2 3/4" vs 3"

Well, the prairie storm loads (which have non-round shot) are by a large margin the most deadly of the shotshells I have ever used on pheasants, no question in my mind. Changed from the kent fast lead to those and the kill to wound ratio improved a lot. It wasn't chasing down cripples, it was the bird was dead upon retrieve. Is it worth the cost? That is definitely up for debate. but flat dismissing them is silly.

Name dropping Randy Wakeman gains no traction here, I've met the man and walked away ambivalent about his supposed expertise.

Edit - I said Kent fast steel but meant lead. That would be a totally unfair comparison, any steel shot vs prairie storm lead for lethality!
 
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41magsnub said:
Well, the prairie storm loads (which have non-round shot) are by a large margin the most deadly of the shotshells I have ever used on pheasants, no question in my mind. Changed from the kent fast steel to those and the kill to wound ratio improved a lot. It wasn't chasing down cripples, it was the bird was dead upon retrieve. Is it worth the cost? That is definitely up for debate. but flat dismissing them is silly.

Name dropping Randy Wakeman gains no traction here, I've met the man and walked away ambivalent about his supposed expertise.
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I didn't like the PS, but love the federal Wing shok loads.

I was curious if you felt it patterned tighter then normal shells? I was wondering if you missed more shots then the Kent? I will agree with the killing power of the shell, very lethal. I just didn't like how it patterned in a couple of my guns with an IC choke in. I felt it was like shooting a full choke with regular federal loads.

Just curious.

Jim
 
I never miss! Well, not much. Well, I hit more than I miss... sometimes.

It may be they patterned tighter than the Kents.

Towards the end of the season I bought a single box of the prairie storm's and was 25 for 25 on a mix of wild and released pheasants over several weeks.

Total fluke, I'm actually a terrible shot as demonstrated by burning most of a box of shells last weekend for 4 released chukar.
 
I've never shot a 3" shell. All my birds and turkeys are shot with 2 3/4". I buy what's cheap. Why? Because I'm cheap! :eek:
 
I'm not a PS or 3" fan. If we were counting, I bet I've killed just as many pheasant with Double AA 7 1/2 than any other brand. I'll shoot PS if given to me but I won't buy them. I do like the Rem. Nitro's. They shoot much cleaner than any Federal.
 
41magsnub said:
I never miss! Well, not much. Well, I hit more than I miss... sometimes.

It may be they patterned tighter than the Kents.

Towards the end of the season I bought a single box of the prairie storm's and was 25 for 25 on a mix of wild and released pheasants over several weeks.

Total fluke, I'm actually a terrible shot as demonstrated by burning most of a box of shells last weekend for 4 released chukar.
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if I ever hit 25 for 25 I would keep shooting them. I usually hit about 5 out of 25. but you have more birds on your property when you miss more birds. :)

I call it shoot and release.
 
I tested some 3" 12 GA #4 Prairie Storm two years ago in ND on some late Dec. birds. I too was given a box to try, but the price would keep me from buying any. HOWEVER, if you don't mind the cost, and can shoot well, these things are one-shot stone cold killers. No cripples or winged birds.

I started out with the I/C choke in the Maxus on the 1st day, but switched to skeet later, due to the actual pellet count in the dead birds. In fact, you really don't want to shoot at birds closer than 30 yards due to the tight patterns.

Like 1100 MAN stated, the Rem Nitro Pheasant is one fine load!
 
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Dakotazeb said:
In my opinion 3" Prairie Storm shells are way more than are needed at any time for pheasant hunting. But then I'm not a fan of the Prairie Storm loads in any configuration. I feel they pattern too tight even in a more open choked gun. But, each to there own.
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I have not used them but lots of people I hunt with have. They are loud and too much shell as above from what I have seen. They are hit or miss and the hits are messy if close.
 
Uncle Buck said:
the hits are messy if close.
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I agree. I had 3 loaded in my shotgun a few years ago. Leaned they are a good way to turn a pheasant into hamburger. Great load if it's the last shot-shell used (out of the 3). Late season birds it's good too. Or, maybe if someone takes a bit longer to take a shot on pheasants--let's them get out a bird further.

