In the manufacturer's shotshell ammunition catalogs you likely have read a bewildering array of "preferred" shot size recommendations for game. There is no restriction on magazine capacity for rifles. It means many more birds in the bag. #9 shot launched at 1200 fps has only about 7/10th of a ft. lb. Every fall, my dad would take my brother and I squirrel hunting. Modern 12-gauge shotshells come in 2 ½-, 2 ¾-, 3-, and 3 ½-inch lengths, all holding different amounts of powder. Like I said, weird and confusing. That said, for inside 30 yards #8 shot, 7/8 oz. I can tell you that there is nothing better than a heavy payload of #5 shot and a 60% to 70% 40 yard pattern percentage for a good rooster load. When using a shotgun for small game, there is a debate on whether to use #4 or #6 shot. Where there is an animal under 2 different shot sizes I usually use a double and load the smaller size for the first shot and the larger size for the second shot. Game: Shot Size: Gauge: Choke: Barrel Length: Turkey, Fox: BB, 2, 4: 12, 16, 20 These are my own admittedly arbitrary values, but that is my experience. In the manufacturer's shotshell ammunition catalogs you likely have read a bewildering array of "preferred" shot size recommendations for game. Choosing Shot Size for Hare Hunting. With the larger sizes of shot the pattern thins out very quickly. Comment. We landed a few squirrels and were walking through a hay field to get some rabbits. For the most part, 6 shot is suitable for most all types of small game shooting. Current: Small Game. 7 1/2 birdshot, as the small pellets may only injure a snowshoe hare and not guarantee an ethical kill. If you need to use larger shot sizes, use a 20 gauge, or even a 12. Has about the same results. I fired off a round, which hit the rabbit. If the bulk of your hunting is going to be for smaller sized small game, such as rabbits, quail, pheasants, etc., then feel free to go with a 20-gauge. improved cylinder load of #8 shot fails to perform. It rolled over, jumped up and took off running again. There has always been heated arguments over the size of shot for various types of small game. Energy values are easier to calculate than penetration ability, so that is why they are mentioned here, just as incorrectly as anywhere else. The shot has to have enough energy to knock the animal off the tree limb. We research the best Italian style quality and the best American innovation, to bring you amazingly high-quality products. payload of #7-1/2 shot and a relatively tight choke constriction reliably kills where (for example) a 7/8 oz. Plastic shot collars help but some shot is still deformed as it travels down the barrel. Shot is available in many sizes for different applications. Even though rimfire rifles and pistols are great choices for hunting small game, a good shotgun also has its place in a small game hunter’s gun collection. in 12 or 16 gauge, and 1 oz. Determine the size of your target. shot is larger than #9 (.080" dia.). 2 or smaller shot. The #4 shot is the more humane as it retains more of its energy. Doves are mostly feathers, so we do need good pattern density to be assured of sending them spinning with certainty. There are essentially three classes of upland wing-shooting game, in order of toughness: easy to kill (doves, quail, etc. You can use any of these sizes in a pinch, but personally, I'd begin with nothing smaller than No. Bow and Arrow: All bows must meet the require-ments specified in General Hunting Regulations, page 26. Also, in order to maintain adequate pattern density, the largest shot sizes (BBB to #2) should generally be reserved for use in the large bore (10 and 12 gauge) guns. The brief article on "Patterning for American Skeet" on this site gives you the idea. The British system for designating buckshot size is based on the amount of shot per ounce. 4 birdshot, as the likelihood of damaging meat will be increased. My buddy was shooting #6 shot out of his 12 gauge, while I was shooting #4 shot. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. Seven-eighths of an ounce to 11/8 ounces of No. With smaller pellets, you also get more pellets in a single load. According to the Remington website, at 30 yards: Between the two, which is the more humane to use? Copyright 2006 by Randy Wakeman. All rights reserved. 1. Weight typically ranges from 2 to 15 pounds, and typical range is normally less than 100 yards. Hmm looks like I got too small of shot. For the sake of discussion, let’s only use steel shot. 11-13-2009, 10:59 PM. 6 or even No. There are lots of different shot sizes that can be found in shotgun shells all with different intended purposes. In hunting, some sizes are traditionally used for certain game, or certain shooting situations, although there is overlap and subjective preference. Doves are very easy to kill, but there is a big difference between pass-shooting at 50 yards and closer range work. Choosing the proper shot size should be guided by both practicality and ethics. For taking game birds in flight, arrows equipped with an edged head are prohibited. For birdshot, the larger the number, the smaller the pellet. Taking the longer shots on tougher game into consideration, I would still choose #5 as an all around do everything shot size. It's hard to go wrong with any reasonable size of shot for squirrels. I've been reloading 12 ga shotshells since the 