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.