Nick
 
1100 Remington Man said:
My favorite is Remington Nirto Pheasant with Copper Plated Shot, with Winchester in Copper Plated Shot second, Federal makes a good shell also but they don't cycle in my 1100. Does that make them a bad shell no just not good in my gun, but maybe yours. ......
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Apologies for parsing the quote, but I'll give 2 thumbs up to both of these shells in 12 and 20ga. I too have had issues with Federal shells cycling in both my 12 ga 870 express and my 20 ga 1100 special field. Did buy the PS a few years back for both shotguns. They both cycled well, the 20ga with IC patterned better (and I shot them better) than the 870 did; I don't recall load or shot size of those shells, I do recall my guns being very dirty...so I'm not a fan. Good shell though, they killed birds. Two years ago bought the Winchester Super Pheasant 1-7/8 copper plated #4 for the 12ga and loved them with IC choke. The 20ga likes the Nitro Pheasant 1-1/4 copper #5 better...using Rem chokes in both guns.

Lots to be gained from patterning your gun/shell/choke combination...
 
I'll just re-iterate what's already been stated by folks that have actually patterned the PS shells, rather than just passing along hunting anecdotes. They pattern SUBSTANTIALLY tighter. I've patterned them with skeet chokes, and, they still pattern tighter than other loads I've put thru modified.

So lots of opinions on whether they're good/bad (I happen to like them for loading a 3rd round in my auto), but, it is a fact that they pattern much tighter.
 
It's a well known phenomenae that steel patterns much tighter than lead. So much so,the choke manufacturers have dual designated chokes, such as mod for lead/full for steel.
 
I guess you could make a case for 3" in steel loads to increase pellet count when using a #3 or #2 steel.

The other place I guess you could make a case for 3" ammo for hunting wild pheasants would be for 20 ga. 3" 1 1/4 oz in #6 or #5 lead shot, which will be roughly the equivalent of a 12 ga. in 2 3/4" with the same load size.
 
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I never found a need for 3" shells but then I don't pass shoot or hunt big water waterfowl. Only green tree and upland for me. In fact, I don't own a 12 gauge.
 
I hand load all my ammo for myself, my son, and hunting buddy.
They shoot the 20's using a 2 3/4" Fiocchi hull with a BPI TC 20 wad and 28 grains of Alliant Steel powder pushing 7/8oz of muckle plated 6's or 7 1/2's.
This runs at around 8,300PSI and 1,410FPS
I run my vintage hammers 12's at about 1,175-1,00FPS however, with 1oz of nickle plated shot in front of 90 grains of FFG in a 2 1/2" case- everything works just fine on wild birds, released birds, sharptails, as long as the dogs point them we can bring 'em down!:D
DHT
 
Winchester has (sort-of) copied the PS shell with their own ROOSTER XR load. Like the PS, it has the so-called special wad to hold the shot together. I've fired some of the 2 3/4", 1 1/4 oz. #4s in the field, using the same I/C choke as PS.

These loads have copper-plated lead pellets running 1300 FPS, which are a bit slower than the PS loads tested. Not sure why, but this ammo did not kill the late-season birds as well as the PS ammo did. But, I've had crippling issues with other Win. ammo, especially the SUPER PHEASANT 2 3/4", 1 3/8 oz load running 1450 FPS.

As such, I'll stick with the Fed Wing-Shok or Rem Nitro Pheasant.
 
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Shell length

Just got back from SD. I put 25 birds in the pouch, missed 5 or so, and didn't find two. I used Federal Wingshok Turkey 3" 1 5/16 oz 5 shot out of a Winchester SX3 20 ga. I use two chokes, depending on wind and how many people I'm hunting with. Group hunting in dry noisy conditions I use a LM Trulock choke. The shell patterns tight and I was able to pound several birds in the 45-50 yard range, and missed several close easy shots. Hunting alone I use a Trulock IC choke. Shots were usually much closer because I hunt a pointer with very little noise and dog not distracted by hunting with two other flushers. The shell is a little overkill I think. Next year I will pattern and try Federal Wingshok Magnums 1 1/4 oz 5 shot. I experience very limited recoil and muzzle flip with my gun so follow up shots come quickly. The only thing I can say is I really know why guys like their OUs. Two chokes is very cool. Not going to run out and buy one because I hunt cattails and cornfields and beat my gun to smitherines, but I can see the upsides. Flight Control wad is a different animal, for sure. I patterned before I left so I knew I couldn't have the best of both worlds. I'll try it again out there right after Christmas and see how it goes.
 
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