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Joined: 23 Aug 2007 Posts: 25 Location: pa

What is the actual hunting/killing/penetration difference between the #7 1/2 shot size and the #7? And how would the #6 shot size compare to the #7 and vice verse. I have no experience with 7's. With the hunting that I do I definitely see/notice the increased killing power of 6's vs 7 1/2's especially in small gauge firearms, like the 28ga. A lot of times the 7 1/2 just seems like not enough power, increased cripples and the dog running down wounded game. Where as the 6's knocks them dead. Would the increases pellet count of the 7's vs the 6's in 3/4oz load be worth the trouble? Would the 7's be ultimate shot size with a balance of pellet count and energy?

Tough questions. Many years ago I bought a lifetime supply of #7 shot and use it for huns, chukar and mountain grouse. I have done penetration tests and don't have or remember the specifics. I built a fixture that held 20 1/4" pieces of common cardboard vertically and shot various shot sizes at the same velocity. As expected better penetration was seen in the following order #5 1/2, #6, #7 and #7 1/2. My hunting loads exclude #7 1/2, but I do use #8 for dove.
I shoot 3/4, 7/8, 1 and 1 1/8 oz loads.

With no scientific proof to back me up, just experience....I have hunted and still hunt in places where you are just as likely to find quail as you are pheasants and have used #7's for the first load successfully on both. I cant say if they would kill a pheasant at longer ranges because I haven't ever used them as the second shot. But 7's will kill a pheasant out to 30 yards with no issue and quail as far as you dare to shoot at them.

There is a difference between 7's and 7 1/2's but not night and day.

As with payloads, chokes, velocities etc. you are playing the percentages and when you use a slightly larger pellet you have increased pellet energy and decreased pattern density. The proof as to whether it works or not for you, will show itself when YOU try it. Everybody has different experiences when it comes to killing birds.

There are only 2 lead pellet sizes that I use for upland and those are 7's and 6's. the smaller pellets will work, but from my experience a load of 8's or 9's can really put a bunch of holes in a bird, that don't need to be there.

As for any 3/4 oz. load, I would definitely use 7's for the first shot over 7 1/2's or 6's......just my view from the cheap seats.

I've used #7 shot for both 16 and 28 gauge close range, light duty early season pheasant and later season grouse loads at approximately 1200-1250 FPS in the past with some success. 7/8 ounces of #7 shot provides approximately 200 pellets per load. 200 pellets is considered adequate for taking pheasant and grouse sized birds at moderate ranges out to 30 yards max if the selected chokes are also appropriate for effective pattern densities. IC and Mod are about perfect in my experience or IC if I'm using a repeater.

I agree with DC that #7.5 and smaller shot sizes often provide too much pattern density if shot loads exceed 3/4 ounces and are used at closer ranges on pheasant sized birds. These smaller pellets don't pack enough punch past 20 yards unless birds are head shot. #7.5 loads result in either shot up birds or cripples in my pheasant hunting experience. None for me thanks.

However, I've regularly hunted ruffed grouse and wild or holdover quail with 3/4 ounces of 7.5 shot in the same two gauges used with Cylinder and Skeet chokes, Skeet and Skeet, Skeet and IC, or simply Skeet in a repeater. I've also frequently taken stocked quail, snipe, and rail in close with 1/2 or 5/8 ounces of #8 or #8.5 shot out of a .410 choked Skeet/IC (.002" and .005") with excellent success.

the ONLY significant difference is the number of pellets per once

Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 1460 Location: Eagle, Nebraska

as with Dogchaser, I am likely to encounter, pheasants, quail and maybe a prairie chicken, or in Dakotas, sharpies/huns/pheasants. #7 will work fine especially first barrel, followed by a dose of #5 1/2's.
Those are my choices, have had no issues.

Hootch.....where do you get the 5 1/2's? Or is this factory stuff?

My pheasant loads are:

1 #6 NP 1328 fps SR4756 32 gr. 7440 psi
1 1/8 # 5 1/2 NP 1325 fps SR4756 32 gr, 9620 psi
Unfortunately, SR4756 is being discontinued and when I run out of powder, it will be time to search and pattern. I use NP shot in only these two loads with card and fiber wads. I buy the nickel plated shot from BPI and I don't know how hard it is, but the patterns are great.

DC37 -- you can get 5 1/2's by carefully selecting them from your bags of 5's and 6's. You've got a micrometer, right? Well worth the effort.

By the way, I believe in the odd integer sizes 3, 5, and 7. Seriously, now. Of course I don't shy away from 6's and 4's too much, but I never shoot anything smaller than a 7 at game, unless "game" is a dove, or the gun is a .410, and then never smaller than an 8. I guess that's the only niche for 7 1/2's as far as I'm concerned. It even bothers me to shoot a 7 1/2 now and then. I try to sort them out. I just don't like non-whole numbers.

Member Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 1338

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2346 Location: West MI

Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 1460 Location: Eagle, Nebraska

I think I bought the 5 1/2 "nickel plated" shot from BPI, but not sure.
It was expensive as it was nickel you know, didn't buy it for the nickel, but I liked the idea of a 5 1/2 shot size.
Sure like it on pheasants, not sure how much I have left, few pounds I am guessing.

Thanks Hootch, just wondered where you had gotten such an odd size.

Member Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 1695 Location: Minnesota

At Cabelas last fall I saw a box of 20ga 1 oz Winchesters in #7. Had to rub my eyes. Didn't have it in any other gauge

Member Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 1338