Post by: BULLBLASTER on December 11, 2008, 11:31:06 AM
i have a benelli nova 12 guage.
also what do pheasents do in the snow?
thanks
Post by: 270Shooter on December 11, 2008, 03:31:29 PM
http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/shotshell/upland/nitro_pheasant.asp
Post by: Black Plague on December 11, 2008, 03:32:46 PM
Post by: snipekillr on December 11, 2008, 03:33:37 PM
Post by: GoldTip on December 11, 2008, 03:48:14 PM
Post by: guyg on December 11, 2008, 05:51:45 PM
Post by: high country on December 11, 2008, 09:46:57 PM
Post by: bobcat on December 11, 2008, 10:00:40 PM
Post by: bobcat on December 11, 2008, 10:03:06 PM
Quote
Fiocchi Golden Pheasant Loads
By Randy Wakeman
I've been using Fiocchi Golden Pheasant loads ever since they came on the scene, and they have done a fabulous job on Illinois pheasants. I was disappointed to learn that one of my favorite rooster loads, the Fiocchi 12 gauge Nickel-HV load has been discontinued, as that beautifully balanced load has never failed to perform for me. However, the Fiocchi Golden Pheasant line continues to expand, and Carlo Fiocchi mentioned at the 2006 SHOT Show that even more loads are on the way in the near future.
When I was growing up, it wasn't unusual to walk standing corn and ditches without dogs, the pheasants were that plentiful. For 100% recovery of a pheasant, you need to break a wing and a leg. If he falls dead, so much the better, but even if that bird has only a few moments of life left in him he can easily dig his way deep into the grass or run enough to puzzle most hunters, especially the easily puzzled such as myself. I don't want to lose a pheasant for a lot of reasons, but as "pheasant and wild rice under glass" is a dish not to be missed, that is sure one of them.
When walking standing corn sans dogs, it was S.O.P. to pop them once on the flush and once again on the way down. No way could we risk a pheasant that was not anchored exactly where he dropped. It may have taken a few more moments to clean them, but we seldom went hungry.
Shotshells have improved substantially since those roll crimp, paper shell days. It has become apparent over the years that for a tough wild bird with his winter feathers on, nothing beats nickel-plated shot.
High antimony content, nickel-plated shot clearly out patterns and out performs standard lead shot, and even copper-plated shot as far as I'm concerned. Although, admittedly, some buffered copper-plated loads have done admirably as well.
It is nickel-plated 3.2% antimony shot that made the Fiocchi nickel high-velocity loads so good, along with excellent quality control, and it is the same nickel-plated shot that helps make Fiocchi Golden pheasant loads such good performers as well. Number 5 lead shot has proven itself to be the first choice for general pheasant use, though I'll opt for #4's in 12 gauge for extremely late season hunts.
The three standout GP loads, in my opinion, are the 12GP (1-3/8 ounce), 16GP (1-1/8 ounce), and 203GP (3" 20 gauge, 1-1/4 ounce) all in #5 shot. The 12GP is a tad heavier than the old 1-1/4 ounce #12HN5 loads, but the nickel plating also acts as a lubricant for the pellets. It patterns just as well, if not a tad better, in most 12 gauges in which I've tried them.
I've always been a sixteen gauge fan, and while not every 20 gauge will pattern well with #4 (or even #5) shot, I've yet to find a 16 gauge that won't. Often, I've heard the comment that 16 gauge ammunition is hard to get. Nothing could be further from the truth, as Fiocchi loads not only the Golden Pheasant line, but also their 16HV (1330 fps), 16FLD (1185 fps), and their soft-shooting 1 ounce 16 GT line, covering the gamut from #9 all the way to #4 shot.
For some reason, folks seem to think that when a load is designated "pheasant" or "turkey" on the box, that's all it is good for; but we all know better than that, don't we? Golden Pheasant loads have bagged a lot of turkey as well.
If you've not yet taken advantage of Fiocchi nickel-plated loads, you'll want to give them a go. It means better patterns and more birds, cleaner and faster than with soft-shot promo shells. Unlike many manufacturers, Fiocchi lists the antimony percentage of the shot used in all of their loads, and the respective standard deviations as well, so you know what you are shooting. The pattern board tells you the rest.
Post by: Intruder on December 12, 2008, 08:32:32 AM
20ga 2 3/4" #6 mod and full for wilder birds, cyl and mod if they hold. last weekend I used low base 7 1/2's and it still dumped them just fine. what ever you use, go pattern your gun, that will be worth more then a whole bunch of 3" shells.
For later in the season when the birds are getting up at 40 yards if you're lucky, I like using 4 or 5 shot. I really like the Fiocchi Golden Pheasant shells. They have 1 3/8 ounces of shot and they are available in #5's, which is the perfect size shot in my opinion. They are available at Cabela's and I believe Sportsman's Warehouse.
Both of these posts are spot on. If you don't reload those Golden Pheasants are really good. I've had decent luck w/ the Kent Fast Lead too. Have heard the Win Pheasant loads are pretty good too. Getting a load that performs well w/ particular chokes is the key. Since I shoot a 20 95% of the time I rarely shoot bigger than 5s. I shoot 6s the vast majority of the time, 7s and 7 1/2 a fair amount and 5s late season. Having a double is nice cuz you can mix shot size and chokes. I've never had any factory 3" shells perform worth a darn out of my 20... although I have some reloaded 3" 1 1/8 oz 20s that are rooster slayers. Not sure you'd ever need anything more than those 1 3/8 oz 12 gauge loads. I've killed roosters out past 50 yards w/ those buggers using Im Mod choke.
For a general all around load it's hard to beat 1oz 6s in 20 and 1 1/4 oz of 6s in 12 out of a Mod choke.
Post by: high country on December 12, 2008, 10:37:42 AM
no matter which shell you choose pattern it. and pattern it with each choke you plan to use .double guys, barrel regulation can be off in even the best guns so patterning is a responsibility.
I use this as my own guidelines.....
7-1/2 puts birds down for me to about 35-40 yds
6 about 40-50yds
5's about 45-55yds
4's 50-55yds
the reason my shots keep slowing down as distance increases has nothing to do with pellet size, but more with pattern density. a #4 load will put a rooty down at 75yds, I have seen it and done it, but 99% of the time it is a miss and an educational event for the rooty.
here is a chart on pellet counts. notice you get 100 more pellets in 6 vs 4.....that is a big difference. not many birds hit the deck from a single pellet, so accuracy by volume is your friend.
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Campground/8979/count.html
Post by: Intruder on December 12, 2008, 10:58:36 AM
Post by: C-Money on December 24, 2008, 05:21:42 PM
Post by: clindsayrun on December 27, 2008, 06:17:46 PM
Post by: high country on December 28, 2008, 09:33:40 AM
Post by: firecrotch on December 29, 2008, 09:28:40 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on December 30, 2008, 09:15:22 AM
i got some winchester super pheasents
we went and i got a rooster and a quail and missed some other ones.
Post by: C-Money on December 30, 2008, 09:21:57 AM