I shot over dogs. Use 7 1/2" nickle plated shot in Golden Pheasant. I use it because I hunt quail and I shoot pheasants along the way. I will tell you, the 7 1/2"s are fabulous for quail, and I have not shot a pheasant which isn't dead in the air. Loss, zero. I used #6's #5's in Kent tungsten matrix, and had rodeo retrieves. The nickle plated shot keeps most of it's shape, is easy to clean out. It is a worthwhile compromise rather than watch quail fly through a #5 pattern, or become rubble with a clean hit. If I hunted in South Dakota, in late season, I would use a full with #6's -#4's. Virtually no quail! Hun's are bigger. the Britts use #7 shot, and most make killing shots at spectacular distances with those 1150 FPS 1 1/8 ounce loads. The sell the meat on the market, so presentation is paramount.