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Best Shot Size Longshot Powder & Pheasants
drewto
Member Posts: 153 ✭✭✭
Hello: Started loading the Winchester 571 powder years ago. It was a great powder, and really performed quite well in a number of my shotguns. Then along came Hodgdon's Longshot, and quite frankly blew the 571 out of the water. Cleaner, faster, and really performed well in the 1 1/4 ounce loads (chronographed at 1475' per second). I've loaded with #6 shot exclusively, and had good clean consistent kills on Iowa/Nebraska pheasants out to the 50+ yard range. Last fall we spent some time in Montana using my pet load on pheasants, and found that a number of the Montana birds although hit square and knocked down staggered out of it, and often made tracks for the hills. If not for a savvy Springer we would have lost @ 1/3 of our knockdowns. Guys shooting factory loads faired much worse, and switched to 3" shells with little improvement. I normally shoot modified and improved (stack & double barrel guns), as there are always those pesky sharptails to jump; so choking is not much of an option. Several hunting parties that we met shared much the same information, that those northern pheasants were a tougher (and faster) bird. I'm thinking maybe I could work up a load using #4's and get some more penetration? I'd like to save the dog the headache of chasing those cripples. Maybe lighten the load to 1 1/8 ounces. I know I'll be tearing up the carcasses; but 75+ degree days and rough cover really push the endurance of any dog. Any thoughts or success with Longshot and the heavier shot that I'm leaning toward? Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
Comments
"Keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down"
not sure on powder but a copper or zinc coated lead
Ever try the heavi shot it also extends your range
I mostly use a 20 ga 3 inch imp/mod
Former Member U.S. Navy Shooting Team
Former NSSA All American
Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot
MO, CT, VA.
quote:Originally posted by bobski
only winchesters...so what gun do you go flushing with, if i may ask?[?]