12 Gauge for upland questions.

Gargoyle

Gargoyle

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"South"western Ontario
Ok here is my dilemma, I have a whack of 12 gauges in my safe, no 20's and only a single shot .410 (in addition to a single shot 10 gauge). I am planning on helping a buddy with some upland hunting, more for his dog than anything but with the economy and just getting back to work in the past few months I am pretty sure I will be unable to purchase a nice sxs 20 before the season arrives. My question is which of my guns would be most usable for upland (mostly pheasants).

My guns:
- 870 Marine Magnum threaded for remchoke with four tubes (skeet 1-IM-IF-cardshooter)
- 835 Mossy 28" waterfowl barrel with IC, M and Full, 22" turkey barrel as well
- Winchester 1400, 28" fixed full


My last question, what loads would be best that will not pulverize the birds. I shot a Rock Dove last week with my mossy with the IC choke and 7 1/2 shot at about 20 yards and what my dog brought back was a head with wings!

Any input (except but a new gun) would be great!
ThanksR:d:
 
reload some shells for yourself and put less shot in them

i would use the 870 with the m choke or ic your call with 6 or 7 1/2 shot

i use a 12gauge o/u with full on top and mod under with either 7 1/2 or 4 shot depending on wind
 
use this...

Gargoyle said:
My question is which of my guns would be most usable for upland (mostly pheasants).
My guns:
- 835 Mossy 28" waterfowl barrel with M
My last question, what loads would be best that will not pulverize the birds. sh
Any input (except but a new gun) would be great!
ThanksR:d:
Click to expand...

Use Number 4's or Number5's in lead shot !
No need for the heavy waterfowl lead loads of past.
Use2-3/4inch and 1-1/2 or lighter loads and that will take care of
any pheasant or grouse anywhere on the wing.
And remember to follow through.
Rob
 
I load heavy on the #6 shot and cut down on powder in 2 3/4" hulls. This combo levels out your pressures to that of a factory load and get a better spread out to 30 yards. Have no problems running them through my 870 Supermag with f/c. Just double check your work!!
 
I'm no shotgun expert but have hunted an awful lot of pheasants with my 870. Most I have shot are from say 25-30 yds at about 8-10' off the ground.
I always preferred #6 shot for pheasant, #4 was OK in a pinch, and a good duck load. Don't use lighter leads (traploads) for partridge. When it comes to traploads, "close counts".
Hope this helps, best of luck this fall to you and your buddy.
 
Your 870 with improved choke and number 6 1 1/4oz shells are good for all round upland hunting. I use a 20 gauge sxs for huns and chickens ( sharptails) but the 12 gauge for pheasants as those B&**%#$ are hard to kill.
 
I am old school but there is just way to much needless worry about shells and chokes ,it is no wonder nobody hunts any more,take which ever 12 gauge or the .410 for that matter and if you hit what you are shooting at it WILL drop.HAVE FUN!!!!
 
us the 835 with the short barrel with a mod choke then get some # 5or 6 shot shells you will be good to go i us my 535 turkey gun with a mod choke for bunnys and birds a;ll winter works great DUTCH
 
I use 8's early season when leaves are still up and then 7 1/2's once the woodcock are gone. I'd take the 870 and the skeet choke. Maybe change to the IM later on.
 
Your marine magnum barrel is a bit short, but better than the 28 inchers on your other shotguns. I prefer #6 shot for upland birds, particularly with shorter barrels, as they carry farther than 7 1/2. Try to shoot your birds in the head or aim high generally. If done right, a shotgunner can bring home most of his birds with no pellets in the meat.
 
Northman999 said:
Your marine magnum barrel is a bit short, but better than the 28 inchers on your other shotguns. I prefer #6 shot for upland birds, particularly with shorter barrels, as they carry farther than 7 1/2. Try to shoot your birds in the head or aim high generally. If done right, a shotgunner can bring home most of his birds with no pellets in the meat.
Click to expand...

At typical pheasant hunting distances, i.e. 25-30 yards, your pattern is at least 30 inches in diameter. There is no way that you can only target the head at that distance and miss the body entirely, unless your shot is way off the mark and you manage to hit the bird in the head with one of the flier pellets or you are using a "super hyper duper ultra-extra-tight" yet to be invented or at the least commercialized choke tube that creates a pattern only a few inches in diameter at those distances. Assuming there are about 500 pellets in a load of 7 1/2, it would be impressive indeed, if one managed to miss the bird with 499 of the pellets, yet hit it in the head with the one pellet that brought it down.

As far as I am concerned, wingshooting head shots on a bird the size of a pheasant are an urban legend. If we are talking about a bird the size of a goose, that is a different story.

Some may disagree.
 
They key is light loads and open chokes. For grouse I use 24 gram 7-1/2 with either a skeet or IC choke. Fewer pellets, more open patterns means not as many shredded birds. For pheasant I go to 1 ounce #6.
 
I would go No.4 for late season pheasant. They are a tough bird, and a cripple usually means a lost bird... they hit the ground runnning and are gonzo.

Take the 870. The shorter barrel will impede your swing slightly, but makes it easier to shoulder for close flushing birds. IC or Mod will do nicely.
 
My poor old Dad hunted Prairie Chicken, Ruffed Grouse, and Hungarian Partridge for years, then I did the same, with the same old Tobin 12 ga. double, both full, Imperial Special Long Range 7 1/2's. We just didn't know about all the different things you must have to shoot a bloody bird. The chicken that my Dad shot on the wing must have died from fright, seeing as he wasn't using the proper shells and choke. :p

Take whichever shotgun you like the best, buy or load some suitable shells and have at 'er. The main thing is to be safe and have fun. You will remember years and years from now the time you spent hunting with your buddy, but probably won't remember (or care) what kind of shotgun or shells you used!:)
 
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