Well, this discussion was profitable and enlightening. I see that I share the same feelings as many here regarding loads, etc for wild pheasants. As stated earlier, I have only been pheasant hunting (wild birds) for 13 years this coming November. But in that time I have experimented with various loads, some of them older offerings from days gone by as many of you here relate. The load that I have pretty much stuck with for the last couple of years has been Fiocchi #5's (or 6's depending on availability) in either 12 or 20, with the corresponding load applicable to the gauge, but generally not more than 1 and 1/8 in 20 and 1 and 1/4 in 12. One thing guaranteed though: nothing longer than 2.75 inches in either. This year I have a new (to me) Ithaca 37 in 16 gauge (my first ever) that I have a stock of 1 and 1/8 oz loads of 6's procured that I will have a go at the wild ditch parrots with. I have already blooded it on preserve quail (8's) and chukkar (7.5's) and it does its job if I do mine.
As to my initial question regarding "why not shoot WalMart shells in fine guns", we have talked all around it while enjoying a sampling of each others' favorite loads but I don't think I ever heard a precise point made other than someone who alluded to "pressure" and wear on metal as well as wood and most of all "shoulders" from light guns. Soooo, I will accept that and thank everyone for the discussion!!
