Re the low noise/low recoil loads . . . they're also very low velocity. I've frequently heard them give a very "bloopy" report when the weather's on the cold side. Depending on what you're used to shooting, I think they're also slow enough that if you're shooting long crossing targets, you might need to think about readjusting your forward allowance.
I've shot a pheasant or two, and while I'm no fan of the hypervelocity stuff, I do think a good choice is the old "live pigeon" formula: 1 1/4 oz shot at 1220 fps. That's basically the RST load. (Problem is, the Big Three have bumped their velocity up so much that it's hard to find those old live pigeon loads in a decent quality shell, other than from RST.) I don't normally use loads that heavy on pheasants, my preference being in the direction of 1 1/16 oz Brit 6's (slightly larger than our 7's), or a reload I've used a lot that pushes 1 1/8 oz at around 1200 fps, pressure around 7,000 psi. That one produces really good patterns when I've shot paper with it, and it will kill a rooster about as far away as I'm comfortable shooting them.
