LittleBigHorn22
Well-known member
What ranges were you hitting them at? 1 oz 5s is only like 170 pellets. Most charts suggest 210+ for 30 inch pattern on quail. For an IC that's feels like it would only be good for like 25 yards before it has holes.
Pheasants and quail
- Thread starter Bob Peters
- Start date
KEOutdoors
Well-known member
Strange things happen! I am almost 100% when shooting 3/4oz of steel 4s (141 pellets) at doves. Ive only done it about 10 times while duck hunting, but I still couldn't believe it each time. Actually thinking back, the last time i got 2 doves and a snipe in 3 shots with them. I was in the duck blind and my buddy was walking around looking for doves because he was bored. i heard "DOVES!!" Yelled from behind me and a flock of 10-12 flew right at me, i dropped two in 2 shots. Before I could reload I heard "SNIPE!" And a lone snipe had flushed right in front of my buddy and flew right over the blind, got that one with my 3rd shot. Sometimes its important to be lucky! I do believe i missed every duck i shot at that day
Wind River
Well-known member
Luck wins the lottery. Better to be lucky than good. Always be gracious when luck shows up. 
The harder I work, the luckier I get. Good banter
The harder I work, the luckier I get. Good banter
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Coach 20-Gauge
Member
The quail are usually closer than the huns, say 20 yards average compared to 30. If I were not primarily hunting pheasants I would be using smaller shot. That said, I have had no complaints about how an ounce of 5's has worked on the smaller birds. I even got a skotch double on huns a couple of years ago.
Nick
Active member
Years ago we used to do well on both pheasant and quail in NE Kansas. I shoot an O/U and I would load #8 in the first barrel and #6 in the second. Back then I killed roosters with #8 and quail with #6 on more than a couple occasions. These days I shoot #5 and with fewer rooster opportunities I have #5 in both barrels until a covey flush. Then I'll switch to #8 and hunt the singles.
Drew
Well-known member
1 1/4 ounce 7.5 size shot 1250 fps always for everything. I figure that the better chance that I have to break legs on a rooster the better off I am going to be. They run like crazy if they still have their legs. Additionally, it doesn't hurt to put a few more BB's in quail for the same reason.