Best all around upland shell?

[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