Hyped pheasant loads

[John Joseph]

You know--1-3/8 oz shot, 1,300 fps velocity. $14-$16/box with a scary sounding name.

Can a pheasant appreciate all this?

Are such shells worth that much more $$ than a box of 1 or 1-1/8 oz traveling at 1290 fps from a rather ordinary looking box with an ordinary sounding name?

Does a $16 dollar box of shells bring more long tailed birds to the table than $9 dollar a box shells?

Or are they simply a marketing executive's incarnation of the illusive "Silver bullet?"

I'm looking to pick up some 12 gauge shells for pheasant season (#6 or #5 shot) and don't know which to buy.

[Thefeeder]

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Steel shot this year, unless on a licensed bird club

I have always use the best ammo I can get ( without the going super expensive) or reload. If it works, done

Yes there is a lot marketing BS with ALL ammo..

So are we talking lead or steel?

[JagerDog]

I've had really good success with Fiocchi golden pheasants. Prolly in the $16 range you speak of.

I like the nickle plated shot. Less feather draw which means better penetration and less digging feather out of pellet channels.

The $9 shells are unlikely 1-3/8...maybe 1-1/4. Not huge difference, but....

Are you chasing pen raised pheasant or late season wild birds?

[MJB]

Yes if it's the gpx #5

But I also like the federal high velocity copper plated

I hunt Baja for pheasants and nothing works better

[Irishfisher]

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[John Joseph]

Steel shot this year, unless on a licensed bird club

I have always use the best ammo I can get ( without the going super expensive) or reload. If it works, done

Yes there is a lot marketing BS with ALL ammo..

So are we talking lead or steel?

Lead. On private club land(1500 acres of alfalfa)

[John Joseph]

I've had really good success with Fiocchi golden pheasants. Prolly in the $16 range you speak of.

I like the nickle plated shot. Less feather draw which means better penetration and less digging feather out of pellet channels.

The $9 shells are unlikely 1-3/8...maybe 1-1/4. Not huge difference, but....

Are you chasing pen raised pheasant or late season wild birds?

Pen raised. Hey, it's the best I can come up with so far.

[John Joseph]

Yes if it's the gpx #5

But I also like the federal high velocity copper plated

I hunt Baja for pheasants and nothing works better

Nice looking roosters!

[JagerDog]

Pen raised. Hey, it's the best I can come up with so far.

Generic field loads are likely fine then. They don't fly as fast, far or flush as far. I still prefer nickle plated though. In reality, the ammo is the cheap part of this kind of hunting.

There's hardly in wild birds left in CA, hence the question.

[Che762x39]

You know--1-3/8 oz shot, 1,300 fps velocity. $14-$16/box with a scary sounding name ...

Can a pheasant appreciate all this?

I have not hunted pheasants in years, health issues, but I am thinking about Raahuages this year. I always bought ammo at Walmart and I liked the Federal High Power in lead #7.5 or #6 if rabbits may be in play or #4 on windy days.

Have fun and enjoy

[Thefeeder]

Lead. On private club land(1500 acres of alfalfa)

Walmart sells Federal High Brass lead 12ga 3 3/4 Dram 1 1/4oz in #5 or #6 at a good price....a good shell for the money....look for the 3 3/4 dram on the box

Hunting partner used them for years and they worked on the wild birds very well...you should have no problem with pen raised

[MJB]

Wild birds and pen birds totally different when it comes to shot.....

[2761377]

traditionally, the target for premium hunting loads has been the hunter, not the bird.