In the 70s and 80s, I regularly used Rem #2 shot 1 1/4 oz 2 3/4" loads in my 60cm cyl choke barrels on a ca 1968 Heym o/u to shoot hare in Germany, as well as my share of phesants. This is counterintuitive, but the combination killed like lightening and didn't tear up marketable game.
Mike