Im pretty new at pheasant hunting and just woundering what type of shell and shot to use in my 12 gauge. I have been using 6 or 7 shot for grouse and that seems to work pretty good could i use the same for pheasant?
Lead or steel?
Steel – I’d use 3 or 4 shot.
Lead 4 or 5 shot.
Later in the season, I even go to 2 shot with steel as the birds tend to flush further out.
Just my 2 cents. 
I’m sure you’ll get a bunch of replies.
Thanks
Same here!
Lead, I use 4 to 6 shot mainly. Depending on time of year and if the birds are holding or not. Late season I will even go 3″ #4’s.
Steel, I only use 2 shot for pheasants.
4 and 5 shot until late season.
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Lead, I use 4 to 6 shot mainly. Depending on time of year and if the birds are holding or not. Late season I will even go 3″ #4’s.
Steel, I only use 2 shot for pheasants.
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Im pretty new at pheasant hunting and just woundering what type of shell and shot to use in my 12 gauge. I have been using 6 or 7 shot for grouse and that seems to work pretty good could i use the same for pheasant?
If you are using steel don’t use anything but 2 or 3 shot. There was a study done several years ago and 2 shot was the best steel shot for pheasants. All 4 shot did was wound birds for the most part.
I used #4 steel last year and was not happy with them. To many cripples that the dog had to work to hard to find. This year I changed to #2 and also I got some heavy shot #4.
Well i made the swith this year to straight steel due to the fact that i got sick and tired of swiching shells from when i hunt private land to a WPA etc. Steel in 4 shot has worked well this year. I do switch from a IC choke to a Modified later in the year and i think that does make a difference. Late in the season i have shot BB as my second shot, usually don’t need a third. 
but it is getting expensive.
#2 Steel or #4 Lead. That is pretty much all I use, no matter what time of year.
I have also gone to all steel and mostly #2 & #4. I use the same for ducks and I also hunt WMA’s and WPA’s and hate to have to think about what I have on me. I also like #3’s but they are harder to find.
You dont have to ge too hung up on shot size. Its more important to get high power rounds. High power 6’s will work fine if that is what you have laying around. I use 5’s on pheasant. Sometimes 4. I am not an authority on steel and have had only bad expreinces with it.
4 shot and use a high power magnum load. I got tired of wounding birds and bought a loader. We put together a recipie for 2 3/4″ shells and the birds are dead now befor they hit the ground.
Thanks for all the info guys. Another question i use an old dubble barrell 12 gauge will steel shot be ok to use i have heard some bad things about steel. And is it leagal to use lead on state land ?
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Thanks for all the info guys. Another question i use an old dubble barrell 12 gauge will steel shot be ok to use i have heard some bad things about steel.
It depends on how old the gun is. Steel can be really hard on some of the older guns. I would check with the gun manufacture. Does it have removable chokes?
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And is it leagal to use lead on state land ?
I am assuming that you are from Mn.
The run down on state land in MN is: You can use lead on all public land that are NOT WPA’s, Waterfowl Production Areas. On the WPA’s use must use steel and not any possess lead shells.
When I am traveling around the state hunting state land I carry two different shell belts, one with steel and the other with lead. When I arrive at a WPA I grab my steel belt and make sure that my vest is lead free and I am good to go.
Ron
Thanks. I am heading out the door and going to try and bag a few birds. I am going to pick up a box of #4 lead and see what happens. Thanks for all the feed back Its a Davis Deluxe That is the make of my DB 12 guage I have never heard of it is it an o.k gun or junk. I paid 100 bucks for it
Can you give me some more info on your shotgun? Does it have Crescent Arms or Crescent Davis stamped on it ? Any other markings would be helpful as well. 
It has what looks like a goose on both sides of the name Davis Deluxe. Then it says MADE BY THE DAVIS-WARNER ARMS CORP.NORWICH.CONN.U.S.A. O YA by the way i shot my first pheasent with it today the bird dropped with #4 lead at about 40 yards.
Conrats on your first pheasant 
I would definately not use steel shot in your gun. it was made before 1929. If your in an area where steel shot is required use one of the non toxic substitutes like bismuth or hevi shot as they are much softer. As far as value your gun is a basic shooter listed between $125 and $250 depending on condition, so blaze away and have fun.
There is a lot of good information given to you, but there is one key piece missing and that is the amount of shot and not just the shot size. As for shot size, I concur with most on here in that #2 if shooting steel and #4 in lead. There are a lot of cheap shells out there that have an ounce or an 1 1/8 ounce shot. You will cripple less birds if you pay the extra to get the 1 1/2 oz shot.
Justin
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