Ideal Gauges and Loads

[TrapperReady]

All the talk of quail and the mythical 28ga has me thinking...

What do you personally consider to be optimal for different kinds of game? For example, it seems that a 28ga running 3/4 oz of #7.5 would be tough to beat for quail. That same bore and load isn't going to work nearly as well for wild pheasant.

So, please consider quail, pheasant, chukar, dove, woodcock, grouse, duck, goose, etc... and let me know your preference.

 

[SkunkApe]

I can only address the species I hunt; ruffed grouse and woodcock. I hunt without a dog, so I limit myself to fairly close shots to minimze the risk of losing crippled birds (especially grouse, which are far more likely than woodies to run when wounded). My usually bird gun is a 20-gauge side-by-side, bored improved-cylinder and modified.

For woodcock, 7/8-ounce of #8s with 2-1/2 dram equivalent powder in both barrels is ideal.

For early season, heavy cover grouse, which usually offer relatively close shots, I use the same #8s as above in the right barrel, and 7/8-ox X 2-1/2 drams of #7-1/2s in the right. The is my "normal" load when both grouse and woodcock are possible.

In the late season, when the leaves are down and the woodies are gone, I usually use the #7-1/2 load in both barrels. I occasionally use a 1-ounce, 2-3/4 dram load of #6s in the left barrel after the winter feathers are on the grouse.

These loads are the results of many patterning experiments and actual hunting. In my gun, the 1-ounce loads of #7-1/2s and #8s pattern less uniformly than the 7/8-ounce loads.

By the way, #9s are murder on woodcock, but inadequate for grouse, in my opinion.

My woodcock usually flush from one to ten yards from me. The grouse usually flush at eight to twenty yards. I don't shoot much past twenty yards, unless the birds flush across open cover (which is very rare).

 

[SkunkApe]

Oh, and I hunted with a 28-gauge side-by-side, bored imp-cyl and modified for a few years. 3/4-ounce of #7-1/2s and #8s was my usual load. It was dandy on woodcock, but a bit light for grouse. Just not enough pellet count, I guess.

As a side note, typical 28-gauge factory loads usually have a higher velocity that typical 20-gauge loads. They just have less pellets. If I bought another 28-gauge, I'd probably get it bored modified and full to keep pellet density with the smaller loads. Trouble is, its hard to find a 28-gauge that weighs less than a 20-gauge. If you're not going to gain a weight advantage, why sacrifice pellet count? My 20-gauge weighs six-pounds, two-ounces.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I'm big enough to handle a 7 lb plus shotgun in the field, so I pretty much stick to 12 gauge.

Quail, woodcock, cheap 8s for max spread at close range. Shot 3 grouse in my life so no preferences there.

Preserve pheasants and chukars, above or an oz of 7 1/2s.

Wild pheasants, the AA heavy target load of 7 1/2s for the first shot, the Remington Long Range 1 1/4 oz of 6s for the rest or if they're spooking.

Dove, the AAs mostly, or similar reload.

Rabbits and squirrels, above or cheap 6s in game load specials.

Ducks, steel 4s or 3s when I can find them. Latest box here is Federal. Do little ducking these days, turning into a rich man's sport.

Snow geese,BBBs, though Hevi-Shot will be tried next time. Dunno what size yet.

HTH....

 

[mod12]

loads and gauges/skunk

down south heah in ahia i used a 16 with an oz. of #8 for grouse but switched to a 20 sxs and still used an oz. of 7 1/2. bought 10 boxes of low brass fed. 20 on sale at k-mart in early 70's and after getting home discovered they were 7/8 oz. loved them. could never find them again. your sxs sounds like my ithaca skb 200e. at least same weight and chokes. oh, to reliably do a job on wolverines we pelt them with footballs

 

[PJR]

Little birds (grouse, huns, etc) get 24 gram, 7-1/2 plated shot going fast in either a 12 or 20, I may put a one ounce load in the second barrel.

Bigger birds (phesants) get 1-1/8 ounces minimum of #6 at 1200 to 1250 fps with a #5 in the second barrel. 12 gauge only.

Waterfowl usually has me reaching for Kent Impact. 1-1/4 ounce 2-3/4" #3 for ducks over decoys, 3" 1-3/4 ounce #1 for geese.

And for the biggest bird I've every squared off against, #4 Buck in the spout backed up with two rounds of 00 buck and two slugs. The bird in question was an ostrich that got loose from a nearby farm and was wandering around our place. Had it gotten into the horse paddock it was done for. The plan was for a headshot with the #4 and shots to the body if that didn't work. They are nasty birds but before things got too serious the owner of the wandering fowl reclaimed his property.

Paul