[RealtorKen]

Ok, I am new to shotgun hunting. I went to the local Wally World to pick up shells, the guy seemed knowledgable. Anyway, I told him I was going small game for the first time and he said a good all around small game was a 6 Shot. He also said I wanted higher brass on the 3" shell for my 12g.

Is more brass gonna translate into bigger kick? In other words slam my 175 pound arse into the ground...?

 

[mountainview]

Ken,
1) #6 shot is a good all-purpose small game load. I use 3 1/4 dram loads of 6 shot for all my small game and it works well for me.
2) You don't need a hard kicking 3" load for small game, waterfowl and turkey is different and you want the extra bang and shotload. 2 3/4" loads with 1 1/4 oz shot are all that is really needed for small game such as pheasant though lighter loads are fine for bunnies and squirrels. I rarely notice the recoil from a 3" load when I am shooting at game but it can get your attention when shooting at targets. When I was a young 'un the higher dram (more powder and velocity) loads did have "high brass" but that is not necessarily the case in the newer shotshells. I would not worry about high or low brass designation, look instead at the shot load (preferably 1 1/4 oz for 12 gauge) in 2 3/4" shells. Generally these are hunting loads and should be all you need.

 

[TReX300]

Anyone that would try and sell you 3" shells for small game needs a kick in the arse. #6 is a good all around shot size for small game but all you need for a shell is a good 1oz load like the Remington Game Loads. 1oz #6 at 1290 fps is plenty.

Tim

 

[RealtorKen]

Ooops, I just checked the box. The shells I purchased are:

Remington Express Long Range
12 Gauge
2 3/4 Length
1330 Velocity
1 1/4 oz shot
6 Shot

Another question...

Anyone know if I could use these for all small game in New Jersey... Like Rabbits and pheasants?

 

[Air]

Pheasant in NJ??? Wow, things have changed in 30 years, use to see/shoot lots of quail/woodcock/grouse, but never pheasant.

Anyway, used #6 shot out a 12 *****, don't remember the rest of the specs.

 

[RealtorKen]

Yeah, they stock a good amount of pheasants in NJ

 

[wb]

Ooops, I just checked the box. The shells I purchased are:

Remington Express Long Range
12 Gauge
2 3/4 Length
1330 Velocity
1 1/4 oz shot
6 Shot

Another question...

Anyone know if I could use these for all small game in New Jersey... Like Rabbits and pheasants?

I don't know about New Jersey but in California they would work fine! :lol:
Only problem you might have is if your shooting stock Pheasant like at a hunting preserve, out here the max shell is usually 1 1/8 oz of 7 1/2 shot w/ 3 1/2 dram. shells.
My old favorte then were Double A heavy trap loads, dropped birds at up to 40 yards but most were much closer.

 

[bipr8]

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