20 Gauge: 2 3/4 or 3 inch shells?

[CjMelendrez]

What is your preferred shell length and shot size for upland birds like quail, huns, chukar and grouse? I found a deal on 2 3/4 and 3 inch 20 gauge shells with either 5 or 6 size shot. Leaning towards lead, but will buy steel if convinced.

 

[rbutcher1234]

if pheasant isn’t on the menu, I’d do lead 7.5. Since that wasn’t in your poll, 2 3/4 6.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Wild birds or stocked?

 

[CjMelendrez]

if pheasant isn’t on the menu, I’d do lead 7.5. Since that wasn’t in your poll, 2 3/4 6.

I don't chase pheasant often so I can buy a couple boxes when needed. I'll take note of the 7.5 comment!

 

[CjMelendrez]

Wild birds or stocked?

wild birds only

 

[dtrkyman]

2 3/4 6 or 7.5 for smaller than pheasant only really use 6 for Blue grouse, pheasant 5 and 6. Always used a copper plated lead round.

All about the patterns your gun throws, buy a box of each you are interested in and pattern them, some shine some are poor, most are adequate!

 

[lil' bear]

Id get a couple boxes of 3 inch # 5 and several boxes of 2 3/4 #6

 

[jml49]

2 3/4" 7 1/2

 

[EmperorMA]

I use 2 3/4" #8 on Valley Quail, and typically use 2 3/4" #6 on Huns and Chukar which I find together more often than not. Those same #6 loads work for early season pheasants that are holding for the pointing dogs.

If I am hunting on the prairies and the birds (Sharpies and Huns) are holding, I use 2 3/4" #7.5. If they are getting up at the edge of range, I move up to #6.

When pheasants get spooky, that is what a few boxes of #5 shot are for. I haven't seen much of a difference between 2 3/4" and 3" loads but if you get a deal on them, then I'd just grab 3" as more shot in the air probably can't hurt anything other than your shoulder.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Yeah I tend towards larger shot for wild birds, especially later in the season when they tend to flush further out. I've killed a few stocked pheasants this year with 2 3/4 #6 lead. Probably would not use 7 1/2 for wild pheasants at any time of year. The other birds you mention tend to be much smaller, so penetration is less of an issue

 

[TSAMP]

Ive always liked 3" shells in my 20. I shoot 6s at pheasant most the year. I switch to 5s when I run out of 6s.

 

[peterk123]

Don't know if this will help but I'm using 7.5 2 3/4 with a 12 gauge for grouse and huns. I think the velocity is around 1300 fps. Got a couple last week, and man they spook early. But it nocked them right down.

 

[horpensky]

Mostly 2-3/4" 6, but also have used 7.5.

 

[Macintosh]

2 3/4” 7/8oz 71/2 lead for partridge and quail, or even pen raised pheasants. Anything more is a waste, they are easy to kill.
Bigger grouse, chukar, pheasants, etc 2 3/4” 1oz lead 6’s is plenty out to 38-40 yards, which is a poke with a shotgun. 99% of the people I see shooting past that distance are wounding and not recovering half the birds they hit at that range anyway, even if they are gunned for it. Dont be that guy.

3” 1 1/4oz lead 20 ga generally pattern like dog doo for wingshooting, you gain nothing over a 1oz 2 3/4” load except recoil and cost—they dont pattern or kill one iota better ime. Save those for turkeys where the denser core of the pattern will actually be helpful. If you are handloading I have spoken with a very few people who would know better who say they’ve had ok luck with a 3” 1 1/8oz load of lead shot. But in general the very long shot column of a heavy 20ga creates a ton of flyers so the fringe of the pattern falls apart pretty quickly, they just havent been helpful for me.

If shooting steel the standard rule of thumb is to go up 2 sizes from lead. Steel is the only application where Id even consider a 3” shell, as the harder shot doesnt deform so there are far fewer flyers.

 

[CjMelendrez]

thanks for the help guys! I ordered 2 3/4 size 6's

 

[Steve300xcw]

20ga 2-3/4 load of lead #6 just works. If you cant do it with that...well its not the shells

I find #6 seems to pass through more so than 7-1/2's an such. Nice not picking shot/feathers outta the bird.