Black Cloud for Pheasant

[KEOutdoors]

If you have to use non-toxic shot, IMO 2';s are the way to go. If you can use lead, I recommend 4's but will use 5's in early season.

Black Cloud and it's lead twin Prairie Storm work great, but because of the Flite Stopper wad they shoot very tight (I suspect steel BC not so much as lead PS) As has been pointed out, use an IC or Light Mod choke (I like LM all season with all lead loads). There are lots of folks here who can attest to destroying roosters (can't be recovered to eat) by centering them with PS at 20-25 yds, and I'm one of them...

Something to consider is that flight control wad likes no choke, often the more open the choke the tighter the pattern. I used to shoot IC for 40-50yd goose pattern when I shot black cloud, when i tightened to Mod it opened up significantly, and full was like throwing a handful of shot at the board. Opposite of normal wads. I havent done a lot of work with prairie storm, but my lead coyote load in flight control wad is the same way. Those wads confuse more hunters than they help IMO

 

[BrownDogsCan2]

Something to consider is that flight stopper wad likes no choke, often the more open the choke the tighter the pattern. I used to shoot IC for 40-50yd goose pattern when I shot black cloud, when i tightened to Mod it opened up significantly, and full was like throwing a handful of shot at the board. Opposite of normal wads. I havent done a lot of work with prairie storm, but my lead coyote load in flightstopper wad is the same way. Those wads confuse more hunters than they help IMO

I was just about to ask you about that. I bought a box of the Scheels branded federal bismuth #5s . I’m hoping it throws about a 65% percent pattern at 30 as opposed to 95%. I’m getting ready to go pattern it now am going to start with light mod and hope it ends there.

 

[KEOutdoors]

I was just about to ask you about that. I bought a box of the Scheels branded federal bismuth #5s . I’m hoping it throws about a 65% percent pattern at 30 as opposed to 95%. I’m getting ready to go pattern it now am going to start with light mod and hope it ends there.

95% of bismuth 5s at 30 yards, wont need to get out the grinder to make bacon ranch pheasant burgers

I didnt even know federal was making bismuth shells in the flight control flex wad, but I see they are on sale for $35/box plus another $5 rebate which is a great price for factory bismuth shells!

I couldn't even begin to guess how that shell would pattern, im guessing pretty tight considering the shot will be fully contained in that tough wad and bismuth really likes that.

 

[BrownDogsCan2]

95% of bismuth 5s at 30 yards, wont need to get out the grinder to make bacon ranch pheasant burgers

I didnt even know federal was making bismuth shells in the flight control flex wad, but I see they are on sale for $35/box plus another $5 rebate which is a great price for factory bismuth shells!

I couldn't even begin to guess how that shell would pattern, im guessing pretty tight considering the shot will be fully contained in that tough wad and bismuth really likes that.

I want it loose! Kent #4 bismuth patterned at 90% percent through light mod at 30 for me. That’s way too tight for 5 days into the season with a chance at quail.
The scheels federals rang up at 30 for me. I only bought one box of them.

 

[BrownDogsCan2]

95% of bismuth 5s at 30 yards, wont need to get out the grinder to make bacon ranch pheasant burgers

I didnt even know federal was making bismuth shells in the flight control flex wad, but I see they are on sale for $35/box plus another $5 rebate which is a great price for factory bismuth shells!

I couldn't even begin to guess how that shell would pattern, im guessing pretty tight considering the shot will be fully contained in that tough wad and bismuth really likes that.

KB the few shells I shot they patterned about 75percent through light mod at 30 and dropped way off to 45 percent at 35

 

[KEOutdoors]

KB the few shells I shot they patterned about 75percent through light mod at 30 and dropped way off to 45 percent at 35

Yeah unfortunately thats the case with most bismuth that I test as well. Then at 40 its a real struggle to get it back to even and tight. From the sounds of it, might be a little tough to find an all-around choke with that shell. The good thing is, 40 yards is about the max for those 5s so you arent too far off the max range at the 30-35yd mark. Sounds like it could be a good <35yd shell.

 

[Joe Hunter]

Shooting some patterns with your gun/choke/load combo is the only way to really know how your combo performs.

Pattern results from a 12-gauge 3" Remington 870 Special Purpose with a 28" barrel and factory flush Rem-chokes and Carlson extended chokes (pattern average of five, 30" post-shot scribed circle, yardage taped muzzle to target, in-shell pellet count average of five, and true choke constriction from bore gauge).

12 GA 3" FEDERAL PREMIUM BLACK CLOUD STEEL LOAD
1 1/4 oz #2 steel (91 zinc plated steel + 53 FS steel pellets = 144 pellets) @ 1450 fps
40 YARDS w/ Factory Flush Rem-chokes
Rem-choke IC (.009" const.) / pattern 88 (61%)
Rem-choke Mod (.018" const.) / pattern 92 (64%)
Rem-choke Full (S/L) (.037" const.) / pattern 113 (78%)

40 YARDS w/ Carlson Extended Chokes
Carlson Ext IC / Close-Range (.007” const,) / pattern 95 (66%)
Carlson Ext Mod / Mid-Range (.017” const.) / pattern 100 (69%)
Carlson Ext Full / Long-Range (.027” const.) / pattern 113 (78%)


BISMUTH LOADS PATTERN RESULTS
The patterns were shot at 40 yards with a Remington 870 Special Purpose 12-gauge using a 28-inch Rem-choke barrel and factory flush Modified (.018” constriction) and Full (.037” constriction) Rem-chokes, constrictions are from a bore gauge. The 40-yard (muzzle to target) pattern data is the result of pellet hits registered in a 30-inch post-shot inscribed circle from five separate pattern shots.

PATTERNS / 40 YARDS / Modified Rem-Choke (.018” constriction)
Boss Warchief Bismuth buffered 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (169 pellets) / pattern 123 (73%)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (192 pellets) / pattern 126 (66%)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 3” 1 3/8 oz #5 Bi (267 pellets) / pattern 143 (54%)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 3” 1 ½ oz #3/#5 Bi duplex (226 pellets) / pattern 121 (54%)
Kent Upland Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (197 pellets) / pattern 119 (60%)
Kent Waterfowl Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (212 pellets) / pattern 126 (59%)
HEVI-Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (228 pellets) / pattern 85 (37%)

PATTERNS / 40 YARDS / Full Rem-Choke (.037” constriction)
Boss Warchief Bismuth buffered 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (169 pellets) / pattern 141 (84%)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (192 pellets) / pattern 138 (72%)

 

[jmnhunter]

PF"s On the Wing podcast just had a guy on from Federal with some interesting info about their shells and pheasant hunting loads-- E289.

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