12 GA choking for pheasants

P

PSE

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While I consider myself very experienced with rifle and handgun, shotguns probably a little less so.

My dog comes back from training this week and this fall I will be going after pheasants.

My hunting shotgun is a Beretta ultralight weight 12ga with 26 inch BBL

My hunting ammo will be standard 2 3/4 in #6 lead shot - probably Federals
(recoil is kind of ferocious with the ultra light so I intend to keep it moderate by using just the standard ammo.)

I have the option of interchanging chokes for upper and lower barrels and to start with I intend to use:

Top barrel (1st shot) IC improved cylinder
Bottom barrel (2nd shot) IM improved modified

What do you upland pheasant hunters think of this choice??

My choke selection choice is either full, improved modified, modified, improved cylinder or cylinder.

Thanks for the advice.
 
IC should be fine with a pointing dog and also OK with a flusher as long as its finished and will hup on command in order for you to get up on the bird and release the dog to flush in range. If a flusher is putting the birds up at distances switch to mod. If you have a flusher pup try training to work close. IMHO
 
if the dog works ok,improved & mod cylinder,shoot your bottom barrel first(ic) then mod in the top,bottom barrel is more inline with your shoulder/less felt recoil and muzzle rise,then your top barrel
 
On your second shot a Mod. would work, you could also go with a larger shot 5's or even 4's.
 
Your choke choice depends on the range you are shooting at. Up close, open chokes like IC and Mod. Longer shots on flushed birds can call for Mod and Full. I lived in South Dakota for 5 years and wild flushed birds were best handled with Mod /Full using "High Brass"(2-3/4 Dram) 1-1/4 of #5's. Some guys even resorted to 3" shells on very wild birds very late in the season. So guess at your ranges and choke up accordingly. If you are unhappy you can always change them.

John
 
Thanks to everyone who replied - Your advice is appreciated. I think for this season I will stick to to IC (1st shot) and IM (2nd shot) and see what happens. I can always change it out fairly quickly in the field if there is a problem.
 
I use fixed f/m 28" tubes in my 12ga. #6 shot 7/8oz in the mod and 1oz #5 in the full. Its nice to knock em down at 50yards when everyone else missed. I think ic/m will work fine if your close m/im if they flush/run early
 
Improved Modified and Improved Cylinder would work splendidly. Don't over choke, many people do and pay the price. I get to see many, many, many upland type birds killed yearly, I shoot 1 1/4 ounce of 6's out of either a Light Modified tube or in a double Skeet 1 Skeet 2. With a good dog 30 yards should be a real long shot.
 
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