Speed vs weight? Which is more important?

[waxworm09]

I have been shooting Kent Fasteel 2 shot 1 1/8 oz shot at 1560 fps for ducks, and I like the shot, so I am going to continue using it for pheasants since I hunt WPA's and have to use steel. My question is, am i better off shooting #1 or 2 1/1/8 oz at 1560 fps, or #1 or 2 shot 1/1/4 oz at 1425 fps? Both are 3 inch loads, im just wondering for a pheasant load do I want more speed or more weight in the shot? Or is it basically a toss up between these loads?

[Dave S]

I shot the Faststeel #2 1 1/4 oz for pheasants last weekend. Worked just fine. I would rather go with a little more payload than an incremental jump in fps.

[bearberg]

I have used Kent #4 2 1/8 oz. shot hunting pheasants for many years and am very satisfied with my choice.

[chub]

I would shoot what your used to. Either one will get the job done, but I know when I switch up I can tell a difference sometimes.

Did it yesterday. First two shells I fired were the last of my most favorite loads ever designed. Smacked two roosters. Then I switched up to a slower load, though not by what sounds like a lot, and missed the next five birds before connecting with #3.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Yup. Dance with the girl you brought.

If you're used to using #2 then use #2. Personally I use #4 but that's just me. I'm used to it, used it for many years, and it's worked well for me.

If I were to swtich to something else right now I'd probably miss everything I shoot at.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Why change what works. If it kills a duck, which in my opinion, has thicker skin and denser meat, it should kill a rooster just fine. #2 is a great steel load for later season wild flushing birds. If your happy with the pattern density out of the 1 1/8 oz loads I would keep on keepin on.

[pureinsanity]

Why change what works. If it kills a duck, which in my opinion, has thicker skin and denser meat, it should kill a rooster just fine. #2 is a great steel load for later season wild flushing birds. If your happy with the pattern density out of the 1 1/8 oz loads I would keep on keepin on.

+1

[TylerS]

Interesting topic. This can even translate to your lead loads. I bought some cheap lead shells at the beginning of the season, but was having a hard time hitting birds. I'd hit them, but typically further back and would have to compenate my lead. One day I bought a $20 of Federal Speed Shock lead. It boasts 1,500 FPS, which is similar to the duck load speeds I'd used all year. Since then, my misses have been fewer. The reason for this, I feel, is that I'm used to shooting those high speed loads at ducks and geese, which I hunt a lot more than pheasants. When I switched to a slower load, I never switched my shooting style, so I wasn't hitting birds. The change in shells resulted in better shots and more birds in the bag.

[pureinsanity]

You really gotta just do some trial and error and figure out what works best for you.

I don't use steel, however my lead loads are Federal Wing Shock with the pheasants forever logo on it.

This year in South Dakota people were buying up Prairie Storm like crazy! Also made by federal.

After talking with a few guys about how they heard it was such a great shell for upland I decide to compare the box to what I shoot.

The loads are identical! The only difference was the box and the price. I tried to explain to a few guys how Wing-Shok would be a better purchase for them they continued to buy the prairie storm for almost 7 dollars more a box!

Needless to say I loaded up on a case of Wing Shok and smiled out the door saving a bunch of money!

[RayG]

I'm thinking it might make sense to use the heavier payload with a more open choke. More room for error with the wider pattern, but still keep the pattern density up with higher pellet count. Anyone experimented with this?

[carpshooterdeluxe]

I'm thinking it might make sense to use the heavier payload with a more open choke. More room for error with the wider pattern, but still keep the pattern density up with higher pellet count. Anyone experimented with this?

every gun is different. might work for you, but my gun may blow a pattern wide open.

That being said, the federal 1 5/8 oz 3" lead loads pattern like a turkey load through my SX2 and patternmaster choke. I can't shoot close flushing birds with that load or I'll punch a pop can sized hole through the bird.

[muc33]

I agree with a lot of what has been said, each gun is different. And I think you have to run a half a box or so of each load to see what your gun and that load accomplish, waste of money some may say, but accurate knowledge is what I say! Good Luck.

[Black Bear]

I have the opportunity to hunt Alberta/Saskatchewan for waterfowl each fall and we shoot an incredible amount of Steel Shot variations like Black Cloud and Snow Goose and Tundra and the new Winchester etc and , Hevi-shot and Heavi-Steel. About 7 years ago I switched to Heavi-shot 4's (1500 fps)for roosters and never looked back. If I cannot shoot the Federal fast lead (like on a WPA) I shoot heavi-shot now. I know its expensive but its usually only one shot one bird anyway and it really wacks em. I cannot tel you how many hit with plain steel and still flying roosters I have finished off. Just my preference. We have had horrible experiences with some of the shell brands previously mentioned. Eye burning from the powder residue.

[adamr]

I feel alot of misses are shooting behind the bird i always opt for the fastest shot possible with the tightest pattern possible but we hunt pheasants alot and i have alot of confidence in each shot. Another tip is practice on getting that gun to your shoulder faster and your shot off faster it takes practice but will hugely improve your birds soon you will notice how slow the new hunters are.

[Jarrod32]

You really gotta just do some trial and error and figure out what works best for you.

I don't use steel, however my lead loads are Federal Wing Shock with the pheasants forever logo on it.

This year in South Dakota people were buying up Prairie Storm like crazy! Also made by federal.

After talking with a few guys about how they heard it was such a great shell for upland I decide to compare the box to what I shoot.

The loads are identical! The only difference was the box and the price. I tried to explain to a few guys how Wing-Shok would be a better purchase for them they continued to buy the prairie storm for almost 7 dollars more a box!

Needless to say I loaded up on a case of Wing Shok and smiled out the door saving a bunch of money!

Yeah...the store where I work we sold a lot of the Prairie Storm, and we always sell a lot of the Wing-Shok. Not quite the same load, but the only difference is the plating on the Prairie Storm is the "flite stopper", like the Black Cloud. And we only have the PS a couple bucks more than the Wing Shok.

I hunt enough public land in South Dakota, and want to stay legal for waterfowl at all times, that I just use the steel shot. I don't think I've bought any lead in several years now. I, too, use the Kent Fasteel #2 in the 1 1/8 oz load/1560 fps. I've found this to be a reliable load and #2 steel works well on pheasant and ducks.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

[Purpledescent]

It all depends on the gun you shoot! I shoot Federal Premium 4-shot and will never shoot anything else.