Best shells for pheasants? Any suggestions?

[waxworm09]

Looking for some info on what you guys use for pheasant loads? I use a medium choke and most shots are 30-40 yards. Any suggestions? Im not sure which is more important, weight or fps. I have just been using whatever is on sale but would like to find a brand and stick with it. So I was hoping I could get some advice on a good shell for around $10-15 a box. Or are the more expensive ones worth the money, like the hevi shot or prairie storm? Thanks!

[CaptainMusky]

I think size of shot and ounce is most important. By far my best luck for lead is 5 shot in 1-1/4 ounce. Steel I hate but use 3 shot in 1-1/4 ounce. Pretty much a federal guy. Had decent luck with black clowd for steel and upland pheasants forever stuff for lead.

[Jarrod32]

If you are on private land and able to use lead shot, a #5 is a good choice. Plain lead shot works fine; 1 1/4 ounce loads. The more expensive loads will get you a copper or nickel plated pellet. The harder plating supposedly will hold the pattern better, but is probably not worth the extra $5 or so per box.

Just make sure you get a high enough base and have a 3 3/4 dram equivalent. The 3 1/4 dram equivalent is probably a bit on the light side.

Depending on the regulations where you are hunting, you may need to use non-toxic shot. I hunt enough of these places (and I want to stay legal for waterfowl even when pheasant hunting) that I stick with steel. I haven't bought lead shot for hunting in several years now.

I prefer a #2 steel; good for ducks and pheasant. My personal preference is the lighter load (1 1/8 ounce) which gets a higher velocity. Nothing wrong with the 1 1/4 ounce loads, though. Matter of personal preference and which shots pattern the best through your gun/choke combination. I have used (and like) the Federal Speed Shok (in the blue box), and the Winchester X-Pert. But my favorite, and my go-to shell is the Kent Fasteel. Again, matter of personal preference.

I've found that the premium loads (such as Black Cloud and the Hevi Shot) can be a bit more effective, and may get you that extra bird by extending your effective range a few yards, but I don't think that justifies the extra money you pay for those loads...it doesn't mean more than a couple birds over the course of a season.

[PurpleFloyd]

Federal Premium Wing-Shok Pheasants Forever Ammunition 12 Gauge 2-3/4" 1-1/4 oz Buffered #5 Copper Plated Shot Box of 25.

That is my go-to in 12 g.

In my 16G O/U I am really liking the Federal Hi Brass 1 1/8 4 shot loads in the purple hull.

[Archerysniper]

I shoot the remington #5's 3-3/4 dram 1-1/4 ounce they are not the most expensive and work really well even at really long ranges you might find during late season.

[Tom7227]

The best shells for pheasant hunting are the ones you shoot at the trap range before you even go out hunting.

[Archerysniper]

Trap ranges will not let you shoot anything over a 1-1/8 ounce load of 7-1/2s.

[goblueM]

If you are on private land and able to use lead shot, a #5 is a good choice. Plain lead shot works fine; 1 1/4 ounce loads. The more expensive loads will get you a copper or nickel plated pellet. The harder plating supposedly will hold the pattern better, but is probably not worth the extra $5 or so per box.

Just make sure you get a high enough base and have a 3 3/4 dram equivalent. The 3 1/4 dram equivalent is probably a bit on the light side.

Depending on the regulations where you are hunting, you may need to use non-toxic shot. I hunt enough of these places (and I want to stay legal for waterfowl even when pheasant hunting) that I stick with steel. I haven't bought lead shot for hunting in several years now.

I prefer a #2 steel; good for ducks and pheasant. My personal preference is the lighter load (1 1/8 ounce) which gets a higher velocity. Nothing wrong with the 1 1/4 ounce loads, though. Matter of personal preference and which shots pattern the best through your gun/choke combination. I have used (and like) the Federal Speed Shok (in the blue box), and the Winchester X-Pert. But my favorite, and my go-to shell is the Kent Fasteel. Again, matter of personal preference.

I've found that the premium loads (such as Black Cloud and the Hevi Shot) can be a bit more effective, and may get you that extra bird by extending your effective range a few yards, but I don't think that justifies the extra money you pay for those loads...it doesn't mean more than a couple birds over the course of a season.

+1 to everything he said. I shoot Kent #2 fasteel for ducks and pheasants

[grab the net]

I think he means practice, which equates to it does not really make a lot of difference which shell you purchase. I really like Fiocchi Golden Pheasant, 5 shot, in the bottom, with Federal Premium Copper plated 4's on top.

[pureinsanity]

Federal Premium Wing-Shok Pheasants Forever Ammunition 12 Gauge 2-3/4" 1-1/4 oz Buffered #5 Copper Plated Shot Box of 25.

+1

Anyone that pheasant hunts should be using this round!

Federal makes a donation to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's conservation efforts work for each labeled box sold. Wing-Shok® loads are the fastest upland steel loads and copper-plated lead loads available for your favorite winged game in 20 and 12 gauge.

[pureinsanity]

I think he means practice, which equates to it does not really make a lot of difference which shell you purchase. I really like Fiocchi Golden Pheasant, 5 shot, in the bottom, with Federal Premium Copper plated 4's on top.

You should pattern your gun sometime That will tell you shells matter.

[varmithtr]

Federal upland load, 6's. 8.99/box and all you need up to 40 yards.

[CaptainMusky]

+1

Anyone that pheasant hunts should be using this round!

Federal makes a donation to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's conservation efforts work for each labeled box sold. Wing-Shok® loads are the fastest upland steel loads and copper-plated lead loads available for your favorite winged game in 20 and 12 gauge.

I havent seen these shells. Though, I only bought one box of shells this year and it was the last box that Mills had of the Black Cloud stuff Ive used. I will look for these at my other retailers because they sound good and I would love for a portion of the charge go to some good as well.

[pureinsanity]

Just look for the PF Logo!

Thanks for supporting!

[CaptainMusky]

I have the lead ones already, but havent seen the steel. That is what I am on the lookout for. I bought several boxes of lead a few years ago and it is great stuff.

[pureinsanity]

I stopped at a couple places to find the lead and they didn't have it. If I find a place with the lead load I will check for steel and let you know.

[Tom7227]

Patterning the shotgun will give you very valuable information. Great differences between lead and steel. I've seen guns that shoot 6-7 inches off from where the shooter is aiming. Again if you check on the net I'm sure you can get decent instructions on how to do it. Many gun clubs have the setup and that makes it all pretty easy.

[pureinsanity]

Patterning the shotgun will give you very valuable information. Great differences between lead and steel. I've seen guns that shoot 6-7 inches off from where the shooter is aiming. Again if you check on the net I'm sure you can get decent instructions on how to do it. Many gun clubs have the setup and that makes it all pretty easy.

Yup I was amazed when I was shooting someone else's ammo one day when I forgot mine some how. I couldn't hit anything! When I got home I took two shells with me and shot a pattern. It shot low... I was ticked ;(

[PurpleFloyd]

Just look for the PF Logo!

Thanks for supporting!

Dang, I though you were referring to the Purple Floyd logo.

[pureinsanity]

Dang, I though you were referring to the Purple Floyd logo.

:D

[Jarrod32]

You should pattern your gun sometime That will tell you shells matter.

Yep. And don't assume that just because a particular shell patterns well in a given gun/choke combination that it will pattern well in any gun. Same if a shell happens to pattern poorly in a specific gun/choke combination...that same shell might pattern very well in another.

[COMMISH]

i just returned from my annual trip to ipswich SD, the last 4-5 years all i've used is the winchester x-pert 3in. #2 steel shot thew a mod. choke works real well for me.