Either one should do the job just fine, pick whichever you like best.

cdb

 

You do know that for most of that stuff your paying more for what it says on the box then actual performance??
A good load of 1 1/4 ounce high base #6 shot and mod choke usually works as well as anything? :mrgreen:

 

Either will do. Dead birds won't know the difference.

IMO, any 1 1/4oz., 1300 - 1400 FPS, #4 - #6 will do. Remington Express Extra Long Range are the cheapest around here.

 

Yeahhh you guys are probably right! Would it be safe to say that Fiocchi Golden Pheasant nickel plated loads are probably the end all beat all for Pheasant loads? I've yet to read a bad review about them...everyone seems to absolutely love them. What do you guys think?

 

Yeahhh you guys are probably right! Would it be safe to say that Fiocchi Golden Pheasant nickel plated loads are probably the end all beat all for Pheasant loads? I've yet to read a bad review about them...everyone seems to absolutely love them. What do you guys think?

I've used them for about 10 years in 12,16 and 20 ga.
Cabela's in Mitchel sells them by the flat and has palates of them.
My biggest concern is they will outlaw lead shot and I've got a life time supply. :x
Works great on pheasants!

 

I have used one of Fiocchi's 12ga 1 1/8oz #6 loads to hunt pheasants with good results. Any cripples were my fault not the ammunitions.

 

Over a good pointing dog a regular trap load and open choke will do.
Put the shot swarm where the bird is.
The super duper loads have a place for the average shot if they use a more open choke.
Only a few shots can actually make use of these premium shells.

 

LOL marketing at its best. i reload my own. For the 20 ga I load a 1 ounce #5 that swats them good. I also use a 7/8 ounce #6, #7 and ever #7.5. Its all on me not the load.

For the 28 ga I load a 3/4 ounce #6 and #7. I played around with some heavier payloads but wasnt thrilled with the performance and saw little to no difference.

Buy what you want but remember I am killing birds dead and a lot of them with a 3/4 ounce load.

for a 12 ga Id likely just use a good 1 1/8 #5.

 

I too have been using Fiocchi Golden pheasant loads for ten years or so. My buddies all use them now as well. They always seem to pattern nicely out of any gun we've tried. They also work great in the field and smack roosters pretty good even at extended ranges. I use them in 2 3/4" 12 gauge with 1 3/8oz of #5's.

 

Well, I definitely know what I'll be using this fall! Yeah, I was massively turned off by Prairie Storm when I saw a couple videos of people cutting them open, and the powder would come out in clumps...that said you'd never get complete powder burn, and you would definitely lose consistency. Thanks for all of your help! 12GA 2 3/4" 1 3/8oz #5 shot nickel plated Fiocchi GP loads will work amazingly in the corn fields and CRP ground here in Iowa.

Thanks again!!
Drake

 

Let us know how they work out for you. Like any load,try to get out and do a little patterning work before going in the field.

 

I too have been using Fiocchi Golden pheasant loads for ten years or so. My buddies all use them now as well. They always seem to pattern nicely out of any gun we've tried. They also work great in the field and smack roosters pretty good even at extended ranges. I use them in 2 3/4" 12 gauge with 1 3/8oz of #5's.

I use the exact same load in 12 ga.

 

Let us know how they work out for you. Like any load,try to get out and do a little patterning work before going in the field.

That was the plan!!

 

I would be one to recommend 4's to someone hunting without a dog.

A heavy load of 4's makes sure you don't have a runner...

Probably not necessary but adds a little insurance.

 

I would be one to recommend 4's to someone hunting without a dog.

A heavy load of 4's makes sure you don't have a runner...

Probably not necessary but adds a little insurance.

And them sum beaches we have here in Ks can ruuuuuuuunnnnnnnn, MAN!

 

If I only wanted to mess around with one 12 ga. load for pheasants here in Iowa, that Fiocchi #5 load, in 1 3/8 oz. would definitely be the one. I used to be a staunch 1 1/4 oz #6 shot fan until I tried the Fiocchi load above, I ain't going back.

Jeff

 

Found kent fast lead to pattern better by percentage for any given choke out of my gun compared to golden pheasant. Its also cheaper. I would try the kent in #5.

 

When comparing pattern percentages for all shells, especially both Fiocchi and Kent shells, it is necessary to count the actual number of pellets in a few shells. The few Kent #5 shells I have counted had more pellets per ounce (because they averaged closser to #5.5) and the Fiocchi #5's varied from #4 to #5 depending on which box. However, they are both good shells.

If you get a box of Fiocchi #5 that are actually closer to #4, and a box of Kents that are actually closer to #5.5, and you assume both shells have the same number of pellets, you might assume that the Kents pattern tighter.

 

I plan on getting a box of 2 3/4" 1 1/4oz loads of either Super Pheasant OR Prairie Storm loads. Can I get your opinions as to how these two loads compare to each other ballistically speaking? That would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!!
Drake

I have no idea what you mean by ballistics, but how they pattern in your gun is what matters. Neither of these shells are particularly good.

