Non-toxic pheasant whacking experience

[sndmn11]

I have learned some upland public land requires non-toxic shot, the main bird is wild pheasants.

My brown dog will be a year in Nov and the priority is to get her quality contact and retrieves. I don't have any desire to shoot a bird she doesn't point and hold the point, I also don't expect a wild rooster to let her get a few yards away.

Because the goal is setting her up for success, I am a-ok spending for "best" over value. I have some federal Bismuth #4 in my cart, but was hoping to get experiences and opinions before buying. Federal, Kent, Hevi are preferred. I see all bismuth, small steel, all tungsten, blends of steel/tungsten, and blends of steel/bismuth.

I shoot 20ga, and just want to kill what I hit. I have a range of chokes from Carlson and Jeb.

I read:

Best 12 gauge ammo for Pheasant?

We used to shoot 7-1/2s and 6s for pheasants.

rokslide.com

Non toxic shotgun shells

I am buying some non toxic shot shells for Pheasant. There are a number of relatively new shells out on the market that include steel, bismuth, tungsten and some with both steel and bismuth. Price is less for steel and a lot more for Bismuth. Browning and Hevi have some combination or layered...

rokslide.com

 

[Hnthrdr]

Bismuth and tungsten hammers just as good if not better than lead, tungsten especially you could use 8,7 shot. Steel I would size up and realize it will limit your effective range ie 4 shot. Also realize steel will group about a choke tighter than you expect (ie a modified will group like a full with steel) has been my general experience so guys will over choke and miss birds by having too tight of a pattern I prefer imp cylinder for shooting steel, used mostly for ducks and geese 20guage as well

 

[Clovis]

I've had good luck with Kent bismuth no. 4s, haven't tried a lot of the others so not comparing between them.

 

[BravoNovember]

I switched a few years back to Boss #5 for everything from woodcock to geese and have had great success with killing what I hit. This is with both full and modified. I’m a believer in bismuth even given the added cost

 

[TBarron]

Another vote of confidence for Kent Bismuth. Worked great last year for SD public land pheasants. Used #5s out of a 16g


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[Jason Snyder]

Bismuth 5s or 6s are going to be pretty hard to beat. For a flushing dog you are probably going to want a modified choke, although heavier cover may shift that to IC.

 

[KurtR]

Pretty much all i use is black cloud number two for every thing from geese to pheasants with the pattern master code black. I grew up shooting a full choke wing master so i like a tight pattern and shoot better with it. Dont hunt chickens till late in the year and no problem killing them dead at 40 yards

 

[Spoonbill]

Ive used black cloud #4s out of my 20ga and was happy with the results. I use a modified for everything and up close the black clouds could tear up the birds.

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

Guess I'm cheap. Shoot federal #2 and dump em.

 

[tt_johnsclist]

Another vote for BOSS #5’s here!

 

[sndmn11]

@KurtR @Spoonbill @PredatoronthePrairie you guys are using the 100% steel?

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

^Yeah. Never had an issue. Found it was just more efficient if i could depend on one round that would fit late season pheasant/ducks and the occasion goose if need be.

 

[Spoonbill]

@KurtR @Spoonbill @PredatoronthePrairie you guys are using the 100% steel?

Yeah, they performed well enough that I didn’t bother to try anything else.

 

[Donjuan]

Boss 5's and all you'll need is some hot grease

 

[Jacack]

That black cloud is good stuff

 

[Hans13]

On pheasant I wouldn’t go smaller than 5 in bismuth and I would have 4 on hand for late season birds. I hunted the last 3.5 years exclusively with bismuth but have since switched back to lead when possible.

 

[GreenNDark Timber]

Last year I started off switched back and forth between lead shot and Boss #5s out of my 16 gauge, depending on where I was hunting. As soon as I saw how lethal the Boss were on a few roosters I didn't even bother switching back and forth anymore. This year I'll be packing nothing but the Boss #5s.

I'd have no problem shooting #2 or #3 steel shot either, I just don't want to shoot it out of my older shotguns.

 

[LongWayAround]

I have shot a bunch of them with #3 steel from Kent or Federal.

It's rough on them if they are close. Given the choice, I'll put a smaller shot in the chamber and back it up with the 3's.

 

[TSAMP]

Boss 6s early season, boss 5s late season.

 

[Ringbill27]

3” 2s feds or Winchester put a hurting on them. Also I’m a duck hunter and that’s what I have stocked up.