can i use 7 shot for pheasant and ducks....?

[backwoods_boy]

bought a box of 7 shot by accident and going pheasant hunting tomorrow
am i ok with 7 shot

[Timberstalker]

They dont make 7 shot.  But 71/2 will work (thats what you bought).

Might be a little light but it will work up close and personal.

[Gutpile]

It'll be fine, especially if you're hunting a release site.

[backwoods_boy]

Hummm im looking at the box and it says 7 shot steel 12 gauge 2  3/4

if i wanna make sure i knock em down i should get a 4 huh

[Gutpile]

Didn't know they made 7 steel. On a close shot it'd be ok but yes I'd get 4 shot. Let us know how you do.

[backwoods_boy]

will do...
yeah it says 7 shot i know weird huh

[high country]

7 steel is gonna be good to about 30yds.

[mossback91]

Went to wal mart for shells today......teribble choice!!!! all they had was 8 shot what kind of idiots are they!!

[quacker whacker]

Went to wal mart for shells today......teribble choice!!!! all they had was 8 shot what kind of idiots are they!!

welcome to the wonderful world of wal mart's steel shot selection

[hornhunter]

YES! there is seven shot.  If you ever hunt certain wildlife areas you are required to shoot steel.  even if you are chaseing Quail or partrige.  Sooo, infact my choice for quail and partrige in steel only wildlife areas would be #7.  Ducks would be a stretch with seven shot though.  #3 and #5 shot are my prefrances for ducks.  my two cents......

[UltraMag]

#7 steel is terrible on duck and pheasant, you'll wound more than you cleanly kill unless they're inside 15-20yds.
#7 steel will not reliably penetrate all the way thru a quail lengthwise.Quail is the largest bird i'd hunt with #7 steel, doves are good with #7 steel.
Pheasant/duck..#4 steel is the smallest you should use, #5 steel works on close decoying ducks.#3's are best for pheasant/duck.

[AlpineMuley]

I start the season out with 6 shot.  Later in the season I will load the gun with one 6, and two 4 shots.  End of the season I will load 4, 4, 2.  Don't think you only have to load the gun up with one size.    Goood luck.

[RockChuck]

I use size 6 for phesants, and have used size 7 1/2 in a pinch, but for close range.

[backwoods_boy]

yeah thanks guys using 4's

[270Shooter]

4's are a better choice. 7's were origainally made for snipe and quail in a non tox area i believe.

[backwoods_boy]

i knew 4's were much better i just couldnt make it to the store......so i borrowed some from buddy.
gonna use the 7's for skeet :-)

[Intruder]

7s in LEAD are a really nice early season pheasant load.  I've never seen them commercially loaded but you can buy 7 shot lead and for reloading.  They pattern great out of my 20 gauge in SK, IC, and Lt. Mod.  They cleanly kill roosters out to 25 yards.   

[Yummy and Tasty Animal]

i shwacked two roosters with 7 1/2 lead at about 25 yards last month.  i would have preferred to use 6 shot, but i have a ton of 7 1/2 and didn't want to go to the store to buy pheasant loads.  if i was buying a load for both pheasants and ducks i would buy 4 shot steel.  i heard a rule of thumb one time was "always buy steel 2 shot sizes up from the lead you would use (i.e. if you use 6 shot lead use 4 shot steel)".

i wouldn't trust 7 shot steel for anything bigger than a quail.  i use 2 shot steel on ducks and they don't ask questions when they are hit

[rougheye]

I use to use 7 1/2  for pheasant all the time , they work fine . Now i like 6 or 5 if i can find it just so there are less bbs in the meat .

[whitey]

Why wouldnt You just get a box of Pheasant loads?7 1/2?

[DOUBLELUNG]

7 steel is gonna be good to about 30yds.

+1

Keep them, though - one of the best swatter rounds available when you're chasing crippled ducks on the water.

[Intruder]

7 steel is gonna be good to about 30yds.

+1
Keep them, though - one of the best swatter rounds available when you're chasing crippled ducks on the water.

I agree with the cripple part but I think 30 yards on a pheasant w/ steel 7s is pushing it a little.  You're basically shooting the equivalent of 8 1/2 in lead.  That seems a little on the light side to me for roosters.  Great on quail though.