Shot Size!?

[aorams]

Hi Forum,

I just picked up my first shotgun!  It is a Remington 870 Express 20 gauge with a 3" chamber(also shoots 2.75" shells).  I plan to frequently hunt grouse, hunt quail near ellensburg with a little less frequency and hopefully stumble upon the occasional pheasant.  I'm wondering if one load will "do it all" in the name of simplicity.  Thanks for your help!

[bowhunterwa87]

Lead 6 shot 2 3/4 should be fine.

[bobcat]

Number 6 shot is good for grouse. For blue grouse and longer shots at ruffed grouse I'd want the 1 ounce loads minimum. You could even go with 3 inch shells and number 6 shot if you're focusing on blue grouse.

Those heavier loads aren't needed for quail. I'd prefer 7/8 ounce with number 8 shot. If your shotgun has choke tubes use the most open choke for quail as shots will be close. For grouse modified is good.

The nice thing about shotguns is they're very versatile simply by changing loads, and chokes if your gun has choke tubes. I would recommend not trying to do it all with only one load.

[Mfowl]

If you plan to hunt the pheasant release sites in Eburg or anywhere near marsh/wetlands you should think about steel/nontoxic shot. Steel is reasonably priced but its hard to find in smaller than 4 shot. Nontoxic shot is much more pricey but its more readily available in upland shot size like 6 or smaller.

[270Shooter]

Steel 4's are great for pheasants and grouse, and they kill quail like lightning.

[RadSav]

20 gauge is all we shoot around here.  We used to buy this for that and that for this, but these days I buy cases of only two rounds; 

For quail, chucker/huns, grouse and pheasant (where we can use lead) we use 2.75" Kent Ultimate Fastlead #7.5 or #6.  I've busted some pheasant at crazy distances with the stuff.  No need for larger shot unless hunting waterfowl.

For areas where we need non-tox shot we run 3" #7.5 or #6 Heavyshot.    Why 3" here?  Well, because if I'm going to spend that much money, why not?

Deciding between 7.5 and 6 depends on what is on sale and what is available these days in case quantities.  I haven't noticed any difference in effectiveness between the two.  I lost a lot of quail using #8, but I can't remember the last time I lost a chuckar or pheasant with #7.5.  Though we do blow apart fewer birds using the #6.

If you hunt a lot of grouse and want to keep costs down Wal-Mart always has a fall special on some Federal light target/field loads in #7.5 and that works great for grouse.  Not the speed or shot volume I like for all other upland birds though.

Both of those rounds pattern well enough I've begun using the wider chokes on all of them.  I run improved on my guns and the wife used skeet in hers.  When we used the cheap Federal Heavy Game lead loads the wife would use improved and I would use modified.  But when we switched to the harder shot we just blew up too much meat and made the switch to the lesser chokes.

[huntingfool7]

If you're hunting quail and pheasant, it's pretty likely that you'll be required to use steel.  I personally like #5's.
For shooting grouse, anything that works for pheasant or quail will roll grouse.

[aorams]

Thanks everyone!  I appreciate the info!

[Tiger1358]

Hi Forum,

I just picked up my first shotgun!  It is a Remington 870 Express 20 gauge with a 3" chamber(also shoots 2.75" shells).  I plan to frequently hunt grouse, hunt quail near ellensburg with a little less frequency and hopefully stumble upon the occasional pheasant.  I'm wondering if one load will "do it all" in the name of simplicity.  Thanks for your help!

# 6 lead shot for grouse, 7 1/2 for quail . For pheasants use #4-5 lead shot or #3-4 steel shot. Some people might think that #3 steel is too much ,but it works really good. For  50+ yards  use # 2 steel for pheasants. Good luck.

[jackson7]

If just going with one shot size I prefer 6.
personally I like 5 and 6 on pheasant. 6 on grouse, chukar and 71/2 on quail and Huns.

[Fishnfowler]

My recommendation is for 7-1/2 for everything as a do-all shell.  I don't shoot steel so can't speak to that.  If I am chasing phez specifically, I go with #5 or 6, but that is so rare, and they are generally incidental game for me, that most of mine are taken with smaller shot. 

Only 3 months to go until Dove season. 

[aorams]

I'm going to go with non-toxic, and was quickly priced out of the Hevi-Shot.  What do you guys think about this stuff?

http://www.nwarmory.com/p-12733-kent-k203st244-3in-78-stl-2510.aspx

[jackson7]

If you are going for ducks. Sure you could use on pheasant. however not optimal for others.

[AspenBud]

Number 6 shot is good for grouse. For blue grouse and longer shots at ruffed grouse I'd want the 1 ounce loads minimum. You could even go with 3 inch shells and number 6 shot if you're focusing on blue grouse.

Those heavier loads aren't needed for quail. I'd prefer 7/8 ounce with number 8 shot. If your shotgun has choke tubes use the most open choke for quail as shots will be close. For grouse modified is good.

The nice thing about shotguns is they're very versatile simply by changing loads, and chokes if your gun has choke tubes. I would recommend not trying to do it all with only one load.

 

Almost every box of shells that I use for bird hunting is #6. Game loads are cheap and effective for grouse and heavy shot for release site birds works fine for that purpose.

[merkelman]

My recommendation is for 7-1/2 for everything as a do-all shell.  I don't shoot steel so can't speak to that.  If I am chasing phez specifically, I go with #5 or 6, but that is so rare, and they are generally incidental game for me, that most of mine are taken with smaller shot. 

Only 3 months to go until Dove season.

or Grouse season!