Best all around upland shell?

[SirSpencer]

I was out hunting with some buddies today and we were all using different shells, none of them especially effective. We were only rocking the pheasants, didnt even slow them down. Then  quail were also still running when they would hit the ground. Excluding the option that we are terrible shots or the birds were too far away. What shell do you suggest for an all around upland load? (Huns, Quail, Pheasant). My shotgun can do anything from a 2 3/4" to 3-1/2" so what shot size and weight are you guys throwing around out there?

[yelp]

I use 2 3/4 No. 6 Winchester 20 gauge for everything.     Pheasants can be tough..I tend to shoot at a range I am comfortable.  Most hunters will shoot even at ranges too far.  Just saying sometimes it isn't the shells. When I do shoot 12 guage I use a 3" no. 6 usually a Remington Nitro Mag. But I have killed just as many roosters with the 20 and it is a lot lighter. 

[carpsniperg2]

i use #4 shot for almost all my upland bird hunting. i like 3" shells myself. sometimes my last shell is a 3.5" #2 to follow up the #4's for a little more range.

[SirSpencer]

I was thinking about going with 6 myself. We were using 7 1/2 shot 1 and 1/8th ounce today out of 12 gauges. Just wasn't giving me the results i wanted. Thanks!

[Bigshooter]

I like an ounce of #6 in my 28ga or 20ga on pheasants.  And an ounce of #7 1\2 for chukar and quail.

[yelp]

I like an ounce of #6 in my 28ga or 20ga on pheasants.  And an ounce of #7 1\2 for chukar and quail.

Great combo for pheasants and quail!

[SirSpencer]

I think the 7 1/2 is just too little for me because, im hunting with out dogs so my range tends to be a little farther out then with dogs, so i need a little more weight to reach out there.

[Bigshooter]

I like an ounce of #6 in my 28ga or 20ga on pheasants.  And an ounce of #7 1\2 for chukar and quail.

Great combo for pheasants and quail!

It works very, very, well for me.  And packing a 28ga is a lot light than evern my 20ga.

[yelp]

I like an ounce of #6 in my 28ga or 20ga on pheasants.  And an ounce of #7 1\2 for chukar and quail.

Great combo for pheasants and quail!

It works very, very, well for me.  And packing a 28ga is a lot light than evern my 20ga.

I want a side by side .410 really bad..for quail and such!

[Wile E. Hunter]

Some of it depends on the range you're likely to encounter birds, like.... pointing dog, flushing dog, walked up, early/late season. Right now, you're likely good with a 6 for pheasant with a modified choke, or tighter. 7 1/2 is plenty for quail throughout. A 6 would be a bit much.
I used to shoot pheasants with 7 1/2s over good pointing dogs, but without dogs, or over a flushing dog, I'd go with a 6. Late season I'd go to a 6 over pointing dogs, and 4s over flushing dogs, or walk up. Don't forget choke. I shoot an over/under 20ga with improved first, modified now, and modified and full for late season along with the change in shot size. One other thing, not all shells are the same. Early season I'll shoot a skeet load 7/8 oz. load, but once I get into the heavier shot, I shoot a hotter 1 oz. shell in the upper 1200+ fps range.

Wile E.

[509]

I used to shoot pheasants with 7 1/2s over good pointing dogs, but without dogs, or over a flushing dog, I'd go with a 6. Late season I'd go to a 6 over pointing dogs, and 4s over flushing dogs, or walk up. Don't forget choke. I shoot an over/under 20ga with improved first, modified now, and modified and full for late season along with the change in shot size. One other thing, not all shells are the same. Early season I'll shoot a skeet load 7/8 oz. load, but once I get into the heavier shot, I shoot a hotter 1 oz. shell in the upper 1200+ fps range.

Wile E.

I shoot 8s with a improved cylinder, then follow up with a 3inch buffered mag with 4's in them for the second shot in my 20.  That is if the birds are holding tight for the dog. 

If not I swap the first shell for 6s. 

If I am hunting waterfowl and pheasants I usually switch to a 12 and just shoot 4 steel.

[280ackley]

I just got back from a trip to ND and used Kent Fast Lead.  2 3/4" 1 3/8oz of 4s seemed to do the trick.

http://www.kentgamebore.com/ultimate_fast_lead.asp

[CP]

1  1/8 oz of 7 1/2 for quail.  I load my own to about 1200 fps, it will drop them stone dead beyond 50 yards.
1 ¼ oz of #5 for pheasants,  chukar, grouse, etc.    – again about 1200 fps.  No need for anything faster, extra speed just ruins the pattern.

[D-Rock425]

I shoot 6's on when I go east of the mountains.  When I hunted with steel on the west side I shot 4's

[Bulldozer]

I use 1 1/4 oz 5 shot Federal high velocity. They work awsome.

[270Shooter]

I think lead 6's are probably the best for an all around shot size. I shoot quail with 7 1/2's usually though, or steel 7's. I dumped a nice wild rooster the other day with the steel 7's, only going 1200 fps too. That was with an IC choke, didnt have  dog either.