70s, been hunting small game since the early 60s (started when I was 12). Again, it is a compromise of range and where we choose to set our maximum effective pattern spread. As hunters, we have a responsibility to make sure the animal does not go to waste. To avoid excessive meat and pelt damage, small-caliber, low-power cartridges are a popular choice for small-game hunting. Some can be so small its difficult to pick them up with your fingers while others can be nearly the size of a marble, and as the old adage goes “there’s always a right tool for the job.”Regardless of the length or caliber of the shotgun shell whether its a small 2.5″ … Number 9 shot puts 43% more pellets in your pattern than #8’s, increasing your opportunities for multiple hits and/or lethal head/neck shots accordingly. Doves will drop stone dead with this shot and the recommended load is 30 grams. The Rio Field line of sub-gauge game loads are perfect for hunting small game. The general consensus amongst most hunters is to use No. The #6 shot did not have enough energy to humanly kill the rabbit. The Internet's Best Resource for Shotgun Information. However, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, and even .410 bore may actually be better choices for hunting small game. The options in BOLD type are those recommended for beginning shooters for the best results for their shooting skill level. Non-toxic shot is now required in many areas to hunt state or federal land, even for small game. So, to summarize what I've experienced over the last forty years, most hunters could bag more birds more cleanly and more quickly by never using payloads less than one ounce on anything, opting for a better pattern efficiency through a combination of quality shot, shells, and chokes as proven by pattern testing in their own gun. Having the good fortune to start my shotgunning at a very early age (I owned a shotgun before I had a BB gun) and growing up on an Illinois farm, by now I have over twelve hundred wild pheasants in the meat locker. Tighter choke on the second shot … There is nothing wrong with pushing heavier pellets. #6 shot is .110″ in diameter, 315 pellets per ounce. As always, patterning at the range we are taking game reveals what we are working with in any individual gun. Large shot sizes include 1, 2 and 3 along with B, BB and BBB. Small game like birds and ground varmint can be taken with shot as small at #8. 4, 5, 6, or 7 1/2 birdshot while hunting snowshoe hares. 02-24-2012, 08:42 PM. I hunt grouse and woodcock, and don’t really hunt wild pheasant. or smaller rimfire, air rifle, or any muzzleloading firearm. The kill zone size will vary based on the size of the game and these values are given as a very basic guideline. Twenty-yard targets require #9 hard shot. I use #5s for most of my small game and bird hunting but when I hunt in Iowa on a public area that is nontoxic only I use #3s for pheasants and ducks. Erring on the size of heavier payloads, larger shot, and tighter pattern density gives us the ability to reach out past 50 yards. A nice sized cotton tail took off running right in front of us. If you intend to hunt squirrel, duck, rabbit or pheasant, use a 4, 5 or 6 shot size. Let's take a peek at energy and drop at range, every bit as important in pellet selection as counting holes in paper. 4 loads would be even better. Which is the better choice.#hunting #shotgun #firearms #huntingsmallgame than # 8 shot has at 20 yards (1.7 ft. Also, in order to maintain adequate pattern density, the largest shot sizes (BBB to #2) should generally be reserved for use in the large bore (10 and 12 gauge) guns. The handy size chart shows a size comparison of how these projectiles stack up against each other. Whether duck hunting, dove hunting, varmint hunting, deer hunting, or hunting for more exotic game, Ables carries all the discount hunting ammunition and supplies that you need. #9 Shot ), medium (pigeon, partridge and similar size), and hard (pheasant, and similar). There has always been heated arguments over the size of shot for various types of small game. There are lots of different shot sizes that can be found in shotgun shells all with different intended purposes. For doves and quail the best shot size is No. You can forget shot size recommendations found on ammunition boxes. Of course, we need to pattern once again to have any idea what our shot cloud is really doing out of an individual gun at a specific range. Shot: Unless specifically stated otherwise, shot size for small game hunting may be no larger than #4 fine shot. To illustrate, #5 (.120" dia.) lbs.) of energy left at 40 yards; #7-1/2 has 1.3 ft. Most combination guns have fairly basic sights, limiting the aimed range of .22 LR barrel to 50 yards or less on small game. shotguns for small game hunting may be single or double barrel, rifled or smoothbore and not larger than 10-gauge or smaller than .410 caliber and capable of holding no more than three shells. Used #4 or #6 for pheasants back when I was a teen. These again are general classifications. If, however, you select a shot size that's too big, you'll have pellets with more than enough energy but insufficient pattern density to ensure enough hits on the target. #7-1/2 is reasonable for dove and other extremely fragile birds, with #6 good for medium birds at medium ranges. Certified instructors teach participants how to choose the correct choke, load, and shot size for different game, how to estimate shooting distances, and how to effectively lead their ... Velocity on all loads should be a minimum of 1,225 FPS. ... **Kill zone size is determined by either an effective head shot or shot to the vitals that should facilitate a clean, 1 shot kill. Easiest way to figure what size steel to use is use 2 shot sizes bigger than the lead shot you would use for the job. Lead Shot #8, #7 ½: Doves, quail, pigeons, woodcock, small … https://www.alloutdoor.com/2016/12/14/shotgun-shot-size-small-game If you shoot 6s lead use #4 in steel. 