On an annual late season pheasant hunt to South Dakota, I've always used #5 shot in 1 1/8 oz load in my 16 ga's which has worked well. That is, until our Dec 2014 hunt. I took along my Ithaca 280 E and had some #4 shot in 1 1/4 oz 12 ga loads my brother had given me. Lights out on the birds!
My friend was working the dogs from one end of a shelter belt and I posted up on the other end. The birds were boiling out of the sides and end of the belt. One flew low overheard and being around -15 degrees, I fumbled around getting the safe off. By the time I finally did, I had second thoughts on taking the shot because of the distance, but did anyway. The bird dropped like a sack of spuds....I was impressed!
I had a couple of 16 ga's on this years hunt, but mainly used the Ithaca 280 using the same 1 1/4 oz loads, with the same results as the previous year. #4's used to be my go to load for any manner of duck hunting, but same as you Stan, It had been so long since I used #4, I had forgotten how effective they can be.
Congrats on the fun shoot!
Last edited by Cameron; 02/21/16 10:19 AM.
