Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: Dave Workman on July 17, 2023, 03:53:57 AM

Title: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: Dave Workman on July 17, 2023, 03:53:57 AM: This should be easy:
What is your preferred shot size for grouse, doves, quail, chukar?
Is it the same for all?
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: CP on July 17, 2023, 05:27:13 AM: 7 1/2 for all, #7s if I can find them.
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: Alex4200 on July 17, 2023, 06:40:42 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: C-Money on July 17, 2023, 07:16:14 AM: 7 1/2s are probably my choice. Reclaimed works fine too...
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: wadu1 on July 17, 2023, 08:10:06 AM: 8 or 7 1/2 depending on what I grab from the loading bench.
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: h2ofowlr on July 17, 2023, 08:46:42 AM: 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. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: metlhead on July 17, 2023, 09:58:44 AM: I shoot non-tox for everything nowadays. They all get high speed #6 steel from my 20. Chukar and chickens get the 3" loads.
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: boneaddict on July 17, 2023, 11:32:50 AM: shooting 6 steel at the moment out of the 20, but not super particular though
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: kselkhunter on July 17, 2023, 12:20:18 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: Dave Workman on July 20, 2023, 10:12:48 AM: 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!
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: mossback91 on July 20, 2023, 10:23:35 AM: Quote from: Dave Workman on July 20, 2023, 10:12:48 AM
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!
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: hunter399 on July 20, 2023, 11:21:34 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: Dave Workman on July 21, 2023, 03:35:32 AM: Quote from: hunter399 on July 20, 2023, 11:21:34 AM
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! :yike:
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: Farmer72 on July 21, 2023, 07:40:35 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: erronulvin on July 23, 2023, 10:40:28 AM: 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
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: Dave Workman on July 23, 2023, 11:07:14 AM: Quote from: erronulvin on July 23, 2023, 10:40:28 AM
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

Now THIS makes uncanny good sense! I run double barrel guns most of the time, and they are choked either full/mod (fixed) or IC/Mod with interchangeable choke tubes.
My congratulations to your simplicity!
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: blackdog on July 23, 2023, 01:40:51 PM: #5grouse, doves 7.5 or 8, band tails #5, Chukars #6.
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: Chukar on July 23, 2023, 03:13:24 PM: Hi-Base #6 for Chukar
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: erronulvin on July 24, 2023, 10:29:18 AM: Quote from: Dave Workman on July 23, 2023, 11:07:14 AM
Quote from: erronulvin on July 23, 2023, 10:40:28 AM
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

Now THIS makes uncanny good sense! I run double barrel guns most of the time, and they are choked either full/mod (fixed) or IC/Mod with interchangeable choke tubes.
My congratulations to your simplicity!

Ha I like it to be as simple as possible, I shoot a benelli M2 with a pattern master full choke. I've been running this setup for the past 10 years or so and really like the combo, it patterns really well lead, bismuth and tungsten and does a fairly good job with steel depending on shot size and velocity. I think my favorite load to use all around is hevi-x #6. I've shot everything from huns to turkeys with it, also not gonna lie it works great for pheasant but it's a spendy shell but awesome for non toxic. I mainly use it when I hunt open country pheasants as my last 2 shells and my first one is the boss 2 3/4 #4s
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: Dave Workman on July 26, 2023, 05:26:41 PM: My thanks to all of you who submitted information. I used some of it for my September column in NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN. It's all about grouse hunting, and I hope you guys enjoy it.
Title: Re: Preferred SHOT SIZES?
Post by: salish on August 05, 2023, 09:44:35 AM: I hunt with old 16ga guns and have always used #6 for chukar, huns and pheasant and #7-1/2 for quail. I don't hunt grouse. Last season I bought a case of BOSS #6 for use on quail at the suggestion of the people at BOSS. I shot few quail last year (or much of anything due to injuries that kept me out of the field). The #6 BOSS crumpled roosters and chukar at moderate ranges, so it may be a little overkill for quail, despite what they suggested. I may move down a size in BOSS. I'm happy with BOSS, but it's expensive. I still have a lot of lead left but since I hunt areas where non-tox is required I grow weary of having to switch back and forth.