What is the best load for pheasant out of a 12 gauge?

high brass 6's......?

I don't hunt enough for a full blown experiment, but I tried the GOLDEN PHEASANT ammo last year from FIOCCHI....I only had one bird come up in range and downed him about 20yrds out w/ my 20 gauge...I think I bought 3" 5s. I think they were around $15/box.

I prefer #5, but it is all preference. We have been hunting KS for years. Dad started going in the mid 60's and they have shot 4,5,and 6.

I use high brass 6's in my 20 and have no problem bringing down those long tail roosters. Plus I'm not grossly overgunned for quail.

I've hunted them for over 35 years and by far my favorite 12 gauge load is a Remington Express Magnum #7 1/2 - #9. I shoot an O/U and the first barrel is #9 and the 2nd is 7 1/2. Most people think the shot is too small but about the only time I would change is late in the season on a day when the birds are all way out there. This set up rarely if ever fails me. And, BTW, I am a decent shooter, but not a dead-eye by any means.

I used Foichii 7.5's 3in 12ga last year. LM choke all season


Have used 4-7.5's and done well with all. No magic pill out there, they are tough birds but not super human.

In a 20ga I like 5 or 6's in 3in and 4's in 2 3/4.
Lm choke also

My favorite load I have used is the Kent Fast lead 3" #5

I prefer 1 1/4-1 3/8 oz of #5's or #4's shot going 1350fps. If hunting in a "No-tox" hunting area, I use Heavy Shot #6's.

Depends on if wild birds or released.

I grew up in Iowa and started hunting pheasants at age nine. We had a slough behind the house that was full of birds, so I shot LOTS of pheasant every year. I used about anything that I could find for shells, anything from low brass 8's to some of the more high-powered stuff. To be honest, for any reasonable range, a low brass shell loaded with 6's is perfectly sufficient to pheasants. They aren't exactly hard to bring down, and if you have a dog, you don't need to blast them to pieces to make sure you find them. Definitely nothing wrong with with high-brass 6's (I use them some), but I think the shells for pheasants are sometimes a little "over-analyzed".

We go to mott, north dakota every year.
5 or 6 high brass always works.
Cant wait till mid october!

If I'm shooting 20 ga. I like the golden Pheasants in a 6. On the rare occasion I shoot a 12, it does not matter. 7.5 heavy doves will do the job, just hit the bird.

7.5 heavy doves will do the job, just hit the bird.

there it is people....
what more do you need to know?
i've been shooting pheasant from the time i could lift and point a gun. 48 years later it all boils down to that.
don't get me wrong every time a new bigger, better, faster load comes out i'am going to buy it. but its not the gun, its not the shell, sorry, but it is the person behind the gun.
killed em with a 410, 12 and everything in between. just got to hit em.

The federal premium or fiocchi are both very good shells.

High brass 6s early season
High brass 5s mid season
High brass 4s late season

I prefer anything in a high brass #5 but used high brass 4's and 6's a lot over the years.

Pheasants are just like ninjas. If you dont dystroy them with 1 1/4 oz 5 shot moving at about 1300 fps or more, they will disapper. Then they sneak up behind you ever so quitly. When they get to a distance of around 21 ft., they let out a blood cuerling scream and slit your throat. Good luck.

golden phesant 3inch 5 shot

I prefer golden phesant 2 3/4 inch 5 shot nickel plated I think 1485 fps that will do the job.

+1..

All I've ever shot is high brass 6's and I've killed a lot of ditch chickens...

Snort -- LOL!!!

when I dystroy them they do dispper. no blood cuerling scream, they go quitly.

I enjoy playing around with the new shotgun loads just as much as anyone....but if your on the birds and you can shoot a shotgun.

Just about any load with any guage will do the trick...I prefer 12 or 20 guage any size load will do the trick for pheasant.

Good luck!

I will be honest- this is a great question. Most hunt with dogs, we do not. I shoot O/U 12ga Kent 2 3/4 #6 1 5/8oz, bro and Dad shoot 20s 1 1/4 #6 Winchester Super X Phez loads. More often than not those damn birds run when they hit the ground. The birds are close when flushed, they are hard to drop dead. Tried 4s and 5s but too many holes in patterns. Plain and simple they are tough. If you have a dog, them no problem. Just dont understand the ninja ridicule. Makes me wonder if they are shooting pen raised birds on a preserve or are one of those guys that bring a trailer with a dog for every day of the month club and I loose count past 20 on counting the # of compartments on trailer