrel.

Does that affect performance, accuracy, etc?