the right game load

[littlered]

I'm mainly hunt rabbit but once in a while i kick up a pheasent any sugestions for the best load
p.s. I'm hunting with a 16 gage single shot with an inproved cylinder

[Tominator]

man, that's a tough case. exactly the position i'm in.

i'll use a high brass 6 when i think i might encounter a pheasant, but a high brass 6 will make hamburger of a rabbit.

if you're flushing the birds close, you can get away with a light load on a pheasant, but past 20 yards, i wouldn't use them, especially this late in the season.

another thing i'll do is switch ammo mid way through the hunt if i hear, see, or see pheasant tracks. i did that 2 days ago, and almost got a shot on a pheasant, but he flushed about 40 yards out.

real tough case. if you don't mind rabbit hamburger, or can get a good clean head shot, i'd go with a high brass 6 or 5.

[littlered]

thanks tominator that will really help

[dartonman]

Strongly recommend #5 shot........love the load, and if all else fails, since you have improved cylinder, why not 4 shot......just pattern your gun before using it....I find 6 shot I have 99 percent of the pattern above the point of aim at 20, and with 4 shot, dead on....................I love 5 shot though, its just hard to find around here...............al

[Tominator]

Funny. I just got back from a walk out back. I jumped a bunny in the fence row and I watched to see which way he'd go. Well, he crossed right in front of me. When he got about 20 yards away, I shot once, then again. He gave no indication that I hit him. So I went up to the fence and looked over and didn't see any blood or fur so I continued on down the fence line. I got to a low point in the fence and hopped over and backtracked to see where my shot pattern hit in the snow. I found my pattern on one shot, but my second shot mostly hit little trees and brush. I figured I missed so I continued to walk down the line. About 50 yards later, guess what was laying in the fence? A little ol' light load of #8's got him. When I cleaned him I saw one pellet went right through his rib cage.

Later, I decided to walk another fenceline where I've been seeing pheasant, so I unloaded the light loads and put in some magnum #6's. Well, I didn't push any pheasants, but I did see a ton of tracks, and I did see one bunny sneaking along another fenceline. I jumped into that fenceline and started to push it. I jumped a bunny, but couldn't get a shot off. 30 yards later, another one, again, no shot. 30 yards later and still following a bunch of pheasant tracks and out go 2 bunnies. I shot at the one, hitting it in the head. That bunny died in mid jump I think. those #6's do a number on a bunny.

I decided to push the rest of the fence line down towards a drainage ditch figuring that the other bunny that jumped is going to run out of real estate and probably run out the end. Well, after 10 yards I saw the bunny had indeed jumped the ditch and ran up the other side. Right then, I heard something off to my left, so I took a step, and boom, up went 3 pheasants. 2 hens and one c-ock. I really didn't have a good clear shot at the bird, so I held off.

Anyway, I thought it was kind of funny that you asked about it, then I went out and hunted and actually put my advice to practice.

[lil hunter]

I use 1 oz #6 shot outta my 20 gauge for both. I did tenderize a rabbit this mornin, but i had a mod. choke in and it was only like 5 yards away, if that far. His buddy came up and stood right behind him, but i didn't wanna put anymore pellets in the first one, so I didn't shoot.

[coles]

i dont hunt rabbits but for these late season roosters i use3" #4,5s in both 12 and 20ga.

[brownie65]

I agree with the #4 & 5's. Thats what I like to use. #5 preferably

[littlered]

from all i've heard from you guys I think i'll go with high brass #5 thanks

[carbonhunter]

I dont know where your going to find it at, but i handload 7 shot not 71/2 but 7's they are a great little pellet, and shoot real good patterns out of my dads 16 guage 870, that said i dont think you are going to be able to find factory ammo unless you order from across the big pond, the loads did the deed last week on a rooster at about 30 yards, and didnt tear it up at all, so id guess it would have about the same result on rabbits. i dont see why you are going to shoot 5's or 4's at rabbits that are very very thin skinned, that is unless you want to be gutting one smelly rabbit when your done? a load of 6,7,or 7 1/2's will do the job if you selective on your pheasent shots.

If you are a good shot id go as light as possible a head shot is a head shot no matter what ya hit him with

[Shaun_300]

i'd say #5 or #6, thats what i shoot out of my 12ga for partridge, so that would do for pheasents

[AJ]

I agree with Carbonhunter. I shoot #7.5 for the first shot and #6 for the 2nd shot. I have cleanly dropped pheasants at 50 yards with #6. I see no need for #4 shot on upland birds. Pattern density goes down very fast as there are not that many pellets in the kill area. A 1 oz load of #7.5 or #6 will kill them as dead. What good is larger shot if it never hits the vitals?

[littlered]

i tried the #5 and I totally destroyed a rabbit at 12 yrd. i think i'll change to the 6 or 7.5

[Tominator]

[ QUOTE ]
i tried the #5 and I totally destroyed a rabbit at 12 yrd. i think i'll change to the 6 or 7.5

[/ QUOTE ]

outside of maybe a pellet gun, any load at 12 yards will destroy a rabbit!

LOL--dude, let them get out there a bit.