pheasant load

B

BIG JOHN

New member
Taking my son on a pheasant hunt.We both shoot 12ga. 1 870 and 1 franchi auto. Never hunted pheasant. Looking for advice on loads to shoot. Will the usual dove loads work? Any other advice would be appreciated. Thanks BIG JOHN
 
John - My very favorite is 1 1/4 oz of 5 shot in a 12 ga. I wouldn't go with dove loads. Pheasants are tough bird with a strong will to live. I've seen many birds have to be tracked down a long ways by the dog and later clean the bird and find he was all busted up just the pellets hadn't hit any vitals. Where are you going to hunt them at?
 
Shorthair is right on the mark, I also would suggest getting winchesters high velocity load I think it is 1400 FPS, when you are not used to shooting at a bird that has a 2 foot tail it is hard to get in fromnt of them and a fast load dose help.
 
Thanks guys, Actually this is not what I would call a true hunt. This is whats called a continetal pheasant shoot.New to me. My son won it from a local group here in Ga. that promotes youth hunting. Its called Next Generation Sportsman. Its a really great group. Anyway these are not wild birds,they are released. I would love to get out and do a real hunt, but wild pheasant aint something you see in Ga. Anyway Thanks, any more advice would help, I here they are real fast flying. Should be alot of fun.Another precious memory with my boy. Thanks BIG JOHN
 
Big John - Great thing going hunting with your son. You will have fun. Mine is chomping at the bit(Saturday the 29th is the opener!!)
Is this continental shoot like a driven shoot in England? If a rooster gets with the wind they have a bad habit of humbling a shooter real quick. Howler also hit on something to keep in mind that bird is not near as big as he looks flying with that tail.
Have a great time with your son and take plenty of pictures of you both with those good looking birds.
 
Good load recommendations above! Great advice also on not getting sucked in by the bird's tail. Put the bead on the head, lead, smack the trigger, swing through. Good luck. I'm taking my 6 year old out for the first time this season. Take some pics and let us know.
 
I use nothing but high brass #5's in the 12ga and 20ga. #6 high brass in the 16ga. Just remember, point for the head instead of the tail.
 
Quote:
Just remember, point for the head instead of the tail.



Damn, that's my problem................ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

Good adviced from everyone. I like 5s too but I've also been known to shoot 7 1/2 for the first round early in the season. Depends on what gun I'm using.

Our season starts next weekend.
 


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