Upland Bird Hunting Ballistics - South Dakota Pheasant Hunting

You must assume the serious responsibility of using only the correct ammunition for your firearm. Read and heed all warnings, including those that appear in the gun's instruction manual and on the ammunition boxes.

Using improper or incorrect ammunition can destroy a gun and cause serious personal injury. It only takes one cartridge of improper caliber or gauge to wreck your gun, and only a second to check each one as you load it. Be absolutely certain that the ammunition you are using matches the specifications that are contained within the gun's instruction manual and the manufacturer's markings on the firearm.

Ammunition that has become very wet or has been submerged in water should be discarded in a safe manner. Do not spray oil or solvents on ammunition or place ammunition in excessively lubricated firearms. Poor ignition, unsatisfactory performance or damage to your firearm and harm to yourself or others could result from using such ammunition.

Form the habit of examining every cartridge you put into your gun. Never use damaged or substandard ammunition—the money you save is not worth the risk of possible injury or a ruined gun.

The commonly encountered upland bird hunting shotgun ammunition sizes are (smallest to largest), the .410, 28, 20, 16, and 12.

Don’t under-gun on wild pheasants. Use a 1-1/4 ounce load of #4 lead shot or 1-1/8 ounce of #2 steel shot. And aim for the front half, pheasants are not particularly fast, but many hunters shoot behind them. Lead the head, not the body, for a clean kill.

Game	Suggested Shot Size	Suggested Chokes	What Experienced Shotgunners Say...
Pheasants	4, 5, 6, 7½	Improved Cylinder--for close cover Modified or Full--for long cornfield shots	For South Dakota cornfield shooting where long shots are usual - better use No. 4. On a normal rise over dogs and for all around use, No. 6 is the favorite.
Grouse or Partridge	5, 6, 7½, 8	Improved Cylinder or Modified--for brush work Full--for open ranges	On the smaller birds such as ruffed grouse or Hungarian Partridge, use the smaller shot. The big western grouse (sage, sooty, and blue) call for heavier loads and larger shot.
Quail	7½, 8, 9	Cylinder Improved Cylinder Modified	For early season shooting on bobwhites when feathers are light, some hunters use No. 9 shot. Later they switch to No. 7½ or 8. On the running or wild flushing type of quail, such as the Gambel's, large shot is sometimes used.
Doves and Pigeons	6, 7½, 8, 9	Modified Improved Cylinder	Use lighter loads and No. 7½ or No. 8 shot on mourning doves at normal ranges --for longer ranges use the heavy loads and No. 6 or No. 7½. Use the same load on band tailed pigeons and white wings.
Woodcock	7½, 8, 9	Improved Cylinder Modified	The choice of shot size here will depend on ranges at which the game is shot. For fast shooting in the alder thickets, No. 8 shot is a good choice.
Turkey	BB, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7½ *check local game laws	Full	Choice of shot size depends on the range. If you're a good caller, No. 6 or No. 7½ shots makes a clean kill. BBs, No. 2s, 4s, 5s, are best for long shots.
Trap	7½, 8	Full or Modified	In most cases, No. 7½ is used for trap. Check the Official Rule book.
Skeet	8, 9	Skeet Choke Improved Cylinder	In most cases, No. 9 is used for skeet, check the Official Rule book.
Sporting Clays	7½, 8, 9	Any choke (Depends on practice desired)	For targets at close range use a more open choke, at longer distances tighten the chokes.

Use the Correct Ammunition