shot size on 20 and 28 gauge

[huntingdad]

Curious what nontoxic shot size you guys run in 20's and 28's for wild pheasant. I read somewhere that the 3" 1 1/16 loads could create pressure issues on smaller bore shotguns. I'm a noob at hunting pheasant but know my 12 gauges very well for waterfowl and geese.

There aren't a lot of options available right now. I can only find 2 boxes of the 3" 28 gauge 1 1/16 #5's. Anything else is 4 shot or 2 3/4 and I dont think the 2 3/4 are smaller than 5. I think most of it is 4 shot.

I will probably end up in some areas that require nontoxic loads.

Oh, and because I should have some private to hunt on, what loads in lead are guys having success with?

will be out of over and unders with 28" barrels. both chambered in 3"

I am eyeing some #7 tss.... i mean... lololol It's hell on turkeys!

 

[Jason Snyder]

For lead, I shoot a lot of Fiocchi HV 5s and 6s. 2 3/4”. I hunt over pointing dogs and have never needed 3” or plated shot.

 

[Bluefish]

7 tss. Or 5’s for 13 g heavy shot. I have used 9’s on pheasants, but it didn’t make them crumple. Would just go right thought the bones without breaking them.

 

[dtrkyman]

Wow #7 TSS seems like overkill! I have killed a semi load of Pheasant with lead 6s, many with 5s as well, over dogs so closer shots.

Steel 4s would be sufficient in non tox, 7 tss has enough energy to blow completely through a rooster at over 100 yds! I used 7s on sandhill cranes.

Hevi shot in #6 would be deadly.

Not sure on the status of Bismuth? 5s would do well.

 

[huntingdad]

Well, I have 20 gauge 6’s coming and 2 boxes of 28 gauge 5’s. All in 3”. I’ll probably pick up some 28 gauge 7 tss for the second barrel if I can’t find some more 28 gauge non toxic loads. Damn they are hard to find

 

[Irish Miner]

I bought a case of Boss Warchiefs in 2 3/4" #6's last year and they worked well for wild pheasant. Seems they dont make them anymore due to bismuth availability. You might consider their new copper loads in #5's..

 

[Bluefish]

Wow #7 TSS seems like overkill! I have killed a semi load of Pheasant with lead 6s, many with 5s as well, over dogs so closer shots.

Steel 4s would be sufficient in non tox, 7 tss has enough energy to blow completely through a rooster at over 100 yds! I used 7s on sandhill cranes.

Hevi shot in #6 would be deadly.

Not sure on the status of Bismuth? 5s would do well.

The only reason I like the 7 tss vs smaller is the bigger pellets break bones. The smaller ones (9’s) are just as deadly, but don’t crumple a bird in the air like the 7’s. With the 9’s I have had dead in the air birds glide off. Lungs destroyed, but still able to fly. Found dead where they hit the ground.

 

[dtrkyman]

Interesting, I had heard of similar stories before, I have only shot TSS at turkeys and a few cranes, the reason I have been hesitant to shoot 9s or smaller is too many hits on target so I had considered 8s for ducks but kill decoying birds and have not seen the need.

Though I would love to load some .410 and shoot ducks with it, 5/8th oz of 8s maybe?

 

[z987k]

Bismuth 5 or 6 would be fine.

I've been buying from epic shotshells for awhile. For upland, I use the 2 3/4 #6 bismuth in 20ga.

Looks like they have 4, 5, 6 and 7s in 28.