Winchester 20 Guage brass shot

[tlbradford]

I had a gift certificate to dicks sporting goods and all they had for pheasant loads in 20 gauge was #5 brass.  Anyone have real world experience with this load on pheasants?

[Bill W]

#5 copper shot, perhaps?  Copper plated high antimony shot was the preferred shot of long range pheasant shooters.

[Henrydog]

Bill W is correct, they should be copper coated lead.  I use 3" 20ga Winchester copper in #5 or #4 for the last 20 years.  Many roosters have had flights cancelled due to this load

[jetjockey]

It's MORE than enough!  I use RST, 7/8oz of #5's at 1125 fps out if my 1923 LC Smith.  My barrels are 26" with tightly choked IC/Mod barrels.  It crushes pheasants.  Here's a limit of late season SD roosters that didn't like that load too much.  He Winchester loads will be hotter yet, so have no fear.  They will work very well!

[Henrydog]

Nice looking gun Jet.  I have a LaFever 20 of the same vintage.  I love classics

[tlbradford]

I'm an idiot.  The arrow on the side was pointing to the brass base.  It is lead shot.  I thought I had run across something new.  Don't shop when tired.

[jetjockey]

Nice looking gun Jet.  I have a LaFever 20 of the same vintage.  I love classics

I do too.  Since RST will deliver to your door, it's almost easier to buy my 2 1/2" short chambered 20ga shells from them than it is to find the loads I want in 2 3/4" from a regular outdoor store. 

[Henrydog]

  The arrow on the side was pointing to the brass base.  It is lead shot.  I thought I had run across something new.   No worries.  With all the Euro Trash and cheap Econo loads now days brass bases are a selling point to those of us who reload

[TVHunts]

I had a gift certificate to dicks sporting goods and all they had for pheasant loads in 20 gauge was #5 brass.  Anyone have real world experience with this load on pheasants?

I agree, I have used Fiocci #5 Golden Pheasant copper plated for the last few years on pheasant.  Plenty of punch and at some extended ranges with the right choke.