Looking for a printable chart

[TGC]

I am looking for a prinatable chat that shows what size shot to use on which game birds, water and land and for ,four legged animals?

 

[straightshooter]

As far as I know, no such chart exists. And, if it does, it's only someone's opinion. The size of shot to use will depend on a host of factors including, but not limited to:

• the species being hunted
• the anticipated distance to the target (this applies more to steel than lead)
• the type of shot (lead, steel, bismuth, tungsten matrix,...)
• the choke configuration(s)
• and, sometimes legislation and/or club rules.

Give us the details the first 4 points for your particular situation, and lots of folks here will share what they would use. You may be surprised at how widely opinions can vary sometimes, though.

 

[brybenn]

Some ammo boxes have it printed on the box. Species gauge distance and choke. I forget the brand though

 

[Mooses]

Google is your friend "shot size chart"

 

[silverfoxdj]

I am looking for a prinatable chat that shows what size shot to use on which game birds, water and land and for ,four legged animals?

http://www.shotgunworld.com/amm.html#shotgraphic

 

[ss1980]

Perhaps it might be worthwhile to start by listing the nominal diameter of the various common sizes of shot as manufactured in the U.S. Here they are, courtesy of the Federal Ammunition Catalog:

BBB .190" (4.83mm), BB .180" (4.57mm), 1 .160" (4.06mm), 2 .150" (3.81mm), 3 .140" (3.56mm), 4 .130" (3.30mm), 5 .120" (3.05mm), 6 .110" (2.79mm), 7 .100" (2.41mm), 7-1/2 .095" (2.35mm), 8 .090" (2.29mm), 8-1/2 .085" (2.16mm), 9 .080" (2.03mm).

Here is the average pellet count in one ounce (28.35 grams) of 3% antimony, 97% lead shot of various selected sizes, courtesy of the Winchester Ammunition 2004 Product Guide:

BB - 50, 2 - 87, 4 - 135, 5 - 170, 6 - 225, 7-1/2 - 350, 8 - 410, 8-1/2 - 497, 9 - 585.

Here is the average pellet count in one ounce of steel shot of various selected sizes, also courtesy of the Winchester Ammunition 2004 Product Guide:

BBB - 62, BB - 72, 1 - 103, 2 - 125, 3 - 158, 4 - 192, 5 - 243, 6 - 315.


Target Shooting Games (lead shot)
16 yard Trap - 8, 8-1/2
Handicap Trap - 7-1/2, 8
Skeet - 9
Sporting Clays - 7-1/2, 8, 8-1/2
Live Pigeon - 7-1/2

Upland Game (lead or tungsten alloy shot)
Turkey - 4, 5, 6
Pheasant - 5
Chukker, Grouse, and Partridge - 6, 7-1/2
Quail - 7-1/2, 8
Dove - 7-1/2
Rail, Snipe and Woodcock - 7-1/2, 8
Rabbit - 6, 7-1/2
Squirrel - 6

Waterfowl (steel shot)
Geese - BBB, BB, 1
Ducks (over decoys) - 2, 3, 4
Ducks (pass shooting) - BB, 1, 2

Waterfowl (tungsten alloy shot, Hevi-shot)
Geese - BB, 2
Ducks (over decoys) - 4, 5, 6
Ducks (pass shooting) - 2, 4

 

[straightshooter]

Case in point. Imagine using 5 shot on a pheasant through a full choke at 20 yards. Have fun eating your feathers.

"But the chart says..."

Edited to add: I would have said "4, 5, 6" for pheasant.

 

[jeffcarr88]

Some ammo boxes have it printed on the box. Species gauge distance and choke. I forget the brand though

Winchester does this on the top of some of their shot shell boxes.