Question on shot size

C

Choclab42

New member
I will be going to South Dakota at the very end of September to hunt sharptail. I have about 2 boxes of number 5s leftover from pheasant hunting in South Dakota last year I am just curious if 5s are oversized for sharptail? From what I have read they don't seem as hard to bring down for good compared to a pheasant I'm just looking for opinions from someone who has hunted this species before because this will be my first time.
 
The 5s are a bit bigger than needed for sharptail, but no reason to not use them if you want to.

I used 6s in Montana last fall, because we also had pheasants and huns in the same areas, that take a little more shot to kill.
 
Any size from 7.5 to 4's, 6 is a good and sharpies are not to tough, that said I have seen them take a lot of shot and just keep going--not normal but seems there is always a bad boy around.:D

Oh and if you bust a group don't get to intent on watching them leave as it always seems that one or two missed the clue to fly--if ya take a couple of steps be ready for tail end Charlie--and have fun. :cheers:
 
Unless at some extreme on either end of size versus any game bird, pellet diameter means nothing.

5s would not be at any extreme re a Sharptail size bird with a reasonable choke and at a reasonable range.
 
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thornton said:
Unless at some extreme on either end of size versus any game bird, pellet diameter means nothing.

5s would not be at any extreme re a Sharptail size bird with a reasonable choke and at a reasonable range.
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Hiya Thornton. Good to meet you.

I have to disagree a bit with you, pellet diameter changes weight, weight affects velocity and distance, velocity and distance are considerable influences on "any game bird."

just my opinion, of course.

:)
 
Kismet said:
Hiya Thornton. Good to meet you.

I have to disagree a bit with you, pellet diameter changes weight, weight affects velocity and distance, velocity and distance are considerable influences on "any game bird."

just my opinion, of course.

:)
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It's good to never lack an opinion. :cheers:

I thought I covered those changes you mentioned in the words such as "extreme" and "reasonable".
It's my opinion that for the example of a Sharptail-sized bird, any pellet from #5 to #7 1/2, for instance, at a distance that well fits choke and load...the results will be the same based ultimately upon how well the scattergun has been pointed and triggered.
Even considering that each size pellet will brings it's own particulars.
Many may disagree.
One will have that.
 
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SetterNut said:
The 5s are a bit bigger than needed for sharptail, but no reason to not use them if you want to.

I used 6s in Montana last fall, because we also had pheasants and huns in the same areas, that take a little more shot to kill.
Click to expand...

Kind of why I carry #6 if not hunting pheasant only.
 
wingseeker said:
I like the Hevishot Pheasant loads in #6 shot
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wingseeker, didn't the guys on here call you out before for promoting Hevishot in so many of your posts. Give it a break man.
 
For what it is worth (NOT MUCH AS ONE MANS OPINON GOES) When one looks at the facts a #6 pellet driven at 1300fps has about 2.49 foot lbs of energy left at 40 yds , using the late Steve Grooms data that the average bird needs 3 pellet strikes at a min of 2.5 lbs per pellet you can see that a #6 runs out of steam at 40 yds. If we go up to a #5 pellet , driven at the same speed the data i have shows that it reaches 2.5 lbs of energy at about 60yds. I am not saying I take 60 yds shots.....40 yds is a long way , but sharpies and chickens dont play fair often times wont hold for a dog so that bird that flushes at 35 yds will be past 40 yds quickly. Also barrel leangth and choke , as well as the tempt will greatly effect the over all speed of any shot shell.....I will not bore you with the reasons why ....but they do. I know my 16 gauge loves nickle plated #5.5 and copper plated #5 too...so will #6s work.....HELL YES! just be mindfull of the range and other factors that go into taking and making a good clean shot.
 
I have decided I'm taking 5 and 6s throw some in my vest and we will see what happens. My dog is a flusher so I will just keep her close and we will see what kind of luck we have. Thank you everyone for taking time and helping me.
 
All the stats the beefcake provided about velocity and energy are good and certainly something to consider. But then there is the actual field experience. I've been hunting pheasants for 55+ years and I'm sure have shot the majority of my birds with #6 shot. And I've taken many a bird beyond 40 yds. Heck, a few years ago I dropped a crossing rooster at over 60 yds. with #6 shot from my 16 ga. Lucky shot? Sure, but he dropped deader than a door nail.

All that said, I've also shot a lot of both 4's and 5's with good success. Bottom line, go with what works best for you and your gun. Do some pattern testing and see which shell and shot size works best in your gun and with what choke.

For the past 4-5 years all I have been using is a 16 ga. with 1 1/8 oz. of #6 shot. I kill just as many roosters as I did with my 12 ga. using Federal Premium Pheasant Forever loads of cooper plated #5 at 1,500 fps. The person behind the gun is a bigger variable than the gun, the load or the shot size.
 
Here's a passage from Modern Pheasant Hunting by Steve Grooms talking about using good loads, etc.. Keep in mind these loads were not the current 1400-1500 fps loads. Great book for the avid pheasant hunter if you've never read it.

Quote

"I first started experimenting with premium loads in 1979, bagging forty-five of the first forty-seven roosters I shot with Federal Premium 6 loads. Many were late-season birds that flushed at difficult ranges in December winds."
 
5s might be better for the second shot.
 
Talking lead 4's 5's and 6's don't like the smaller shot, don't shoot magnums or 3" I do OK on the roosters. :thumbsup:
 
Dakotazeb said:
All the stats the beefcake provided about velocity and energy are good and certainly something to consider. But then there is the actual field experience. I've been hunting pheasants for 55+ years and I'm sure have shot the majority of my birds with #6 shot. And I've taken many a bird beyond 40 yds. Heck, a few years ago I dropped a crossing rooster at over 60 yds. with #6 shot from my 16 ga. Lucky shot? Sure, but he dropped deader than a door nail.

All that said, I've also shot a lot of both 4's and 5's with good success. Bottom line, go with what works best for you and your gun. Do some pattern testing and see which shell and shot size works best in your gun and with what choke.

For the past 4-5 years all I have been using is a 16 ga. with 1 1/8 oz. of #6 shot. I kill just as many roosters as I did with my 12 ga. using Federal Premium Pheasant Forever loads of cooper plated #5 at 1,500 fps. The person behind the gun is a bigger variable than the gun, the load or the shot size.
Click to expand...

We all live for the lucky shot memories...lucky from shot size to choke to gauge to footing of the moment. :cheers:

I've been a detailed patterner for a long time, even falling to putting pellets to the mic.
Can the process done well indicate a better load?... I expect to a degree, yes...mostso with home-brewed spreaders or a stab at matching a handload to a factory.
As far as comparing factory loads, I doubt it's value for other than pattern placement, as I doubt many shoot enough patterns to give more than a quick look.
Individual barrels do not give as varied a result as many would like to believe....the two possible flys in that belief are barrels either chokeless or super-tight.
Simply put, factory shells, of other than a budget level, have components that will work really well any time they are used.
What patterning can do by that quick look is give confidence in any load....whether that confidence can actually be supported is another matter.
And, in truth, it does not matter....confidence is a better goal for a shooter than any perfect load.
Can take a while to learn that fact.
 
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