12 gauge is probably the most popular choice among shotguns in the United States. Hunting game guides and ammo usage for hunting ammo. Thousands of dead doves have proved to me that a 1 to 1-1/8 oz. 2020-21 Season Dates Summary. If you want to subscribe to our monthly newsletter, please submit the form below. Both camps have a loyal following that will argue for their side until the cows come home. What can a 12 gauge shotgun do to small game?I get a lot of questions asking what would a shotgun do to small game. #4 shot is .130″ in diameter, 192 pellets per ounce. ... in your opinion, what is the best shot size for squirrel? The British system for designating buckshot size is based on the amount of shot per ounce. # 4 has about 135 (2% antimony) pellets per ounce, while # 5 shot runs about 171 pellets per ounce. Post Cancel. I have seen this example repeated in squirrels, where #6 shot was unable to break the ribs and enter the chest cavity. Slug: Rifled, Cyl, Imp.Cyl, Mod: 000, 00, 0: Cyl, Imp.Cyl, Mod: 4 -6: Full, Extra Full But that was with a 12 gauge, which isn't my primary gun for small game. However, he conceded that in practice the difference between No.5, No.51⁄2 and No.6 shot on pheasants at ordinary game ranges (up to 40 yards) was small enough not to really matter. This old growth timber can reach heights of 100 feet. Woods or fields. For my purposes, 1-1/8 oz. #6 shot performs poorly on pheasants except at short range. There is no substitute for, and no way to avoid, patterning. Phrased differently, #5 shot has far more energy at 60 yards (2.2 ft. Shot size is a function of distance, not game. The question is “best all around shot shells for small game”, so I answered based my answer around that, in respect to what I do, with the thought of if you could only have one type of shot shell. We need to pattern at the ranges we intend to shoot, and want a maximum effective spread at that range as shown by the pattern board. I shot my first squirrel last fall with BB shot and found this to be nearly ideal, I just aimed off to the side and landed most of the pellets in the head region. Small game hunters should follow suit and abandon lead in favor of steel. As a result, some of the smaller-size shot loads are being marketed as multi-purpose loads. Worse than meaningless, it can be downright misleading. Comment. Small Game Hunting; If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. In the same breath, I don’t advise using a shot size smaller than No. I use #5s for most of my small game and bird hunting but when I hunt in Iowa on a public area that is nontoxic only I use #3s for pheasants and ducks. It’s also important to point out that you should never fire a gauge different than that of your shotgun. I use #6 for all my small game hunting. Gunning for small game and upland birds, a hunter can get by very well with the standard 2 3/4-inch, 12-gauge shotshell loaded with 1 1/4 ounces of shot. Rifles and Handguns: Any .22-cal. Choose a size that's too small and you'll have plenty of pattern density, but not enough pellet energy to penetrate deep enough for a clean kill. in 12 or 16 gauge, and 1 oz. The long shot stack and light load of the .410 shotshells limits them to about 15 yards on small game. Though #6 shot has been used for years, #5 shot absolutely gives less runners. Insufficient penetration means lost or crippled birds. With that in mind, is there any reason to use #6 shot on small game? 12-gauge shotguns have bigger shells than 20-gauge shotguns, so they throw more pellets and they typically kick harder. For shot, there will be a recommended size given for steel shot as well as the other approved non-toxic alloy types. To hunt game birds like woodcock or grouse, select a small diameter shot size like 7 ½, 8 or 9. Quietly, and by the hundreds of thousands, small-game hunters go hunting just for the fun of it. If only they would bother to get some rudimentary training, or fire a 1 ounce .010 in. Shotguns are marked on the barrel, for example: 12-gauge 2 ¾ inch. In gelatin testing, No. You'll need better than a 25% heavier payload to have the same pellet count. BBB shot is .19 inches. A second and related problem is shot size. of #7-1/2 shot used with a "full" or "extra full" choke did not come into being by happenstance. We would hunt an area of old growth pine and oak trees. There are essentially three ranges at which birds are bagged, short (20 yards and under), medium (20 to 40 yards) and long range (40 yards and beyond). lbs.). It simply has more mass. So it goes, a story for another day. 32 grams is recommended to attain necessary pattern. Rio Game and Target Sub Gauge Shotshell. Keep in mind that when shooting any given type of game at shorter range the smaller shot sizes are generally preferred, and