6's or 7.5"

Mixed upland hunting, 12ga double, I/C & Mod.
no dog, just walkin and flushin.
1-1/8oz loads.
What do you prefer and why?

[puphood1]

Spit less lead out and carry better in the wind...puphood1

[catnthehat]

6's with 1oz of lead if i were to use a 12 bore, but i don't, so it's either a 20 or 28 for me.
Ruffed grouse country - 28 with skeet loads.
Pheasents - 20 gauge with 7/8oz of 6's
Cat

[Jester]

...nudder vote for 6's..

[BC7stw]

Mostly used 6's, although I tried 4's a number of years ago and found it gave me a bit more range on those spooky Hungarian's. Used 4's as I was hunting ducks as well and that's all I had. My kids use 7.5's in a 20 gauge for ruffed grouse while walking the alder chocked trails where shots a close, works well there.

[Richard B.]

I have shot a lot of upland (ruffed grouse, grey partridge and pheasants) with 3 dram 1 1/8 oz 7 1/2 trap loads in a 12 gauge. If you are doing mostly pheasants then I suggest that you use #6 and #5 is not a bad idea either.

I think that either shot size would work well for you but as you are carrying a S/S why not put a 7 1/2 load in your I/C barrel and a #6 in your MOD barrel?

R

Originally Posted by Richard B.

I have shot a lot of upland (ruffed grouse, grey partridge and pheasants) with 3 dram 1 1/8 oz 7 1/2 trap loads in a 12 gauge. If you are doing mostly pheasants then I suggest that you use #6 and #5 is not a bad idea either.

I think that either shot size would work well for you but as you are carrying a S/S why not put a 7 1/2 load in your I/C barrel and a #6 in your MOD barrel?

R

Thanks for this reply I never thought of mixing and matching my loads in my O/U.
Never tried #5's, actually never recall seeing any.

[Dick284]

My Dad was a really big #5's kind of guy, he liked them for ducks, and really smashed phesants with them back in the day. (Imperial 1-1/4oz.)
I reloaded them in the 80's and killed ducks like no tomorrow.
When I went down to Texas on a turkey hunt I was a bit suprised to see the latest turkey load extrodinaire was a 3" 1-3/4oz. load of copper plated #5's.
Of late I dont recall much in the way of #5's on store shelves, the occasional box of 1-1/8oz ones, but nary a box of 1-1/4oz. to be seen.