Shotgun ammo

Where do you guys buy your upland shotgun ammo? I’m looking to buy a case of higher quality 3” 20 ga lead and steel for my South Dakota trips this year. I realize “deals” on ammo are few and far between these days but trying to find the most reasonably priced place without waiting until I’m out in South Dakota. I usually go to fleet farm or gander but I feel like there’s got to be more reasonably priced stuff out there.

So for pheasants, what do you guys shoot and where do you buy it?

Jake, for lead shot, Fiocci Golden Pheasant and Federal Prairie Storm are my two favorite ammos for upland. I am a firm believer that the cooper plated shot pulls fewer feathers into the meat and make cleaning birds easier. They’re both “premium” ammo at premium price, but in the scheme of things, ammo is a very small component in the cost of a trip to South Dakota. I tend to shoot 6 shot I/C choke in early season and move to 5 shot modified later on when all the dumb birds are gone. Prices seem to be close to the same everywhere I look.

Do “premium” type hunting loads come in cases? I suppose it must but I’ve never noticed or needed a whole case for my hunting trips I have ordered some ammo from MidwayUSA when I couldn’t find it locally but, for only a couple boxes, it was more expensive due to shipping.

Brian G wrote:

Jake, for lead shot, Fiocci Golden Pheasant

I love this stuff.

Fiocci golden pheasant or Winchester super X at Scheels

Fiocci golden pheasant is what I shot last year in SD in the places I could shoot lead and I really liked the stuff. Hard to find the stuff around here, at least in Duluth. I’ve shot the Federal Prairie Storm also but only in 12 ga. Again, hard to find it in 20 ga, at least around here. I agree that ammo is one thing not to be cheap with. Its the only thing standing between your gun and the bird.

Reef – I’ve never needed a case for a trip either. Ammo prices seem to only go up year after year and ammo doesn’t go bad by the time I will go through it. Plus, I’m doing two five day trips this year whereas most years, I only do one. Plus I’ll do one “warm up” day at a game farm here in MN before the SD trips. I’m a fan of having a few choices of different ammo in the truck to choose from based on that particular day’s conditions.

I got a franchi instinct 20 ga O/U last year and man do I love that gun. Super light and I am very accurate with it. Plus having two different chokes on your gun is definitely an advantage over a single barrel IMO. Yes, you only get two shots, but if you need more than two shots at a bird, you probably should spend more time practicing with clays. At least thats what I tell my buddies Plus, when I shoot more birds with my 20 ga than they do with a 12, I get to chirp them even more when we are kicking back with some post-hunt adult sodas.

I prefer Prairie Storm or Wing Shok by Federal. They both have an extremely high velocity of 1500 fps. Its the fastest one I know of – Fiocci Golden Pheasant loads aren’t that fast.

Federal has a rebate on cases of Prairie Storm and Wing Shot. You can pocket the $50 rebate per case, or you can defer the money and Federal will donate $60 to Pheasants Forever, and you’ll get the Rooster Booster PF membership.

http://www.federalpremium.com/promotions.html

gimruis wrote:

I prefer Prairie Storm or Wing Shok by Federal. They both have an extremely high velocity of 1500 fps. Its the fastest one I know of – Fiocci Golden Pheasant loads aren’t that fast.

Prairie storm 3″ 1 1/4oz run 1300 fps for lead.
Wing Shok 2 3/4″ 1 1/8oz run 1175 fps for lead.

If you are shooting an O/U pick up some 2 3/4″ 1oz. super pheasants from winchester or you can get the fiocchi golden pheasants in 2 3/4″ 1oz nickel plated.
These have a far better pattern than anything you will get in 3″ shells.

You don’t need a hot rod load to down birds.

TimberCrappie wrote:

These have a far better pattern than anything you will get in 3″ shells.

Interesting.. do you know why that is? Is that in general or specific to an O/U?

Best shotgun shell prices and variety. Usually free shipping. Used to be no tax, but I’m not sure on that anymore. Been buying cases and cases from this place for years. Rogers Sporting Goods. https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/

Splitshot

I just ordered a case of Remington Nitro pheasant from Brownells. I shot some last year but hard to get in the stores. For the little non-toxic hunting I did I used Kent Waterfowl Bismouth about $32 for a box of 25 (Fleet Farm). They seemed to work well. After the work the dog and I go through I don’t have a problem spending a little more on shells.

I bought a Browning 12 gauge 725 Feather a couple of years ago and really fell in love with it last year. Thought about the 20 but couldn’t quite let go of the 12. Maybe next year after my house is paid for. It is light and points well. I also like the 2 different chokes. I seem to shoot fewer shells per bird in the bag.

https://www.brownells.com/ammunition/shotgun-ammo/index.htm

blank wrote:

Federal has a rebate on cases of Prairie Storm and Wing Shot. You can pocket the $50 rebate per case, or you can defer the money and Federal will donate $60 to Pheasants Forever, and you’ll get the Rooster Booster PF membership.

http://www.federalpremium.com/promotions.html

Fleet farm is featuring this in their weekly flyer.

Gitchi Gummi wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>jaimep0725 wrote:</div>
These have a far better pattern than anything you will get in 3″ shells.

Interesting.. do you know why that is? Is that in general or specific to an O/U?

We only shoot O/U’s so I cannot comment on auto-loaders but I suspect they would have similar results.

Not sure why it is the case but the pattern boards do not lie.

splitshot wrote:

Best shotgun shell prices and variety. Usually free shipping. Used to be no tax, but I’m not sure on that anymore. Been buying cases and cases from this place for years. Rogers Sporting Goods. https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/

Splitshot

X2 Rogers is the only place I buy shotgun shells

TimberCrappie wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>gimruis wrote:</div>
I prefer Prairie Storm or Wing Shok by Federal. They both have an extremely high velocity of 1500 fps. Its the fastest one I know of – Fiocci Golden Pheasant loads aren’t that fast.

Prairie storm 3″ 1 1/4oz run 1300 fps for lead.
Wing Shok 2 3/4″ 1 1/8oz run 1175 fps for lead.

If you are shooting an O/U pick up some 2 3/4″ 1oz. super pheasants from winchester or you can get the fiocchi golden pheasants in 2 3/4″ 1oz nickel plated.
These have a far better pattern than anything you will get in 3″ shells.

You don’t need a hot rod load to down birds.

I should mention I was referring to 2 3/4 inch loads, not 3 inches. I don’t shoot 3 inchers with my Benelli, the recoil is unbearable because it’s such a light gun.

I do the majority of my pheasant hunting with a 20 gauge. I really like the Prairie Storm in 3 inch 6 shot and 5 shot for later season. I also use the Fiochii Golden Pheasant and it is good but I like the Prairie Storm better. Runnings has a good selection of both of these brands. There are many Runnings stores in Western MN and both of the Dakotas.