Late Season Roosters (Loads & Chokes)

Birdman2

Birdman2

Well-known member
I have been reading a lot of info from some experts here. I will pattern my gun with several different loads. My educated guess for late season Roosters is the following:
Modified/Full Chokes on a O/U with # 5 lead loads. What are you thoughts? Shots will range from 35 to 50+ yards.
 
Here are my honest thoughts on your post, Birdman---
You are on the right track in patterning different loads in your shotgun, they do NOT always pattern the same as barrel markings.
I assume you are running into some late season savvy birds that are running/flushing wild on you. I don't know if you are hunting with a dog, or if so, how experienced he/she is in finding cripples. A guy once told me, rightly, that a shotgun is a short range shooter. He is right. Another thing to think about is, what is the nature of the shots you get at 35-50 yards? For example, are they straight away shots with you shooting at the bird's tail? Are they right angle or overhead shots so that the vitals and/or wings are exposed?
Speaking ONLY for myself, if I had a crossing shot at 40-50 yards and I could drop the bird in light grass or a plowed field, I might take the shot IF my dog was nearby, following the action. I would not take the shot if the dog didn't see the flush, or if it was a straightaway, or if the bird, if hit and possibly just winged, would fall into heavy grass or cattails where retrieval would be problematic. I just feel too badly if I hit one and can't recover it. So I guess my thoughts are, it depends on the circumstances. Certainly the MOD/FULL chokes and #5 shot would be a responsible long range load---depending on the above and other factors....like how tired you are, how is the light, etc.
 
Beware the desire to employee magnum shells when it's late and cold. These heavy loads use slower burn rate, double based powders. They lean heavier on the nitroglycerin ratio. They burn even worse in the cold resulting in actually slower, less lethal pellets. I have a good side supply of Winchester 540. Possibly my favorite powder for pheasants. I can move up for 1 1/4 to 1 3/8 oz. with this powder in late season. Very little loss in velocity and a bit higher pellet count. I do have a 3" late season load but only with 1 1/2oz in a 3" hull so I can still use fairly progressive powders.

If birds get really nasty...I load up heavy shot. Expensive but if the birds aren't playing nice...neither will I. Stuff patterns TIGHT.
 
50 yds is getting out there. That’s something you might have to pattern. I’ve never patterned and always been of the opinion of if it kills them dead every time you keep using it. But 5o yds is one you don’t hit very often so you wouldn’t know if it was you , the load, or the choke. With modern loads it may pattern better with a mod, improved mod, or one mid range duck choked
 
IC/Mod works all season. I use #4 lead, #3 steel (when non-tox is required). Either one will break bones if you hit the bird. That said, i just spent two weeks in Kansas using #5 Fiocchi Golden Pheasant (20ga , 3", 1 1/4 oz). If you center a bird with that load, even out there quite a ways, better be prepared to pick shot when you eat him. Fiocchi uses hard (high antimony) shot and actually nickel plates the shot, not just air brush it with "silver".
 
if hunting conditions are good late season, i stick with IC and mod. but if it's not ideal and/or it's windy late season, i tighten up to mod and full.
 
Last edited:
I shoot IC out of
My benelli ultra light 12 to the bitter end, 1/31 last year. Shoot 2 3/4” #5 lead, 1 1/4 oz @ 1220 fps…hevi metal
3” #3 shot when non toxic needed. I could envision using LM, maybe M…but I don’t.
 
I'm certainly no expert, but I just switched from IC/Mod, to Mod/Full for public land. I will probably switch back when I head to Nebraska to hunt private land.
 
Are you shooting non toxic on public land? Does that pattern differently than lead? Steel tends to pattern tighter…if you’re shooting steel, I’d leave your chokes as they are…I just returned from SD, shooting #5 lead out of IC choked 12 gauge…lots of kills well past 40 yards…
 
Last edited:
I'm shooting 1 1/4 oz lead, #5's at 1300+ fps. The public land birds I'm chasing have gotten extremely skittish. The only public land shot op I had last week was 40+ yards. The cover was thick and I did not take the shot.

My dogs have come a long way this season, but they're both pretty young yet. I prefer dead birds in thick cover. I have patterned all my chokes, except the imp. mod I picked up a few weeks ago. That is why I haven't hunted with it yet.
 
IC/Mod in my O/U 16 gauge. 1 ounce of Boss Bismuth is deadly. 1-1/8 ounce of lead is also really good.

Public land birds were jumpy last week but plenty got pinned down for good points and easy shots. I don't sky-bust, but I know a lot of guys rely on that long range shooting.
 
I use an IC all season in my Montrefelto with 2 3/4 inch Prairie Storm or Wing Shok (lead). I prefer 6 shot but 5 will do if I can't find 6.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top