I've pheasant hunted once before and I am going again this year and my #4's and #6's didnt kill the birds. What is the best load to use?

using those, I don't think that was the problem

I hit two birds and they both fell and I saw feathers fly off but as I was reloading they jumped up and flew off.

Gotta hit those pheasant hard! They don't like to stay down. I use 9 and 7 1/2 shot in magnum loads, and they work fine - WHEN I hit them right.

Just hit 'em in the head. You're hitting them on the worng end more than likely.

If you get a nice crossing shot at 15-20 yards you could kill 'em with a .410 by hitting them in the head, but since most flushes are going away you need a 12 ga, modified choke, 5's or 6's magnum load.

magnums are fine, but you dont need them. i shoot 2,3/4 all day long in 5 & 6 shot modified.

I know guys that shoot 7 1/2's but with a full choke. No problems..........its all in the person shooting!

x2 butt shots mean they run or keep flying!!!

I could never get a crossing shot.

They are some fast birds once they get the motor going!!! Thats for sure

I just got back from Pheasant hunting in KS. The group of hunters I was with used 12's, 20's and my trusty 16 gauge. We all shot #6's, 2 3/4, Remington Express Long Range ammo. Modified chokes were the norm but I shot a IM choke. We had ZERO problems knocking down pheasants and I personally witnessed my buddy drop a pheasant at 40 yards with his 20 gauge shooting a 2 3/4 #6's.

If you use #6's, 4, 5 or 7 1/2+ high brass...you will kill birds. Check your choke though and based on my experience I would use IC or Modified at this point in the season.

Yep, high brass #6's out of my 20 gauge O/U choked Mod/Full. Never had any problem killing pheasants, plus I'm not grossly overgunned for quail.

I always use my 16ga with #6s. Some times they are dead as a door nail some times not. The key is FPS not payload weight. 1oz @ 1250fps+ kills better than 1 1/8 @1100. I have learned the hard way that they are still alive till they are in the cooler. Hit'em reload and run to where they fell.

My favorite load has always been hi-brass 5's. I dont do a lot of switching between early and late season. Im not big on using a full or improved cylinder either. My first few seasons in KS were rough. Finally took to heart 2 key points from my local buddies. 1. shoot where they are going, not where they have been and 2. shoot till their head drops.

Yes that is a must!

Shoot Fiocchi Golden Pheasant #6 in 12 ga. Best to shoot an O/U that way you have more control of the shot pattern with two different chokes. I personally shoot a light modified choke on the bottom barrel for close in shots (out to 20 yards) and a modified on the top barrel for shots over 20 yards out.

My son, my wife and myself all shoot high brass 5's thru an IC choke. She shoots a 20 ga and Zach and I shoot 12's.

If they are hit in the front half instead of the back half, they hit the ground to stay.

darn things are wearing kevlar.

now for real, if you are knocking feathers off and they aren't dying your shooting em in the butt. because 4's and or 6's will do the trick when you hit em in the right spot.
try getting a little farther in front of em. you'll bring em down if you hit em in the head.

7 1/2 wont work real well/ unless Pen Raised Birds, thats fine- even if you are an assasin- #5 1 1/4 or 3/8 will stone them cold to 40+ yards. I also would use no less than LM or Mod Choke- again IC on Pen raised is OK.

They are Big birds- You are shooting behind them 99%- also, STAY DOWN on your gun- so you wont shoot over them either- You are doing one or the other

That is all I use is #4, #5, & #6. Fiocchi 3"