What Ammo?

  • honest_john
    Twin Cities, Minn.
    Posts: 90
    October 25, 2012 at 10:07 pm #212308

    What do you folks recommend for lead ammo for my 12 guage on pheasants? I want to be able to knock them down, but I don’t want the bird too badly shot up. Is 2 3/4 inch sufficient? What velocity are you looking for? What size shot? 5, 6, 7 1/2? What do you think is ideal? Thanks for your thoughts/opinions/experience.

    suzuki
    Woodbury, Mn
    Posts: 18621
    October 25, 2012 at 11:02 pm #125525

    I’m leaving in the morning for Iowa. All my lead is 2 3/4 #5. Both Rem Express and Fed Premium. You can bounce around between 4 and 6 so I picked a happy medium a few years back. I think 4 or 5 is best. Smaller(6 or 7.5) works on the short shots but you cant always depend on having those. And larger shot means less bb’s and usually less damage though that is mostly dependant on distance shot.
    In steel I have 3″ in #3 and #4 shot. Black Cloud is a trusted steel ammo.

    kooty
    Keymaster
    1 hour 15 mins to the Pond
    Posts: 18101
    October 25, 2012 at 11:06 pm #125526

    2 3/4″ 4’s 5’s or 6’s are sufficient. I bought 5’s for last weekend in SD. When I did my job, the 5’s did their job. I shot the Prairie Storm rounds for the first time. You can cut down on the lead and they reach out to 40-50 yards no problem.

    drew_h.
    Posts: 6
    October 25, 2012 at 11:53 pm #125528

    If you are hunting with a trained pointer may dictate what your first shell will contain. I use #5’s in shot shells and in my muzzle loaders. IMHO

    kevin_sahly
    maple grove,mn
    Posts: 116
    October 26, 2012 at 12:10 am #125529

    Agree, #5, 2 3/4 works great. I don’t spend the $ on speed shot for pheasants.Cheaper ones work fine, though I won’t use the winchesters.

    fish_any_time
    Champlin, MN
    Posts: 2097
    October 26, 2012 at 10:52 am #125531

    Yep, what those guys say. 1 1/4 ounce 5’s in 2.75″ is what I use in the Federal Premium.

    Fife
    Ramsey, MN
    Posts: 4044
    October 26, 2012 at 12:26 pm #125534

    I shoot #5 Prairie Storm and I have been happy with it.

    Pete Bauer
    Stillwater, MN
    Posts: 2599
    October 26, 2012 at 12:41 pm #125535

    What choke are you guys using with the Prairie Storms?

    I’ve destroyed a few birds with that load, but it does seem effective…

    kooty
    Keymaster
    1 hour 15 mins to the Pond
    Posts: 18101
    October 26, 2012 at 2:17 pm #125547

    I’m shooting the modified in my 870 right now. I dusted a bird at 50 yards last weekend, puffed my chest out and acted like I knew what I was doing. I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t stepped it off myself.

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