Winchester Super Target for Hunting?

IAMAWILDPARTY

IAMAWILDPARTY

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I have a few boxes of Winchester Super Target 20 ga.
They contain 7/8 oz of lead shot (7 1/2) and are 2 3/4 inches.
I picked a few boxes of these up on the way to buying my 20 ga because they were fairly cheap.
Anyway, they are sold as a target shooting cartridge, and I was wondering about whether they would suffice for hunting. Primarily partridge or grouse.

If these are not adequate/ideal for hunting, an explanation would be appreciated. Anything outside of shot size?

Don't know if it's relevant, but I'll be shooting a SxS Stoeger Uplander in 20 ga 26'' barrel. IC and M chokes.
 
I hunt all upland birds including pheasants over my dog, Oban with target loads. As long as you are using a dog, it is like hitting the bird with a 2x4. You knock them down, the dog fetches. It might be a bit alive but you know what to do. When you cook and eat the bird, there is a lot less damaged meat and normaly no pellet penetration. I shoot light 8s and 8.5s in my 28 gauge on pheasants, partridge and woodcock. waterfowl is a completly different thing where heavy, dense and fast loads are required.

Regards,
Henry;)
 
hnachaj said:
I hunt all upland birds including pheasants over my dog, Oban with target loads. As long as you are using a dog, it is like hitting the bird with a 2x4. You knock them down, the dog fetches. It might be a bit alive but you know what to do. When you cook and eat the bird, there is a lot less damaged meat and normaly no pellet penetration. I shoot light 8s and 8.5s in my 28 gauge on pheasants, partridge and woodcock. waterfowl is a completly different thing where heavy, dense and fast loads are required.

Regards,
Henry;)
Click to expand...

Yep.
 
Absolutely !!!
There is no need for any shell with more shot or velocity in the usage described. Personally I use nothing other than target loads for Ruffed, Sharptail or Huns usually 71/2s. Pheasants I will go 1 ounce #5 or 6 in the 20 ga.

Tim.
 
hnachaj said:
I hunt all upland birds including pheasants over my dog, Oban with target loads. As long as you are using a dog, it is like hitting the bird with a 2x4. You knock them down, the dog fetches. It might be a bit alive but you know what to do. When you cook and eat the bird, there is a lot less damaged meat and normaly no pellet penetration. I shoot light 8s and 8.5s in my 28 gauge on pheasants, partridge and woodcock. waterfowl is a completly different thing where heavy, dense and fast loads are required.

Regards,
Henry;)
Click to expand...

You say you use 8s out of a 28 using a dog. I would assume this means the birds you shoot tend to be a bit further away than they might be if you were hunting without a dog. Is this correct?

Now, I have in the past gotten within almost hockey stick distance of some of these birds, which I've heard refered to as both partridge and grouse(though I understand these are different birds, and upon doing some quick research, I believe the birds I'll be dealing with are ruffed grouse.) though never with a shotgun. Does this mean with the shorter ranges I expect, the 20 ga with 7 1/2s would cause too much damage and spoil the bird or I should be fine?
 
Thanks for the responses, this is an invaluable resource for a new shooter/hunter such as myself. Living in the city, outside the internet, it can be difficult to talk to people who have the kind of experience I'm looking for.

I'm impressed with the number of responses within such a short period, and just the CGN community in general.
 
IAMAWILDPARTY said:
You say you use 8s out of a 28 using a dog. I would assume this means the birds you shoot tend to be a bit further away than they might be if you were hunting without a dog. Is this correct?

Now, I have in the past gotten within almost hockey stick distance of some of these birds, which I've heard refered to as both partridge and grouse(though I understand these are different birds, and upon doing some quick research, I believe the birds I'll be dealing with are ruffed grouse.) though never with a shotgun. Does this mean with the shorter ranges I expect, the 20 ga with 7 1/2s would cause too much damage and spoil the bird or I should be fine?
Click to expand...

Hunting over a dog generally means your shots are actually closer because birds tend to hold for a dog and flush at the last second.

Partridge is a colloquial term for the Ruffed Grouse, particularly in eastern Canada. Partridge should technically refer to Hungarian or Gray partridge but most people call them Huns.

You should not cause undue damge to a grouse with 7 1/2's out of a 20 bore, if you do have the chance to ground swat a bird just hold a little high to minimize pellets in the breast area, smaller pellets tend to pass through and imbed in the breast bone of the bird.
 
IAMAWILDPARTY said:
Thanks for the responses, this is an invaluable resource for a new shooter/hunter such as myself. Living in the city, outside the internet, it can be difficult to talk to people who have the kind of experience I'm looking for.

I'm impressed with the number of responses within such a short period, and just the CGN community in general.
Click to expand...

All I have every used for Spruce Grouse or Ruffed grouse on my 20's and 28's was light target loads of 3/4oz of shot, sometimes 7/8oz but not often.
Even the far flushers are no match for a cloud of 7 1/2's if the shot string is center on the head!:)
Cat
 
In 12 ga, I like 1 oz. of 8's for grouse & woodcock, but either 7-1/2 or 9 target loads will also do nicely. For pheasants 1-1/8 oz of 6's.

In 20 ga., 7/8 oz. target loads work just fine in the uplands, with 1 oz. of 6's for pheasant.
 
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