I can't say for sure on doves- they are not legal here in MI- But I shoot a lot of barn pigeons and crows in the spring and summer off-seasons here, on local dairy farms, also blackbirds (not red-winged ones) and sometimes, starlings and grackles. I always use one of the 12 gauges I also use in the fall and late seasons for tower and field pheasants, and waterfowl- so one day I might be shooting a full chokes M12, another day a M and Full LC Smith or Parker double. I use Win AA lite no. 9 skeet loads, or RST equivalent- for all those pest birds, and at all ranges. fro m incomers to "barrel stretchers" as well-
I grew up under the tuteledge of my Granddad's best friend, a live bird money circuit shooter and a market hunter before that was outlawed- He shot a Model 1897 Tournament grade 30" Full- and used 7&1/2 Federal paper Champion shells- even for geese- He "head shot" his ducks and geese, and they died in the air-A natural wingshot, like the gent with the 20 gauge Remington with the Polychoke-- So I have always believed in heavy dense patterns for certain quary- With steel shot the issue, that has changed things for the waterfowling guns a bit, and also in areas and now in Canada apparently for doves.
I have never shot doves nor jacksnipes or sora rails, but from all that I have rear (Nash Buckingham, Paul Curtis, etc.) I have to believe they are the greatest challenge to a wingshot's ability.
