Which 20 ga load

[HAIKU_RODNEY]

I am wondering what everyone's thoughts are on shotgun loads. I want to use a 20 ga for pheasants. I can load a 7/8 oz load at 1450 fps. My concern is with 5's, the pellect count is about 150, with 6's it's around 200. If I go with 1 oz or 1\1/8 oz. I get a higher pellet count but the velocities are lower at around 1200-1250 fps. I hunt over a dog, but, the birds do not hold really tight. the birds generally flush about 15 yards ahead.

What do you think?

[wranglerdude]

I think 1 oz of #6 at 1200 fps will work fine. Used that load a few years ago on a combo quail/ pheasant hunt. We didn't kill much but not because they got away. Didn't see many. I've killed them with 7/8 oz of #8 shot up close.

[CHAVEZ CHAVEZ]

6'S OR 71/2'S would be good what choke ? if there flushing that close 15 yrd's ,i would use a m-fied
choke or IM-cylinder .

[markmazuch]

I've been hunting rooties since I was twelve. The round that works best for me is the one the one that has a picture of a pheasant on the box! ;) I shoot a 20 guage too. I think I got a improved modified choke in it. I havn't taken it out since I put it in. :( That was when I got the gun, when I was 12. (I'm 25 now) I don't know what it is but I can't hit crap with any other shotgun, except my brothers. I guess thats cuz he has the exact same gun.

[NYHunter]

IMO >>> 1 oz. of #5's, (170 pellets) is perfect. 1 1/8 oz. (191 +- pellets) would be better on a follow up shot. Don't worry so much about the velocity. If you can hit the bird ... it will fold. 200 fps more or less won't matter because the large shot size hits with more retained energy. End result with #5's or #4's is less lost birds. Many times with #6's and smaller, the bird folds, but starts to run as soon as it hits the ground if ti isn't hit good enough. For my type of hunting, usually no dogs, I found the 5's and 4's to be so much better, especially in the 20 ga.

[HAIKU_RODNEY]

Thanks for the advice. I think I was too fixated on velocity. I have the fixings for 1oz 5's so I am going to give them a try.

[HAIKU_RODNEY]

NYHunter-
You were right on! I loaded 1 oz of 5's. Clean kills on pheasant and chukar. The 20 gauge is a lot easier to lug around than either of my 12 gauges.

Thanks!