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< 16ga. General Discussion ~ Kentucky Preserve Hunt Shot Size? |
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Posted:
Sat Feb 02, 2019 7:33 am
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Member
Joined: 20 Nov 2007
Posts: 35
Location: Indianapolis, IN
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Greetings been a while since I posted but I have a question. My wife bought me a bird hunt for my birthday down in Kentucky. It will include pheasant, chukar and quail. I will be taking my 53 belgium browning A5. So here is the question, what shot size should I use? For pheasants it says 4 or 6, chukar and quail 7.5 or 8. Will 6 be too big for quail? Will 7.5 be to small for pheasants? Should I carry more than one type of shells? I have only ever hunted rabbits with dogs so this is something I have wanted to do for a long time. |
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Posted:
Sat Feb 02, 2019 8:14 am
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Joined: 19 Jun 2004
Posts: 1480
Location: Mpls, MN.
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Don’t bring 4s.
I don’t know the particular preserve, but, I haven’t met many preserve birds that think they are wild birds. 7 1/2s will likely be good for everything, but, you can bring some 6s along to try on the roosters.
Have fun.
Best,
Ted |
_________________ "Well sir, stupidity isn't technically against the law, and on that note, I'll remove the handcuffs and you are free to go". |
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Posted:
Sat Feb 02, 2019 8:34 am
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Joined: 20 Jul 2011
Posts: 625
Location: Ohio..where ruffed grouse were
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jamesb wrote: |
Greetings been a while since I posted but I have a question. My wife bought me a bird hunt for my birthday down in Kentucky. It will include pheasant, chukar and quail. I will be taking my 53 belgium browning A5. So here is the question, what shot size should I use? For pheasants it says 4 or 6, chukar and quail 7.5 or 8. Will 6 be too big for quail? Will 7.5 be to small for pheasants? Should I carry more than one type of shells? I have only ever hunted rabbits with dogs so this is something I have wanted to do for a long time.
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16 gauge?
Choke?
I'd probably go with 6s in a Modified, 7 1/2s in an IC.
6s are not too big for quail....not perfect but too big?....no, other factors enter.
Have fun.....thoughtful wife. |
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Posted:
Sat Feb 02, 2019 9:49 am
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Joined: 16 Feb 2013
Posts: 95
Location: Southernmost State of the Union
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I'd probably go with just 6's unless you wanted to use the magazine cut off on the A-5 and throw some 7 1/2's in. |
_________________ "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still." |
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Posted:
Sat Feb 02, 2019 11:10 am
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2798
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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jamesb,
Take #6',s # 71/2's & #8's along, never hurts to be prepared for different birds.
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Sat Feb 02, 2019 2:21 pm
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Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 84
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I don't know if you reload, but if you do, I have been loading true Nickel Plated #7's from Precision Reloading. I am shooting over pointing dogs and this seems to work well when in areas that hold both birds. |
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Posted:
Sat Feb 02, 2019 4:41 pm
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Joined: 01 Oct 2007
Posts: 962
Location: Minnesota
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I have shot quite a few preserve birds.
In a perfect world, I would shoot IC/Mod with #6 for pheasants.
For quail or chukar, 7.5 shot.
If mixed birds, I go with 7.5. |
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Posted:
Sat Feb 02, 2019 6:51 pm
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Joined: 24 Jul 2016
Posts: 548
Location: Ohio
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What do you shoot for bunnies? It were me I'd shoot 1oz. of 7 1/2's and smile all day long. By the way, I love beagles and bunnies. We ran 8 and killed 5 today. Have a great time!! |
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Posted:
Sat Feb 02, 2019 8:38 pm
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Member
Joined: 20 Nov 2007
Posts: 35
Location: Indianapolis, IN
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tramroad28
16 gauge with a mod choked barrel.
Ohio Wirehair
I use 6's for bunnies
Most of the time I just load 6's and walk the field edges to see what I kick up. |
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Posted:
Sat Feb 02, 2019 10:24 pm
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Joined: 24 Jul 2016
Posts: 548
Location: Ohio
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Then that's what I'd use. Be aware a lot of preservers don't allow anything bigger then 6's anyway. |
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Posted:
Sun Feb 03, 2019 8:03 am
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Member
Joined: 27 Jun 2012
Posts: 1113
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I'd probably use my handloaded 1 ounce #7 nickel plated 1200 fps loads on a preserve hunt for that mixed bag. I load those for my western bird hunting trips and use them when hunting western quail, but have bagged wild roosters, chukar and Huns with clean kills on all. |
_________________ An elderly gentleman, his faithful dogs, and a 16 ga SXS. All is right with the world. |
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Posted:
Sun Feb 03, 2019 9:18 am
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Member
Joined: 30 Nov 2011
Posts: 1696
Location: Minnesota
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Since you're running a single barrel gun, how about a 7 1/2 in the chamber and 6's in the magazine. I do that when I think I might run into a grouse or woodcock on the same hunt. OR, if your preserve operator is accommodating, ask them to put the quail out separately. Hope you have a great days outing. |
_________________ Great dog, Great friends,Great guns |
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Posted:
Mon Feb 04, 2019 7:02 pm
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Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 203
Location: Southern California
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...I'd call the place and ask what THEY recommend.
FWIW, There was place near here that offered all three and they limited shot size to 7-1/2.
I went there once, years ago with a MOD choked 28ga 870 and 3/4oz Fiocchi HV 7-1/2's and had no problem. |
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Posted:
Tue Feb 05, 2019 7:13 pm
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Joined: 12 Sep 2010
Posts: 1973
Location: Maine
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Check the preserve's rules. Some won't allow you to use bigger than 7 1/2 or 6.
Have fun. |
_________________ “A man’s rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.”
Frederick Douglass, November 15, 1867, speech in Williamsport, Pa. |
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Posted:
Wed Feb 06, 2019 1:46 pm
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Joined: 16 Jul 2015
Posts: 2126
Location: Hudson,Wy
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Preserve birds tend to be easier to bring down. Add that to the fact that shots will likely be close, and 7 1/2's will do the job on pheasants. A little coarse for bobs when using an open choke, but like mentioned, shots will be close so that should not matter either. Go with 7 1/2 shot and put the pellets where they need to go. Enjoy your hunt. |
_________________ Only catch snowflakes on your tongue AFTER the birds fly south for the winter... |
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