Since the switch to non-toxic shot in the pheasants fields it seemed that I did not have much luck. I tried Hevi-Metal and various steel. The Hevi-Metal worked the best, but with the steel it seemed like the birds would soak it up and keep going. Last year due to time, WS pheasant price, and not liking my non-toxic options I did not even hunt the release sites, but this year I wanted to get out (and more importantly get the dog out), so I bought my west side pheasant this year. In digging around I switched to shooting Remington Nitro Steel 20ga 3" #4's at 1330 fps and shooting my dad's Ruger Red Label O/U and I smoked the birds this year. I don't know if it is the ammo or the gun or maybe both, but I only had two misses the whole season. The birds folded no matter what and I took some longer shots this year. On Thanksgiving my buddies lab got up a hen and my GWP jumped in and both dogs were trying to get her as it flew off. Since the bird was low and the dogs were there I had to wait until the bird was out quite a ways before taking the shot. One shot and she folded up like a ton of bricks hit her. Another time the dog was with my son in another part of the field we were in and I jumped a bird. Surprised, I took a shot and missed (one of my misses) and the bird was winging it out way out when I got back on and folded it with the bottom barrel. In fact, the bird was so far out that even though I knew the line where it went down I could not find it and had to call my son over with the dog.
So I want to know what are your thoughts on steel? Has it evolved enough that it works this good or maybe is it that we as hunters are getting more used to shooting steel?
