i have always been taught for 20 ga to use 7 1/2 shot for clays and 6 shot for pheasant but ive always been curious as to what the other sizes are good for any help?
shot size?
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markIVbigblock
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i have always been taught for 20 ga to use 7 1/2 shot for clays and 6 shot for pheasant but ive always been curious as to what the other sizes are good for any help?
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2,010 Posts
#6 is a good shot size for pheasant..... for "clays" the shot choice depends on the particular event you're shooting. For a 20 ga -
Skeet would be 7/8 oz of 8, 8-1/2, or 9
16 yard trap would be 7/8 oz or 1 oz of 7-1/2 or 8
Handicap trap would be 1 oz of 7-1/2
Sporting clays would be all of the above
Skeet would be 7/8 oz of 8, 8-1/2, or 9
16 yard trap would be 7/8 oz or 1 oz of 7-1/2 or 8
Handicap trap would be 1 oz of 7-1/2
Sporting clays would be all of the above
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961 Posts
is #6 shot too big for quail?
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7,183 Posts
Shot Size is about carrying enough energy to the target to either break it or kill it.
For Clays - #9, #8 and #7(.5) shot are all used depending on how far away the target is and the density of the pattern needed. For instance Skeet can be shot with #9, a very small pellet size, with a very wide open pattern because the shots are quite short and not much energy is needed at that range to break the target.
For game animals, Pheasant lets say, a larger shot is required because distance can be everything from 5 yards to 50 yards and most of the shots are going away. A small shot size would not work because the pellets do not have the energy required to get through a lot of Pheasant and Pheasant Breakfast to reach the vital organs for a clean kill. Thus #6, #5 and #4 lead shot are the most common. For larger game, shot size should go up to again provided the needed terminal energy.
Here is a link that may help: http://www.shotgunworld.com/amm.html
Hope all of this helps.
For Clays - #9, #8 and #7(.5) shot are all used depending on how far away the target is and the density of the pattern needed. For instance Skeet can be shot with #9, a very small pellet size, with a very wide open pattern because the shots are quite short and not much energy is needed at that range to break the target.
For game animals, Pheasant lets say, a larger shot is required because distance can be everything from 5 yards to 50 yards and most of the shots are going away. A small shot size would not work because the pellets do not have the energy required to get through a lot of Pheasant and Pheasant Breakfast to reach the vital organs for a clean kill. Thus #6, #5 and #4 lead shot are the most common. For larger game, shot size should go up to again provided the needed terminal energy.
Here is a link that may help: http://www.shotgunworld.com/amm.html
Hope all of this helps.
For quail 6 might be a bit large considering that most shots are relatively close and the birds are small. 7.5s or 8s would give a denser patter, or a wider pattern with a more open choke. I believe most prefer open chokes for quail becuase the flush fast and close.
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I also hunt with a twenty. The places I hunt have quail, huns, and pheasant. I've tried different shot sizes and keep returning to #6's. The 7-1/2's are too small for pheasants, but 6's don't seem too big for the quail and huns. If only after quail, I would shoot 7-1/2's. When I patterned my 20ga. with premium #4's the pattern had large holes in it. My twenty's small bore dosen't seem to like any shot bigger than #6's.
Rob
Rob
G
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............ markIVbigblock ... The 20 bore is certainly one of the very finest gauges of all to be used in the uplands. ... You may bag just about any upland game animal with this gauge and have complete confidence with it. ... The upper shot size limit in this bore to really shine is probably #6's. ... The actual bore diameter being 615 thousands. ... All larger upland animals can and will fall to #6 shot easily. ... Quail, Grouse and other smaller game targets can be best bagged with #7.5 or #8 shot. ... This allows for a more dense pattern. ... I recommend nothing more than 1oz. loads in a 20 bore. ... 3-inch 20's often throw "blown" or patterns with large holes in them, and not to forget the extra recoil in a lighter gauge shotgun.
............ If you find you are not getting satifactory results from your shooting experiences with the 20 bore I would recommend
#1. Change your shotshell company. ... Some smoothbores like one brand ammunuition over another.
#2. Change your shotsize for that game animal. ... Perhaps you are using a shotsize that is not appropriate to the game animal being pursued.
#3. Change your chokes. ... Maybe you need to open up your chokes according to the range you are shooting at. ... Most American shooters tend to use too much choke to bag whatever upland game animal they are after.
#4. Shorten your shots. ... Many people shoot at distances that are well beyond their capability. ... 40 yards in the upland woods is really a very long shot and it takes a very seasoned hunter to regularity connect at that distance. ... Know your realistic limits.
#5. Always "swing Through". ... Never forget to swing past your target, it is one one the very worst and often commited crimes by shotgunners. ... It isn't the shotguns fault that you are missing your target.
#6. Have Faith. ... You have an adequate shooting arm at your disposale already, believe in your shotgun and believe in yourself. ... All of us have a day here and there where we can not hit anything. ... Many new guns are un-necessarily bought because we lacked confidence in what we already had.
Just My Personal Opinion ... Norm
===============================================
............ markIVbigblock ... The 20 bore is certainly one of the very finest gauges of all to be used in the uplands. ... You may bag just about any upland game animal with this gauge and have complete confidence with it. ... The upper shot size limit in this bore to really shine is probably #6's. ... The actual bore diameter being 615 thousands. ... All larger upland animals can and will fall to #6 shot easily. ... Quail, Grouse and other smaller game targets can be best bagged with #7.5 or #8 shot. ... This allows for a more dense pattern. ... I recommend nothing more than 1oz. loads in a 20 bore. ... 3-inch 20's often throw "blown" or patterns with large holes in them, and not to forget the extra recoil in a lighter gauge shotgun.
............ If you find you are not getting satifactory results from your shooting experiences with the 20 bore I would recommend
#1. Change your shotshell company. ... Some smoothbores like one brand ammunuition over another.
#2. Change your shotsize for that game animal. ... Perhaps you are using a shotsize that is not appropriate to the game animal being pursued.
#3. Change your chokes. ... Maybe you need to open up your chokes according to the range you are shooting at. ... Most American shooters tend to use too much choke to bag whatever upland game animal they are after.
#4. Shorten your shots. ... Many people shoot at distances that are well beyond their capability. ... 40 yards in the upland woods is really a very long shot and it takes a very seasoned hunter to regularity connect at that distance. ... Know your realistic limits.
#5. Always "swing Through". ... Never forget to swing past your target, it is one one the very worst and often commited crimes by shotgunners. ... It isn't the shotguns fault that you are missing your target.
#6. Have Faith. ... You have an adequate shooting arm at your disposale already, believe in your shotgun and believe in yourself. ... All of us have a day here and there where we can not hit anything. ... Many new guns are un-necessarily bought because we lacked confidence in what we already had.
Just My Personal Opinion ... Norm
===============================================
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4,078 Posts
7.5 for trap, skeet, and clays. Works on doves too. It's about all you need.
6 or bigger for living targets. I won't use anything smaller (with the exception of doves) on a upland bird. Clean kill or no kill.
6 or bigger for living targets. I won't use anything smaller (with the exception of doves) on a upland bird. Clean kill or no kill.
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