“Biggest” pheasant load

[Blackstewart]

Where do you guys draw the line for pheasant loads?
3” #3 lead or BB steel or #5 TSS?
At what point do you think a load is just overkill?
Also, what is your preferred late season load? I was on a hunt recently with excessive wind and some high flying birds, so just curious on other people’s opinions.

I usually like 2 3/4” 4 shot (Winchester 1450fps) year round, just to keep it simple.

Fiochi golden pheasant. 5 or 6

 

[juju]

Can't believe anyone is shooting TSS #5s at anything that doesn't have four legs.

 

[Teaman1]

Can't believe anyone is shooting TSS #5s at anything that doesn't have four legs.

Haha I haven’t, just posting an aggressive load to see where people just call it straight overkill

 

[dtrkyman]

Lead 5 and 6 in the 20ga. Lead 7.5 first barrel and 6 in second with the .410, close work over a good mutt with the fer ten!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sandhills]

Can't believe anyone is shooting TSS #5s at anything that doesn't have four legs.

I don't know why anyone would shot bigger than a 8 or so at pheasant when using tss. A buddy shot a swan with 8s and I seen him kill a ton of geese with 8.5 out of his 28

 

[juju]

Haha I haven’t, just posting an aggressive load to see where people just call it straight overkill

It worked! What size TSS is necessary to ensure full penetration so you don't crack a tooth?

 

[Sandhills]

It worked! What size TSS is necessary to ensure full penetration so you don't crack a tooth?

8s should go right through em at 50.

 

[Teaman1]

So I went on the same hunt that made me ask the question and pattern density definitely trumps pellet density.
The people that hit the high flyers turned out to be using 3.5” #2 steel haha.
I used 3” 4 shot super pheasants and folded almost every bird I shot at while blocking. Winged one that the dogs got and missed one other.
After a couple of the shots, I’m convinced that tungsten would be no benefit over the 3” 4’s for my purposes.
I’ll stick with the 2.75” 4’s if road hunting or walking, but 3” 4’s for blocking.

 

[bluekiesalways]

I prefer 3" Hevishot 4's they are lethal