Preferred SHOT SIZES?

[Dave Workman]

This should be easy:
What is your preferred shot size for grouse, doves, quail, chukar?
Is it the same for all?

[CP]

7 1/2 for all, #7s if I can find them.

[Alex4200]

Some variables goes into decision. Choke, gauge, type of gun, and type of dog I am hunting behind. I like 7 1/2 for quail and dove. #6 for grouse and Chukar. I will stack loads based on where I am hunting. 7 1/2 for first shot and something larger for second shot.

[C-Money]

7 1/2s are probably my choice. Reclaimed works fine too...

[wadu1]

8 or 7 1/2 depending on what I grab from the loading bench.

[h2ofowlr]

Usually use 7-1/2 through a modified choke.  Chucker I have ran 7-1/2 full choke because they get up and going so fast.  I want to drop them before they fly across to the otherside of the canyon. 

[metlhead]

I shoot non-tox for everything nowadays. They all get high speed #6 steel from my 20. Chukar and chickens get the 3" loads.

[boneaddict]

shooting 6 steel at the moment out of the 20, but not super particular though

[kselkhunter]

Non-toxic here as well for everything.  All upland birds and duck get #9 TSS.  Use #7 TSS on goose (occasionally duck as well if an area where some longer shots could be expected).   Use #6 steel as swatter loads on waterfowl.   

[Dave Workman]

My preference for grouse has always been No. 6, either 12- or 20, and even in my little .410 bore. It seems to pattern well out of my shotguns, and when the quarry is blue grouse, there's no contest. I have hunted with Bismuth #6 as well as lead and found them to perform about the same.
I was hunting above Easton one time many years ago and shot a big blue grouse with Bismuth.  That bird just slammed to the ground in a cloud of feathers. I've been sold on Bismuth as a non-toxic alternative to steel ever since.

It was one of the many times I didn't have a camera along. DRAT!  It was a big hooter!

[mossback91]

My preference for grouse has always been No. 6, either 12- or 20, and even in my little .410 bore. It seems to pattern well out of my shotguns, and when the quarry is blue grouse, there's no contest. I have hunted with Bismuth #6 as well as lead and found them to perform about the same.
I was hunting above Easton one time many years ago and shot a big blue grouse with Bismuth.  That bird just slammed to the ground in a cloud of feathers. I've been sold on Bismuth as a non-toxic alternative to steel ever since.

It was one of the many times I didn't have a camera along. DRAT!  It was a big hooter!

I’m a huge fan of copper plated bismuth! I run #5 copper plates bismuth mainly because i was able to get a case of it during Covid and it was one of the only available options. I will never run steel again!

[hunter399]

Always been a #6 myself.
I think it was always called rabbit/squirrel/quail load. The old Winchester box.
Or maybe it was rabbit/squirrel/pheasant load.

[Dave Workman]

Always been a #6 myself.
I think it was always called rabbit/squirrel/quail load. The old Winchester box.
Or maybe it was rabbit/squirrel/pheasant load.

Yeah, I kinda remember that.  Seems to me they were a high-base shell, but I may be wrong.
Which makes me a fairly old guy! 

[Farmer72]

I have always been a big fan of #6 for grouse and pheasant in the 12ga and 20ga. I have to many issues with #6 and #7.5 on grouse with the .410 so I only shoot #4 for the .410.
When I hunted quail I used #7.5 religiously for them.

[erronulvin]

For bigger birds(pheasant, huns, grouse) I run 2-3/4 #4 boss with a full choke, quail and doves I run 2-34 #7 1/2 with the full choke. I dont like changing chokes because I want to keep consistent with my shooting and leads because I mainly waterfowl hunt