I picked the load for the task at hand and used(for years) 1 1/4 oz. #2 shot(short magnum)in a 16 ga O/U with 60 cm cyl/cyl barrels for Hare and 1 1/8 oz #8 in the same barrels for partridge; with complete satisfaction. These would not be "square loads" at all. The 16 ga is not "stupid", it is wonderful.
Those are two, er, "robust" loads for use in a 16, ain't they? I use an ounce in a 12 a lot of the time.
I never hunted true hares, unless those long front legged rabbits that you see in southern MN count, but, prefered a .22 rimfire rifle for bunnies, when I was into that kind of stuff, before I had my own dogs that I try to teach some manners to.
I don't honestly know if I have ever fed a 16 a bigger load than 1 oz. I found some 1 1/4 oz Remingtons at a garage sale, but, I'm too chicken to light one off in my Nitro Special.
Best,
Ted
