Originally Posted By: AWSMy un-scientific observations over 60 yrs of shotgunning, trap, skeet, sporting clays, upland and waterfowl hunting, gunning for bird dog hunt tests, and predator hunting that speed is highly overrated in shotshells, even 1250fps steel worked fine for me. Almost everything I load is between 1100 and 1200 fps and if not, it is even lower. Charge weights that have been very successful for me is an ounce of shot and surprisingly it is my goto in 12, 16, and 20ga. The only time I deviate is with 1 1/4 oz of shot in my predator loads.
You certainly do have good taste! Nice looking birds and good looking shotguns!
One of the most effective things in shotgunning is getting close to your quarry. A good dog far outshines expensive ammo, learning what waterfowl want and fooling them into thinking you have it will put them in your lap, setting up so your shots will be 50 yards and in will kill preds with the mildest of loads. The farther you have to shoot the greater the chance of missing or just putting a couple of pellets in and having the critter go to waste.
Another is practice, I love shooting lowgun skeet and it will get you used to the angles and leads, trap will teach you to shoot a critter in the azz, I am finding Sporting Clays to be a well-rounded practice, running rabbits will double for coyotes and flying clays will give you everything from flushing quail to incoming honkers.
Good luck to you, the MEC is a good machine, I have 600's in 12 and 16 and another that I can convert from 20 to 10ga and back, I only load 2 7/8 10ga so it is a simple change.
1oz NP BB
7/8oz ITX 6's
1oz lead 6's MT wild pheasants. Interesting 3 colour phases of birds.
