Looking for advice on a good all-around load for late-season pheasants
I've been hunting pheasants for two seasons now with my Beretta A300 and usually use Federal Premium 1-1/4 oz #6 shot. Last weekend I had a couple of roosters get up at 40+ yards and I just couldn't put them down cleanly. My Modified choke seems fine for closer birds, but I'm wondering if I should switch to a tighter choke or heavier load for those longer shots when they're running and flushing wild.
1 Answer
Late-season pheasants are definitely tougher! For those 40-yard flushes, I'd suggest trying a Full choke with 1-3/8 oz of #5 shot - something like Winchester Super-X or Fiocchi Golden Pheasant. The extra weight and slightly larger pellets will give you better penetration through those thick late-season feathers. I run a similar setup with my Browning Citori and it makes a noticeable difference on those runners that get up way out there. Have you patterned your current load at 40 yards to see how it's performing?
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