at longer ranges the larger shot sizes are usually preferable. Gunning for small game and upland birds, a hunter can get by very well with the standard 2 3/4-inch, 12-gauge shotshell loaded with 1 1/4 ounces of shot. I only had to remove 2 pellets from the meat, and many went right through. You'll often read about #7-1/2 shot for pheasants, which is suitable only for pen raised birds in my opinion. Small Game & Furbearer. The pattern should be (200 pellets) as a minimum. in 20 gauge using #7-1/2 shot with 65% or better pattern efficiency (roughly improved modified performance) is a good compromise. (You can place about as much energy per #5 shot pellet into a pheasant at 40 yards as you can with #6 shot at 20 yards.) The targets are close, the choke s are fairly open; the amount of effective shot is higher since they are smaller (meaning you can fit more into a load by weight) and it has enough energy to break the target. #7.5 lead shot is one of the most easily found shot sizes on the market and is made by a variety of manufacturers including NobelSport and Federal, for several different applications.Although it's typically sold to dove, quail and pheasant hunters for its excellent ability to take down fast-moving birds – squirrels, rabbits and other small game can easily be hunted with this shot size. 16 and 20 gauge guns are generally best used with lead shot no larger than #4 even in the heaviest magnum loads, and #6 or smaller shot will give denser patterns in standard shells. A variety of 12-gauge ammo shot patterns allow hunters to target game from small to medium sizes. Small-game bowhunting offers fast action and lots of shots, and results in excellent table fare.It’s also outstanding practice for hunting big-game animals – like white-tailed deer – because it requires many of the same skills, including stalking, butchering, shot placement and reading sign.Best of all, small-game hunting provides plenty of encounters with animals to … The best shot sizes for birds are the smaller #8 and #9 shot. Shotgun:Unless specifically stated otherwise, shotguns for small game hunting may be single or double barrel, rifled or smoothbore and not larger than 10-gauge or smaller than.410 caliber and capable of holding no more than three shells. A flushing pheasant usually wants to get the heck out of Dodge, and is more inclined to show you tail feathers and his back than to give you an exposed passing shot. The waterfowl hunter who takes his birds at greater range should use the 12-gauge, 2 3/4-inch magnum load with 1 1/2 ounces of shot or the three-inch magnum load with 1 3/8 to 1 7⁄8 ounces of shot. For example, a shotgun shell with #9 shot will hold more total pellets than one loaded with #1 shot. Maybe a quail or two if they come close. Fiocchi of America’s ammunition is made by shooters for shooters. On the other hand, the #4 broke the ribs and dealt the deadly blow. To have a 100% recovery rate on a pheasant, you need to break a wing and a leg. Small Game Animal types in this category include rabbit, squirrel, raccoon, opossum, mink, fox, lynx, badger and raccoon. in 20 gauge using #7-1/2 shot with 65% or better pattern efficiency (roughly improved modified performance) is a good compromise. jestr1 ⭐⭐⭐ Join Date: Oct 2009; Posts: 439; Share Tweet #3. Easiest way to figure what size steel to use is use 2 shot sizes bigger than the lead shot you would use for the job. It lists commercially available shotshell loads from the .410-bore to the 10-gauge, in all shot sizes available, different shot types (lead, steel, bismuth, tungsten, and others) so that the shooter or hunter can quickly find what will be best for the gun he has and the game or targets he wants to shoot. They are carefully crafted and packed with features that provide reliable, effective performance on a variety of upland game. I was raised in southeast Texas. constriction load of #6 shot into a phonebook at 5 yards, they would quickly understand that at very close ranges shotshell patterns are not "patterns" at all, functioning as one solid glob of shot with a very small spread, even from guns with no choke constriction at all. For defense, the main options are buckshot and slug loads. #4 shot is .020″ larger and carries almost twice the foot pounds of energy as #6 shot. The size of numbered shot decreases as the number increases. Federal Game Loads have you covered. Certain shotgun shooting sports, such as skeet shooting , use #9 size shot (fairly small). Short range, relatively light flushing birds such as quail are easier to take with our maximum effective spread at closer, more appropriate, ranges. Upon skinning the rabbit, we found the #6 shot had been stopped by the rib cage and the long bones. Starting with 8 trap shot down to the large 4 shot, hunters have some pretty strong ideas about which size to use. This means using enough gun to dispatch game animals in a humane manner. Several years ago a buddy of mine and I were hunting some squirrels and rabbits to make a stew. High-quality round shot is formulated for optimum hardness, improving pattern efficiency; Brass-plated steel head and one-piece wad maximize payloads I am confident that had you, for a whole season, no other sized shot, you would find that you had killed more game.” Hawker mostly shot over dogs, what we would call walked-up shooting today. Let’s see if we can lay this matter to rest.