[floatinghat]

Been using 2 1/2", 1 1/16th oz of #6 at 1250fps.  I really don't see the point of going much more than 1 1/8 oz of #6 of 5 later in the season.  One thing is you have to know your shot and hit the bird with more than one pellet.

[SirSpencer]

Thanks guy's a lot of info to process i guess i will go out and try some different loads.

[yelp]

Been using 2 1/2", 1 1/16th oz of #6 at 1250fps.  I really don't see the point of going much more than 1 1/8 oz of #6 of 5 later in the season.  One thing is you have to know your shot and hit the bird with more than one pellet.

2 1/2" ?   

[87Ford]

I like Kent Fast Lead.

Ounce and a half of number sixes at 1420fps.  Crushes wild pheasants!

[C-Money]

I like the 2 3/4" 1 1/4oz lead, with 3 3/4 dram of powder, shot size 6. Deadly! Heck, I use my trap reloads the most with 7 1/2 or 8 shot and do well on every thing from roosters to quails. Modified choke, got to hit the target!

[floatinghat]

Been using 2 1/2", 1 1/16th oz of #6 at 1250fps.  I really don't see the point of going much more than 1 1/8 oz of #6 of 5 later in the season.  One thing is you have to know your shot and hit the bird with more than one pellet.

2 1/2" ?   

Yep  2 1/2"

[CP]

Been using 2 1/2", 1 1/16th oz of #6 at 1250fps.  I really don't see the point of going much more than 1 1/8 oz of #6 of 5 later in the season.  One thing is you have to know your shot and hit the bird with more than one pellet.

2 1/2" ?   

Yep  2 1/2"

Why?

[Emptyhanded]

2 3/4" with 6 shot for Pheasants and 2 3/4" 8 or 9 shot for quail with a Modified choke in my 12 ga seems to work well for me.

[fethrduster]

I like to shoot a 2.5" 1 oz. spreader reload of 6's at 1300 fps in an older 6 lb. 16ga. sxs with shorter chambers, choked m/f.  The spreader makes it roughly ic/m.   I routinely drop chukars, roosters and huns out to 45 yds stone dead with this load, and rarely have any cripples.  I like 6's because I sometimes take 4 different species of birds on one hunt, and 6's works fine for all of them.   This last weekend  I shot chukars, huns and mountain quail (first time I've ever seen them) all in the same day with this load.  1 or maybe 1 1/8 oz. 6's is hard to beat as an all around upland load.

[high country]

Been using 2 1/2", 1 1/16th oz of #6 at 1250fps.  I really don't see the point of going much more than 1 1/8 oz of #6 of 5 later in the season.  One thing is you have to know your shot and hit the bird with more than one pellet.

2 1/2" ?   

Yep  2 1/2"

Why?

because it is a vintage 16ga

[floatinghat]

Not vintage 16ga but an older 12ga.  It has 2 3/4 chambers it is light 6lbs 4oz and is choked tight m/f.  I don't what to abuse the gun and they put down birds.  If guys can put down pheasant regularly with a 28ga at 35yd why do I need to go any larger.  Measure your shot.
 
I am not in to theory too much but some studies have been done about "square loads" and fewer distorted pellets patterning better.

I am not a great shot and usually go somewhere between 17-21 for 25 when I shoot trap (rarely).  when shooting birds I just pick my shot and shoot at what i'm confident I'll hit.

like F/D said these loads are hard to beat. 

[Black Plague]

7.5 shot hand loads .... if anything jumps close you should dust them pretty good .... if I get one of those days when the roosters seem to be jumping up at further distances ,,,,say 30 yards or more , then I will put in the turkey loads....and just hope a quail doesn't tempt me...that would be a little over kill

[WDFW-SUX]

1 1/4 copper plated lead 6's in federal premium 1300's or if your are a real man the the 1500's


.20 choke for mortals .30 &.35 choke for real men....


If your serious about making things stone dead go with the latter...

[44 Flattop]

#6 in 12's, 20's and 410's handles just about anything.

44

[PaulM]

To knock down pheasants you might try # 5's. I have an over under so I use two shot sizes and two chokes( mod and full)I shoot 6 then 5( or 5 then 4 later in the season) for pheasants or 7 1/2 then 6 for chukar and quail. I have switched to high velocity buffered copper plated. Other guys here have used smaller loads. This will give denser shot patterns. How far were you shooting when the roosters got away. I have started using Federal's new Praire Storm shells. ( Anyone else tried these?)They come in 4, 5, and 6 shot sizes. They are high velocity and have special shapped pellets. You can check them out on the federal website.  I have knocked down a pheasant at 40 yards and killed it where it fell. The special pellets actually drag a wide long line of feathers into the bird. I was impressed. Hard to find these shells here in seattle(I'm hunting with lead shot on the east side). Only found one store carries them. I even called around a little to try to find them closer. good luck. Do you shoot trap too? Also, have you patterned your gun?