Upland 20ga Shells

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NDguy

Active Member
Aug 12, 2016
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Going to be picking up my new 20ga Montefeltro soon off layaway. I've never shot a 20ga consistently so am a bit out of the loop on 20ga ammo.

Which shells do you like using for Pheasants/Grouse? I like Fiocchi High Velocity or Golden Pheasant for my 12ga usually but curious about what people use.
 
Ikeepitcold

Ikeepitcold

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Feb 22, 2011
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20 gages are fun to shoot. Not nearly the kick of a 12 ga. It’s been awhile since I had one so not sure on the ammo.

Post up some pics when you pick it up.
 
Fink

Fink

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Black Cloud flat hammers ducks and geese. It's a little dirty, and I'm kind of upset with Federal right now.. I bought a case of 2 3/4 for my A5, gun that cycles everything, and wont cycle them. they bought 2 boxes back from me to test them, but i never heard anything about it, and cant get ahold of anyone now.

But...... they do hit hard and fast, and kill stuff pretty dead.
 
N

NDguy

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Aug 12, 2016
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Fink said:
Black Cloud flat hammers ducks and geese. It's a little dirty, and I'm kind of upset with Federal right now.. I bought a case of 2 3/4 for my A5, gun that cycles everything, and wont cycle them. they bought 2 boxes back from me to test them, but i never heard anything about it, and cant get ahold of anyone now.

But...... they do hit hard and fast, and kill stuff pretty dead.
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Good to know, with my 12ga I shoot a custom full choke for everything. Guess what patterns best?

Federal blue box :)
 
Hilltop

Hilltop

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Whatever 3" shells are on sale at Walmart... I have had no issues with any but I guess my favorite are the Remington Nitro. Fiocchi shelld have performed very good for us in my son's 20 as well. I'm really liking their turkey loads and have switched to them for my 12s as well.
 
Gr8bawana

Gr8bawana

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My son uses plain old 2 3/4" Federal or Remington with #6 shot on Chukars and they fold just as fast as with my 12 ga.
 
JimP

JimP

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People learn that hunting upland game with a shotgun isn't rocket science.

For my hunting with my 20 I usually get what ever is on sale in #6-#9 shot but mostly #6 in 3". There is no need to go with anything more expensive than what is on sale.
 
Slugz

Slugz

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NDguy said:
I have never bought into those Black Cloud shells. Seems like a marketing gimmick.

You've had good success?
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As Fink said yes....little dirty....but a big difference.....combine a high end shotgun shell with a high end choke such as yours....Good to go IMO.
 
D

Dos Perros

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Jul 1, 2015
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The B&P F2?s, when they make them, are hard to beat for quality materials, performance, and price. I?ll use their Italian 6?s on anything. When I can?t get those I just get Golden Pheasants. But for bobs I?ll use Winchester Super X or whatever their high brass 7.5?s are.
 
manitou1

manitou1

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Mar 21, 2017
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Federal Prairie Storm for pheasants... x1000. We used to do an annual group hunt to the Dakotas or Montana. My buddies couldn't believe the kills I made with the Fed P.S. shells. Now they all shoot them, and they kill more pheasants... a lot more with fewer shots.
 
JimP

JimP

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What a lot of people don't do is to take their shotgun and shells of choice along with a few other brands out to the target range with a large piece of cardboard and pattern it. Shotguns just like rifles do shoot differently with different loads. Then for wing shooting you need to get out and practice. I went with some hunters to Kansas one year for a pheasant hunt. The first couple of days a few of them couldn't hit the broad side of a barn but as the week went on they got better and better. The only time that they shot their shotguns was on this trip. The birds that they killed early on were just the unlucky ones where one or two BB's found their way to them. I remember a couple of birds that we never did find any BB's in which indicated to me that they were leading too far and hitting the birds in the head with a single BB on the outer edge of the shot spread.
 
Fink

Fink

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JimP said:
What a lot of people don't do is to take their shotgun and shells of choice along with a few other brands out to the target range with a large piece of cardboard and pattern it. Shotguns just like rifles do shoot differently with different loads. Then for wing shooting you need to get out and practice. I went with some hunters to Kansas one year for a pheasant hunt. The first couple of days a few of them couldn't hit the broad side of a barn but as the week went on they got better and better. The only time that they shot their shotguns was on this trip. The birds that they killed early on were just the unlucky ones where one or two BB's found their way to them. I remember a couple of birds that we never did find any BB's in which indicated to me that they were leading too far and hitting the birds in the head with a single BB on the outer edge of the shot spread.
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Patterning obviously is critical.. But, certain loads just kill birds better. Taking mallards over the decoys for example. You can shoot regular old steel shot, and kill your birds, but you might be wringing necks, or taking finishing shots on the water. Or, you can shoot hyperspeed stuff or black cloud, and kill birds deader than a hammer.
 
N

NDguy

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JimP said:
take their shotgun and shells of choice along with a few other brands out to the target range with a large piece of cardboard and pattern it.
Click to expand...
Yep I think I am going to buy 1 box each of Federal, Prairie Storm, Golden Pheasant and Pheasant Max and see what patterns the best in a Modified choke.
 
JimP

JimP

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For upland game I shoot nothing but lead unless I am required to shoot steel on the land that I am hunting.

Steel for waterfowl is a totally different subject unless you are going to use steel shot for the upland hunting.
 
Fink

Fink

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JimP said:
For upland game I shoot nothing but lead unless I am required to shoot steel on the land that I am hunting.

Steel for waterfowl is a totally different subject unless you are going to use steel shot for the upland hunting.
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Lots of areas here in the midwest require steelshot, since you're bird hunting on NWR's
 
Hilltop

Hilltop

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JimP said:
For upland game I shoot nothing but lead unless I am required to shoot steel on the land that I am hunting.

Steel for waterfowl is a totally different subject unless you are going to use steel shot for the upland hunting.
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I have gone to all steel because I hunt in some areas where it is required. I have found I shoot better if I stick to one load and really get used to the speed. Steel and lead have a fairly significant difference in speed so your lead changes on birds in the field. I also like the fact that I won't have any lead in my cooked birds I'm feeding to my kids.
 
JimP

JimP

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My thing is that I shoot 4 different gauges of shotguns depending on what I am after.

I have a 10ga for ducks and geese along with a 12ga. For upland I'll switch to my 20ga or 410. They all are a little different but I shoot them all quite well.
 
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