What size steel shot for pheasant

[Amanda C. Sharp]

I just purchased a used 20 gauge for my 14 year old daughter. I hunt mostly state land for pheasants. It is a 2 3/4 auto with interchangeable chokes.

What size steel shot and choke tube would you recomend for her?

[leech~~]

Welcome to the Forum.  What brand gun is it? Would help to pick choke tubes out.  Size 6 shot should do the trick, but I'm sure more folks will chime in here. 

[rundrave]

I would just buy a couple different boxes and pattern them with all of the chokes and see what shoots and patterns the best. 

 Depending on your hunting style a more open choke if the birds will be closer. I will normally have the tighter choke as the way I hunt the birds will be farther away but I also shoot an O/U and tend to let the birds get out a ways before I shoot. So an IC/MOD may be a good choice also. But like I said I would pattern the gun with each and different loads just to get a feel for it and whats best for her confidence.

 

I shoot steel all the time and I tend to shoot 4 shot and late season even 2 shot to deal with late season hearty winter birds. 

 

Welcome to HSO!

[westguy]

I agree with rundrave. #4 early and #2 shot later in year

[PurpleFloyd]

I agree with the guy who agreed with the other guy.

[rl_sd]

Yup.... 6 & 4 for Lead.... 4 & 2 for steel

[123fish]

I shoot 2 steel all season long in an improved cyclinder choke . Satisfied with that. Have a buddy who shoots Black Cloud 3's with impressive results.