shot size on 20 and 28 gauge

[BigMiss]

In 20ga - 7/8 to 1 1/8 oz bismuth 4's. 1oz to 1 1/4oz lead 4's or 5's. I've killed a lot of birds this year with 7/8oz Boss 3/5 loads, and 1 1/4oz lead 4's have been long range hammers.

 

[MTGunner]

28 gauge, 3/4 ounce #6 steel is getting it done for me. O/U 28 gauge with IC bottom, mod upper bbl. Haven’t lost a bird thus far. Helps to have good dogs. MTG

 

[Jack321]

I shoot my 28ga SBE3 with Fiocchi 3in 1-1/16oz plated #5s or the Winchester 3" 1-1/8oz plated #5s

Basically a 20ga load.

 

[Dale264]

I shoot 20ga fairly often on Iowa roosters.

Non-tox Boss Bismuth 3" copper plated#5 1-1/8oz. I haven't used either new copper shot but have heard good reports. Kinda spendy but way better than steel.

My go to 20ga lead load is Fiocci Golden Pheasant 3" nickel plated #5 1 1/44oz. 203GP5

 

[LONE HUNTER]

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.

Just use waterfowl loads with #3 steel for the 20 gauge (I've shot ducks with this out to 35 yards no problem). The 28, if you can find it bismuth in 5s would be good or 6s.

 

[jethrob]

#5 lead in the 20ga and #6 lead in 28ga are my maximum size in order to keep the pellet count up. I have used a few #4 in the 20ga when out of 5's. I find the larger shot is more lethal and doesnt mangle the feathers inot the bird like the smaller shot can.

 

[liv3mind]

I shoot 2-3/4 6 in 20 and 28 for squirrel and dove with good success

 

[huntingdad]

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.

Well, headed crane hunting on the 10th. My question is do you shoot 2 3/4 or 3” in 28 gauge? Or 20 gauge. Plan is to shoot my 28 gauge. I have several 3” bismuth boxes but really wanting to try the tss loads. Should he cranes over decoys.

 

[Raider07]

Play around with shot size and different chokes to get the max amount of pellets on target. You’d be surprised to see a more open choke with smaller shot size have a denser pattern and doing number on Pheasants. I like 6s with a light mod for my 28!

 

[huntingdad]

Well, I have 2 boxes of 28 gauge 2 3/4 tss #7 and 2 boxes of 20 gauge tss #9. 20 shells and over $200 later.

I’m going to be stubborn and start with my 28 gauge barrels. Is that isn’t working bc I need more pellets bc I can’t shoot for chit I’ll switch it my 20 gauge barrels. And if that doesn’t do it I’m going to my Benelli 12 gauge and 3 1/2” buck shot. Come hell or high water I’m bringing down 3 cranes Saturday morning.

What sucks is we have a cold front blowing in so there may be 20-25 mph gusts in the morning. I’ve hunted cranes on a windy day. They can go from 15 yards to 30 yards real damn quick with those giant wings.

I cant wait for my wife to pull up on some. They look like pterodactyls when they are over decoys. Lololol

 

[Dos XX]

Boss #5 before they quit using bismith. I still have some, so haven't tried the copper shells. Also, Fiocci Golden Pheasant #5.

I shot 3" in my 28 for a while. I now don't think I need 3".

 

[Jack321]

Well, I have 2 boxes of 28 gauge 2 3/4 tss #7 and 2 boxes of 20 gauge tss #9. 20 shells and over $200 later.

I’m going to be stubborn and start with my 28 gauge barrels. Is that isn’t working bc I need more pellets bc I can’t shoot for chit I’ll switch it my 20 gauge barrels. And if that doesn’t do it I’m going to my Benelli 12 gauge and 3 1/2” buck shot. Come hell or high water I’m bringing down 3 cranes Saturday morning.

What sucks is we have a cold front blowing in so there may be 20-25 mph gusts in the morning. I’ve hunted cranes on a windy day. They can go from 15 yards to 30 yards real damn quick with those giant wings.

I cant wait for my wife to pull up on some. They look like pterodactyls when they are over decoys. Lololol

When I went crane hunting in Oklahoma, we had amazing results with Federal Prairie Storm.

I assume your 2-3/4" #7TSS is a Rob Roberts load? I had two boxes of tbay stuff for a 2-3/4 inch 28ga gun I got for geese as the 28ga fad was just coming. Ugh was that a struggle to pull the trigger after how much $$ that was per shot!

I have about 7 rounds left and this year Im letting it be my sons Turkey ammo in the spring.

All that being said, if you don't want to pay premium TSS prices for cranes with the 28ga. Go with Federal Prairie Storm! Absolutely deadly when I used them for cranes.

 

[huntingdad]

When I went crane hunting in Oklahoma, we had amazing results with Federal Prairie Storm.

I assume your 2-3/4" #7TSS is a Rob Roberts load? I had two boxes of tbay stuff for a 2-3/4 inch 28ga gun I got for geese as the 28ga fad was just coming. Ugh was that a struggle to pull the trigger after how much $$ that was per shot!

I have about 7 rounds left and this year Im letting it be my sons Turkey ammo in the spring.

All that being said, if you don't want to pay premium TSS prices for cranes with the 28ga. Go with Federal Prairie Storm! Absolutely deadly when I used them for cranes.

 

[doc holiday13]

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.

Sound advice right here.

Fiocchi makes a lot of 28g loads 1300fps. I'm actually out of the 400 rounds i bought awhile back

 

[Jack321]

Huh! Didnt realize Hevi made a 2-3/4 TSS load.

When we went cranes our guide suggested 3.5 inch #5 Turkey loads. So my brother and I went out and grabbed the cheap Remington Wal-Mart loads. Like a 3.5" #5 for 1100fps.

Anyway, when we went, our first day and a half we shot like CRAP! And I legit thing we were behind a lot of our shots as we are big goose hunters and used to 1500fps loads. We couldnt hit the broadside of a barn. We shot all our 3.5 loads and we had 3" prairie storm as backups. And as soon as we switched to prairie storm our shooting % increased DRAMATICALLY. And we hit em hard.

 

[kcm2]

I hunt pheasants primarily with a 28 gauge Franchi over-under shotgun with #6 shot, choked skeet no. 1 and improved cylinder. It is deadly out to sixty yards.

Try it, you'll fall in love with it. It doesn't hurt that my shotgun is 5.25 lbs and ammo is much lighter, too.

 

[MacJenkins]

7.5 lead for me. Has worked great for 25+ years.