MB Long Range 1-1/4 #4 is one of the best, as is any number of buffered loads (American size#5) and the Golden Pheasants (the 1250 fps, NOT the faster ones) are good as well.

 

When comparing pattern percentages for all shells, especially both Fiocchi and Kent shells, it is necessary to count the actual number of pellets in a few shells. The few Kent #5 shells I have counted had more pellets per ounce (because they averaged closser to #5.5) and the Fiocchi #5's varied from #4 to #5 depending on which box. However, they are both good shells.

If you get a box of Fiocchi #5 that are actually closer to #4, and a box of Kents that are actually closer to #5.5, and you assume both shells have the same number of pellets, you might assume that the Kents pattern tighter.

How can you figure percents without counting the number of pellets in the shell?

I found #6 GP to have more pellets than any other #6 I have counted as I recall it was 255 in an ounce. I found GP 7 1/2 to be more like 7 with only 295 per ounce. #8 GP around 400.

I found that the kent #6 had 225. cheap winchester game loads in #6 also contained 225 per ounce.

By PERCENTAGE the kents put more pellets on target.

 

If I only wanted to mess around with one 12 ga. load for pheasants here in Iowa, that Fiocchi #5 load, in 1 3/8 oz. would definitely be the one. I used to be a staunch 1 1/4 oz #6 shot fan until I tried the Fiocchi load above, I ain't going back.

Jeff

I got a case of those, shot 2 boxes and sold the rest. They are only good for making you flinch and wearing out your gun. They pattern well at long ranges, but my eyes were opened when I killed as many pheasants with my 20g shooting the 1oz GP loads.
Save your shots for under birds under 30 yards and you don't need to suffer through dangerous game rifle recoil.

 

I love marketing. I agree Clink.

 

I've done a bunch of patterning over the years for just this same purpose. hate a runner - at any distance.
My results across different guns and both IC & Mod chokes was:

Crappiest shells ever seen were WW super pheasant.

Fiochi golden pheasant were horrible overblown patterns that I assume came from soft cheap shot. Doesn't matter inside 30 yds I guess.

Old favorite was Federal copper long range at 1330. Federal got bought out and came out with new fed premiums at like 1450 and these were overblown terrible patterns. Called them and was told that's what sells - marketing. High speed is hot. What a joke. PPl actually think they are buying a premium shell.

The kents I tried did pretty well.

The prairie storms are louder than crap and beat you to death but they actually patterned nice. Think their wad is holding them tight so you could probably shoot IC and still have good range. If you can stand the beating. I'll pass

My favorite continues to be Remington Nitro pheasant in 1 3/8 oz 1300' loads of 5's. The same load in HV 1400' is no good and the same brand in 1 1/4 oz not good enough. I would buy these by the case before they change them and screw it up.

If any of you are loving the fiochi golden ph and want to shoot long range you really need to do a comparison on the pattern board. Shoot some mod 40 yd patterns. If your knocking them off at 25 yds behind a good dog buy some trap loads and don't worry about it.

Just my experiences patterning.

 

I reload all my own with magnum shot and 3/4 or 7/8 and even some 1 ounce. I use #7, #6 or #5 in the 1 ounce. I kill boatloads of birds and yes have runners but unless you are a perfect shot everyone, no matter the shell, will have them. Its your shooting not some magic shell.

 

Crappiest shells ever seen were WW super pheasant.

Fiochi golden pheasant were horrible overblown patterns that I assume came from soft cheap shot. Doesn't matter inside 30 yds I guess.

Old favorite was Federal copper long range at 1330. Federal got bought out and came out with new fed premiums at like 1450 and these were overblown terrible patterns. Called them and was told that's what sells - marketing. High speed is hot. What a joke. PPl actually think they are buying a premium shell.

The kents I tried did pretty well.

The prairie storms are louder than crap and beat you to death but they actually patterned nice. Think their wad is holding them tight so you could probably shoot IC and still have good range. If you can stand the beating. I'll pass

My favorite continues to be Remington Nitro pheasant in 1 3/8 oz 1300' loads of 5's. The same load in HV 1400' is no good and the same brand in 1 1/4 oz not good enough. I would buy these by the case before they change them and screw it up.

If any of you are loving the fiochi golden ph and want to shoot long range you really need to do a comparison on the pattern board. Shoot some mod 40 yd patterns. If your knocking them off at 25 yds behind a good dog buy some trap loads and don't worry about it.

Just my experiences patterning.

If you go with the fast GP - - - yes, they are poor. The 1250 fps loads are excellent.

The buffered Remingtons are excellent as are buffered just about everything. MB Long Range 1-1/4 oz. is excellent in 12 gauge as well.

In 20 gauge, the buffered Winchester and Federal 1-5/16 oz. and the Kent 1-1/4 oz. loads are all quite good, as are the 1-1/4 oz. Remington buffered loads.