Pheasant Hunt: Choke? Ammo?
09-04-2006, 07:03 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 248
Pheasant Hunt: Choke? Ammo?
Got a Kansas Pheasant hunt planned for the 1st weekend of November. 1st time for pheasants! I'm planning on taking my Browning Gold and Bakail O/U 12ga's. I've gotten some mixed reviews on what chokes and ammo to take with me. Anything from skeet and #5's to Full and #8's. I'm thinking Modified and some low brass #4 or #5's.
What do you hard core Pheasant Hunters use?
What do you hard core Pheasant Hunters use?
09-04-2006, 08:35 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cornwall, Pa.
Posts: 1,720
RE: Pheasant Hunt: Choke? Ammo?
I hunt pheasnat primarily in cut corn fields and fence rows. My choice is a 12 gauge with 26" barrels, high brass 6 shot with an improvedchokefirst shot and modified for a follow up.
09-04-2006, 08:51 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location:
Posts: 1,813
RE: Pheasant Hunt: Choke? Ammo?
My vote goes for a 12ga. withhigh brass #6's.... I believe this is the best all around load for pheasants, at least around here it is.
As for chokes, it really all depends on how long the shots are, but ialways like IC for the first day. Thenmaybe go to mod. after that, as the birds start going up a bit further away after they smarten up a bit.
This is why i've always liked a side by side shotgun with double triggers, instant choise of chokes for every shot!
Drilling Man
As for chokes, it really all depends on how long the shots are, but ialways like IC for the first day. Thenmaybe go to mod. after that, as the birds start going up a bit further away after they smarten up a bit.
This is why i've always liked a side by side shotgun with double triggers, instant choise of chokes for every shot!
Drilling Man
09-04-2006, 11:02 PM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 2,862
RE: Pheasant Hunt: Choke? Ammo?
I run a lodge and I reccomend for 12 gauge shooters this. 1 1/4 of #4 or #5s for opener with IC or Mod choke. Later in the season I usually bump it up to 1 5/8 or 1 7/8 of 2s or 4s with a mod choke.
If you are a steel shot shooter, I use Kent Faststeel #2s at 1560fps, works very very well on birds.
If you are a steel shot shooter, I use Kent Faststeel #2s at 1560fps, works very very well on birds.
09-05-2006, 04:33 AM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: A flat lander lost in the mountains of Northern,AZ
Posts: 3,171
RE: Pheasant Hunt: Choke? Ammo?
early in the season I use a modified choke with low brass 1 1/8 oz #6 or #7.5's. mid season Ill go with a little beefier load likely hi brass 1 1/4 oz #6 then late season Ill stick with the hi brass load in #6's but go to a full choke.
09-05-2006, 04:44 AM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: A flat lander lost in the mountains of Northern,AZ
Posts: 3,171
RE: Pheasant Hunt: Choke? Ammo?
ORIGINAL: Rammer
I run a lodge and I reccomend for 12 gauge shooters this. 1 1/4 of #4 or #5s for opener with IC or Mod choke. Later in the season I usually bump it up to 1 5/8 or 1 7/8 of 2s or 4s with a mod choke.
If you are a steel shot shooter, I use Kent Faststeel #2s at 1560fps, works very very well on birds.
I run a lodge and I reccomend for 12 gauge shooters this. 1 1/4 of #4 or #5s for opener with IC or Mod choke. Later in the season I usually bump it up to 1 5/8 or 1 7/8 of 2s or 4s with a mod choke.
If you are a steel shot shooter, I use Kent Faststeel #2s at 1560fps, works very very well on birds.
1 5/8 oz??? 1 7/8 oz ??? 2's and 4's turkey loads on a pheasant?? IMO thats over doing just a bit. I strongly disagree with ya!! its a pheasant not a turkey......[:'(] then the #2 fast steel thats just nuts thats the same load i use for 50 to 60 yards pass over shots on canadian geese. you obviously dont want your clients to enjoy a tasty entree of a pheasant breast rather you would have them eat pheasant burger peppered with shot.[:'(]
You really dont need anything more then hi brass #6's Ive downed birds asfar as 50 yards with hi brass #6's doesnt happen alot but the hi brass #6's will do it if you put your shot string where it needs to be..
09-05-2006, 06:05 AM
#9
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: WC FL
Posts: 26,323
RE: Pheasant Hunt: Choke? Ammo?
Tony, Federal lists aPheasant load in #6,#4,#2,#BB. It depends on the time of the
season.
CP BL
P158
12
3 / 76
1210
1 7/8 / 53.16
2 ,4 ,6 ,BB
4.03
7 8
season.
CP BL
P158
12
3 / 76
1210
1 7/8 / 53.16
2 ,4 ,6 ,BB
4.03
7 8
09-05-2006, 07:18 AM
#10
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location:
Posts: 213
RE: Pheasant Hunt: Choke? Ammo?
I always used mod. or IC choke shooting heavy dove loads in 7.5 or 8. If they're getting up too far out, switch over to the full choke and hammer 'em! I don't think I've ever used a high brass load for anything other than ducks.