doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Too fast for me.

And that is sad.

Given the loads some of these yokels are using to shoot doves; enough shot and powder to bring down a pterodactyl. They must really hate those doves.

I am nearly always "standing alone" in the low velocity/lower shot weight camp when hunting or shooting clays with my buds. I don't believe 1 1/8 oz. of shot is necessary to break clay birds, either. But I use these Estate loads because they are so slow, the recoil is low, they are relatively cheap, and they pattern great.

In talking with my fellow dove shooters, while we're standing around the trucks discussing the more important things in life ............. such as guns, loads and where to use them, the subject of best loads for doves often comes up. Given my gentle, but piercing way of debating such things I occasionally will ask what they think was the ideal lead shot charge for big ducks, back in our salad days. They will almost always reply with 1 1/4 to 1 3/8 oz. I then propose the question ............. "Given that a mature mallard weighs about 2 -3 lbs., and 1 3/8 oz. of lead will deck him, why do you feel like 1 1/8 oz. of lead is necessary to kill a dove that weighs 4 - 6 ounces?"

The responses are either blank stares or sheepish looks, with no answer. One fellow might say something like "I just think it kills 'em better, or deader". I then ask them to explain why I seem to be able to hold my own with them shooting 1/2 oz. to 7/8 oz. loads. No answers, usually.

Then I am reminded of my Dad's old cliche that "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still".

SRH

http://www.rstshells.com/store/p/156-12-...z-Load-Box.aspx

1-1/16, #6 @ 1150fps. #5's would be nice though.

John

The higher velocity loads for dove are advertising marketing tactics. Attacking egos with faster is better. Not so... As I mentioned before, my go to loads are AA, or Federal Top Gun Target loads for most of my bird hunting. (1150 1200fps give or take) is more than enough killing power for Grouse, woodcock, dove, quail, and crows. Pheasants early season, I use AA super handy cap 7 1/2 shot 1 1/8oz.
This works for me. And yes I have bought the fast stuff with same results except Ended up with a bruised shoulder.

You are absolutely right, JohnE. I often overlook RST loadings, as the price of them is just too high for me. I do duplicate them with handholds, however.

Thanks for catching that.

SRH

Burrard reported on a line of low velocity loads developed by the British Wildfowlers Assoc many years ago which they used with great success. The object was to be able to use a heavier load of the larger shot from a comparatively light weight gun for the shot load. For the ordinary 2�" game gun the load was a 2 3/4 DE with 1� oz of shot, which could be fired comfortably from the average weight game gun. Smallest shot size recommended for this load was British #4 or the equivalent of our #5. Smaller size shot at these reduced velocities would not have adequate penetration on the larger size birds they were developed for. This game gun load was particularly good for high pheasant while most wildfowlers used a still heavier load from a heavier gun.
Loads of #7� or #8 @ 1100 to 1150 fps are perfectly adequate for the smaller birds a normal ranges. These loads were however designed to be used a maximum ranges for larger birds. Don't forget a 4 to 6 oz dove can fly untouched through a pattern which would put several hits on a 2 to 3 lb Mallard.
Splitting the middle in weight for both categories a 2� lb Mallard has about 7 times the body ares of a 5 oz dove.
effective range of a shotgun is always determined by the best balance for the game to be shot of adequate penetration & adequate pattern density to insure several hits on the bird. Yeah I am fully aware we've all made some kills we could only find one pellet hit on, but how many more one pellet hit birds fly off that show no sign of being hit at all.

Some Is Good

More Is Better

Too Much Is Never Enough


The American Way!

I haven't ever forgotten that, Miller. I have made the statement on this board several times that density kills, up to a point of course. The pellets have to retain enough energy at the distance. One of the main reasons for going with smaller pellets for small birds is to increase that density.

By the way, every load I shoot at a dove, whether 1/2 oz. out of a .410 or 7/8 oz. out of a 20, has density that doves cannot fly through. This is accomplished, of course, by using adequate choke, patterning your hunting loads, and only taking shots that are within the range of those good patterns.

Thanks for your comments. As always they are pertinent and accurate, and appreciated.

SRH

Fortunately, a one ounce 1150 fps load is a very easy task for a handloader. There are any number of combinations to choose from.

Most of my loading these days is to make stuff I can't buy.

I do miss the old Federal Champion 2 hull. There is somehing special about your own home rolled field load in a paper hull. The current papers are a shadow of their former glory.

I swear Federal perfumed their powder too...