I come from a non hunting and non firearm owning family so I'm more or less stumbling around in a wealth of information and thoughts. I've always wanted to get into hunting and firearms they have both interested me since I can remember.

I purchased a Mossberg 500 for the price point and the fact that I can use it for just about anything I want to do from home defense (not the best option) to bird hunting to deer or even pigs. Now my question to yall is what kind of loads should I be putting in it I get bird shot for birds and buck shot for deer but specifically want shot for skeet, dove, duck, turkey, deer, or pigs?

- For skeet, lead shot, from size 6-9, but more people will use 7-9 instead of 6.
- For dove, lead shot, from size 6-8.
- For duck, steel (or comparables), size 2 or BB, depending on situations.
- Deer / pigs, either a slug or buckshot (I'd go with bigger as opposed to smaller buckshot, if I was not going to use a slug)
- Turkey, lead, not positive on size for this one... either buy a turkey load, or 2-4 size shot.

Is this what you were looking for?

Yes this is exactly what I was looking for thank you very much.

If duck hunting you can go as small as #6 shot if you are using a premium shell and birds are close. I use #6 1st shot and #4's for follow up shots. I prefer Hevi-Metal shells for duck hunting. Everything else looks spot on.

Yeah I am kind of biased towards bigger shot for ducks. To each their own. Certainly don't use anything smaller than 6s.

Very, very few, if any, skeet ranges will allow you to use # 6 shot. 7 1/2 is the largest you can use.

Like you said, depends on the location.

If you are shooting Skeet many ranges will restrict you to 9's. I used to reload 8 1/2' s which worked well on it and birds (quail & dove), 7 1/2 shot will work but push lots of feathers in. 6's work on squirrel's and turkeys in a tight choke shot in the head. Ducks & Geese I shot with steel sucks, saw shot go completely thru some feathers and all and break the end of a goose' wing and they flew off. Try the Hevi Shot. It's expensive. If you are hunting with buckshot try 3" no 1 B it will pattern where 00 usually is not known to.

To clarify what jdk1985 said about turkey loads "Turkey, lead, not positive on size for this one... either buy a turkey load, or 2-4 size shot." make sure you read your states regulations. Here in Missouri you must use shot no larger than size 4 (4 to 6 most common). I use 12ga 3" loaded with either 1 7/8oz or 2oz of #5s

I use #4 for everything. I never shot at a skeet though.