Best pheasant load out there??

[waxworm09]

I am going to pick up my license and a box of shells tomorrow, just wondering what everyone recommends for a brand of shell? I see the Prairie Storm and Winchester Super Pheasant are both on sale for 14.99 a box, are they worth the cash? Or is there something better out there for around

10-15 bucks a box?? I would love some opinions on what to go with, I usually just pick up something cheap on sale, but wouldnt mind spending more if the more expensive shells are worth the extra $$ And something that is better for long range shots would be ideal since I have a flushing dog. Thanks

[PurpleFloyd]

I really like the Federal Pheasants Forever shells.

They hit like a ton of bricks

http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/shotshell.aspx?id=408

[yakfisher]

I have a flushing dog too. Generally I use federal PF loads 2 3/4 6's early season. Later I'll switch to 3 in 5's even 4's if it really windy.

[candiru]

After I take the effort to drive to my spot, walk my butt off for a while, and my dog works her heart out I want the best shell available when the opportunity comes. Shells are cheap at that point.

I prefer the Federal Premium Upland load in #4 shot. I have not tried Prairie Storms yet.

[DRH1175]

Regular high brass 1 1/4oz 12 6 work just fine. No need to spend crazy money on the over priced shells. Late season when long shots are more common maybe then.

[Matt Breuer]

I use Federal Prairie Storm in 5 for pheasants and sharptail. LOVE it. Won't use anything else anymore... In my 16 gauge I use the Pheasants Forever loads, and they do the trick as well.

[newoodhntr]

Another vote for the Prarie Storm . I like thier steel for public hunts to.

[jjz]

1 3/4 Golden Pheasant #6s. With IC or slightly tigher choke, doesnt blow them to pieces on close shots and has enough density to dump them on longer shots (40 yds or so). good luck

[yakfisher]

Prairie storm hits hard and I use it, but 4's are overkill for early season birds. I don't need that till later when the birds are spooky and I want more down range energy. 14.99 for prairie storm is a great price though buys those if you still can, 6's are my choice.

[Bryce]

Fiocchi Golden Pheasanf. 3" shell with 1 3/4 oz of payload at the same speed as the trap loads you practice with. Doesn't foul up your gun like federal shells either. There is a reason it costs a bit more than your target budget.

[jjz]

+1

[Down2Earth]

I used to use 5's and 6's but got tired of picking out pellets. I shoot 3inch BB's in any of the 1500 FPS or greater. Now I just wait a bit before pulling the trigger and it puts holes right through the bird. I very rarely ever pick out BB's or bite into one any more. When using 5's and 6's those birds are like a pin cushion.

[St_Croix_Banks]

+3 on Fiocchi Golden Pheasant. Had problems with 2nd barrel not firing on my Ruger Red Label with the Prairie Storm. Not sure why or if its shell related. Had GM go thru the gun but will stick with Fiocchi from now on.

[R. Miller]

I've been using my 20 ga. O/U exclusively for pheasants for the last 7 years. I'll use Federal Premium or Fiocchi Golden Pheasant 4s and 5s lead and carry a box of Federal Premium Prarie Storm steel 4s for WPAs. Found out last year that they knock down big roosters as good as lead outta my light 20 ga.

[Farley]

Prairie Storm is good stuff.

[muc33]

I like others shoot the Federal Copper Plated PF loads and I shoot 5 shot year round. They pack a good punch!

[Tom7227]

The absolutely most effective shells for pheasant hunting are the ones you burned up over the last month at the trap range. Of course it's too late for that now. Remember it for last year. You can down them with a load of 7's if you shoot right.

[jjz]

Big thing to consider is the cover you hunt. I hunt mostly heavy brush around swamps. 90% of my shots are similar to grouse hunting, you got 1 shot and can't wait for them to get out. A 40+ shot is rare for me. I use a briley quail choke with 1 3/4 6's. I can blast them close and up to 40 yards and see good kills and light meat loss. A tigher choke and faster, lighter loads thump them when I expect longer shots. Only complaint is when I expect longer shots, I often still get the up close 1 shot bird which usually results in a bird cut in half or a miss. Missing close shots or turning them into hamburger causes me more grief than holding up on a shot a little to long for me. Only issue is steel which I keep all my shots under 40 with a 3 inch 12 ga and hope I dont have to pull the trigger to soon because the High Speed steal does a number on them under 15 yards.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

1 1/4 oz kent 6's for early season, federal or remington 3" 1 5/8 oz 4's for late season. Federal 1 1/2 oz 3.5" steel 3's for late season public land.

[charliepete]

I shoot handloaded 1 1/4oz 5's at 1400 fps with hard shot all season. It will kill going away birds reliably at 45 yards (coming down dead) and incomers and crossers out to 50 or so. I find that I rarely shoot outside of 35 yards though as I hunt pointing dogs and shoot over points most often. I tried Prairie Storm and really disliked it. I patterned them and due to the shot cup they shoot about a choke and a half tigher than normal loads and don't produce open patterns even with the most open of chokes. Even a cylinder choke produced just shy of modified patterns in my gun. Pheasants aren't ducks at 50 yards. The average guy is better served with a more open pattern. Prairie Storm produces more missed birds and 'extra dead' pheasants than I like.

[crothmeier]

I shoot either Winchester or Remington Pheasant Loads in #5 shot. Absolutely ZERO Federal shells ran through my gun. Dirty Dirty Dirty.

[Archerysniper]

Winchester AA Sporting Clays 7-1/2's for the first shot and if a follow up is needed I fill the tube with Prarie Storm 6's

[brittman]

If you are running Federal shells there are several options. Blue box, red box and Premium (black cloud) steel of game load, wingshok, prairie storm lead. I seem to gravitate to the mid-priced red box shells. The red box steel shot is zinc plated, speed is excellent, and you are not giving up pellet count for that speed and sells for about $15. Same said for the copper plated lead.

Even blue box shells come in different levels. I prefer the 1&1/4 ounce loads with 1400fps velocity. I have killed many a mallard and pheasant with this solid performing shell.

I have shot quite a few boxes of cloud and storm and simply do not like the level of performance (no real difference in performance) for increased $$ spent.

If you decide to use Prairie Storm I strongly suggest you pattern your gun. It maybe that the flight control wad system is simply giving you a tighter pattern. Thus better down range performance. Flight control wad system is used in Federal turkey loads - that should tell you something about pattern goals. If you want a tighter pattern it maybe that you just tighten your choke one "level".

The premium waterfowl and pheasant loads seem overpriced relative to the solid performance you can get with the lower price loads especially early season behind good dogs. Sure you want to kill the pheasant on impact or hit it hard enough so it does not run off, but you also do not want those tasty breasts full of shot.

[brittman]

I shoot either Winchester or Remington Pheasant Loads in #5 shot. Absolutely ZERO Federal shells ran through my gun. Dirty Dirty Dirty.

I really like mid level Winchester shells (prefer them actually), but I have found them tough to find in Federal's backyard.

[crothmeier]

I really like mid level Winchester shells (prefer them actually), but I have found them tough to find in Federal's backyard.