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< 16ga. Ammunition & Reloading ~ Best Factory Load for pheasants? |
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Posted:
Sat Jan 21, 2017 8:57 pm
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Joined: 05 Nov 2016
Posts: 189
Location: Montana
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"The best load is a good dog".
yup.
Preferably loaded in wiry hair and a beard |
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Posted:
Sat Jan 21, 2017 9:05 pm
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Joined: 16 Jul 2015
Posts: 2126
Location: Hudson,Wy
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Perhaps, but I sure like to do my part to make sure a pheasant comes down for him and his Bee Gee's hair style first! Bee Gee's hair? Well, the pic explains it best.
[[URL=http://s616.photobucket.com/user/kingcanis/media/All%20three%201%20of%201%20683x1024.jpg.html]
[/URL]][/img] |
Last edited by WyoChukar on Sat Jan 21, 2017 9:11 pm; edited 1 time in total _________________ Only catch snowflakes on your tongue AFTER the birds fly south for the winter... |
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Posted:
Sat Jan 21, 2017 9:09 pm
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mtbirder wrote: |
"The best load is a good dog".
yup.
Preferably loaded in wiry hair and a beard
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Correct! |
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Posted:
Sun Jan 22, 2017 6:26 pm
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Member
Joined: 21 Feb 2005
Posts: 367
Location: Anchorage, AK
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readgriff- what you say about shot size in Italian Golden Pheasants makes sense. The Italian shot is smaller. On the other hand there is more of it. I have used B&P High Pheasant #6 loads with good results on wild birds. I don not mean 40 + yards, though. I tend to shy away from shots over 40 yards because the crippling rate rises exponentially.
I don't think 1-1/4 ounce 16 gauge shells are worth the money or necessary. They tend to really have a lot of recoil in most 16 bores, particularly the ones under 6-3/4 pounds.
For best results pattern the loads at ranges you intend to use them and compare.
Cheers! |
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Posted:
Mon Jan 23, 2017 4:51 am
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The Herter's 1 1/8 oz. 5's are good loads and on sale right now for $69.99/flat. |
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Posted:
Mon Jan 23, 2017 6:19 am
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Joined: 06 Jun 2008
Posts: 117
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I agree with no need of 1 1/4 oz loads in a 16 ga.
Do not shoot golden pheasant any more I like true 4 and 5 shot better.
I believe the Herters shells are true shot size at least the 8 shot is.
Never shoot at pheasants at a very long distance usually shoot off points so they are close open chokes.
It's all about the dog work not the game pouch😀 |
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Posted:
Mon Jan 23, 2017 10:45 am
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Member
Joined: 21 Feb 2005
Posts: 367
Location: Anchorage, AK
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Dave-have you patterned the Herter's #5's and are they hard shot. I bought a box of 3-1/4 x 1-1/4 12 ga loads at Cabelas but haven't tried them yet. Thanks
Mike |
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Posted:
Mon Jan 23, 2017 12:17 pm
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Member
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Posts: 605
Location: Topeka, Kansas
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Concur with Dave, a good dog will more important, however the question of best is subjective. My opinion is based on a Citori only and not a vintage gun.
Light pheasant load: Fiochi Golden Pheasant
Heavy: federal Wingshok 1 1/4
My old favorite of Winchester Super Double X is long ago history.
That said I have killed more pheasanr in the last five years with 1 oz spreader loads in an RMC brass shell over a point under 25yards |
_________________ Michael
Topeka, KS |
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Posted:
Mon Jan 23, 2017 3:31 pm
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Little Creek wrote: |
Dave-have you patterned the Herter's #5's and are they hard shot. I bought a box of 3-1/4 x 1-1/4 12 ga loads at Cabelas but haven't tried them yet. Thanks
Mike
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If I did pattern them I have forgotten how they looked. I'll prolly check again this spring/summer. I doubt if they are hard shot which is always desireable, but there's something to be said for good patterning, denser, soft shot. Black Belt and I have been chatting about these loads because we've both read that they are euro-sized 5's and standard American 5's. I'll cut on open tonight and check that out and try to discern how hard or soft it is.
I shot most of my pheasants with my 12 gauges this year, but I did take 3 roosters with these loads in a couple 16's. The first two were close shots off points, and the 3rd bird was a a longish shot at 35+ yards and the rooster folded dead.
I like these Herter's 1 1/8 oz. loads because they seem a little milder in my doubles. The Fiocchi's I've shot are great killers, but pretty violent in a light 16, and I worry a little about cracked stocks. |
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Posted:
Mon Jan 23, 2017 9:42 pm
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I disassembled one of the Herter's 1 1/8 oz. #5 loads tonight. It weighed 496.3 grains which is very slightly over 1 1/8 oz. I counted 237 pellets which suggests they are smaller than standard American 5's. My chart says 1 1/8 oz. of American 5's should be around 190 pellets. The wad has a nice deep shot cup and contains all but a layer or so of the shot. The shot felt on the soft side with my unscientific pliers squeeze, but I do know how hard shot feels with the same pliers. Not a premium load, but for the price not too bad either. I'll do some patterning when the weather breaks. |
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Posted:
Mon Jan 23, 2017 9:47 pm
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Member
Joined: 21 Feb 2005
Posts: 367
Location: Anchorage, AK
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Dave, sounds like my Herters shells are not a long range load. I am not disappointed, though. |
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Posted:
Mon Jan 23, 2017 9:52 pm
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If they hold a good pattern you might be surprised! |
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Posted:
Tue Jan 24, 2017 4:27 am
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[URL=https://imageshack.com/i/pli7FXQuj]
[/URL] |
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Posted:
Tue Jan 24, 2017 9:31 am
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Joined: 16 Jul 2015
Posts: 2126
Location: Hudson,Wy
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I guess I would ask myself one question before worrying about ammo performance. "How far away do I shoot my birds"? If the answer is only out to 35 yards, don't worry about it. Almost any load of #6,5,or 4 shot in a 16 ga. will do the job well.
It's out beyond 40 yards where the difference between premium performance and mediocre performance becomes evident and troublesome. Notice I said premium performance, not premium ammo. The performance makes a load premium, not advertising, hype, or price. Some "premium" ammo really is and some really isn't.
"Best load is a good dog". Some final thoughts there. That statement works fairly well most of the time, as long as the option is open. Due to trespass laws you may or may not be able to send the dog on a long retrieve. Then there is the matter of a winged bird leading a dog out across a road about the time someone is speeding down it. Third thought: in real good pheasant country there can be several hundred birds (or way more!) in a single field leaving an ocean of scent. Expecting a dog to find the individual bird that is running full stride with a broken wing is no guarantee. |
_________________ Only catch snowflakes on your tongue AFTER the birds fly south for the winter... |
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Posted:
Tue Jan 24, 2017 10:12 am
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Member
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Posts: 989
Location: Las Vegas
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old colonel wrote: |
Concur with Dave, a good dog will more important, however the question of best is subjective. My opinion is based on a Citori only and not a vintage gun.
Light pheasant load: Fiochi Golden Pheasant
Heavy: federal Wingshok 1 1/4
My old favorite of Winchester Super Double X is long ago history.
That said I have killed more pheasanr in the last five years with 1 oz spreader loads in an RMC brass shell over a point under 25yards
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Golden Pheasant are your light load? Mine are 1 1/8 oz at 1,300 fps. Those will get your attention in a 6 lb gun.
Matt |
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