Pellet Size Rationale: Smaller vs Larger?

[TheLBLman]

Seeing all the threads about shells, just have noticed that many hunters are using #4 shot, while maybe only a few such as myself seem to prefer #7 (or smaller). Most seem to be using #5 or #6 sizes.

For most of my turkey hunting in the past, I did most of my hunting with #5 copper-plated lead, without complaint. It would generally slam-dunk them with head shots under 40 yards, and still be able to break wings and legs at 45. About a decade or so ago, I began using heavier-than-lead loads, gravitating to the smaller shot sizes.

I eat my birds, and don't like to get pellets in the breast. So for me, it's a head shot, or I don't take it. The only exception is if I shoot and the bird doesn't drop, I will take a body shot on a running or flying bird which I assume has been wounded. I'm shooting Federal Heavyweights, with a load of #7's in the chamber, while the back-ups are typically #6's. Never mind the #7's will shoot thru a turkey breast at 45 yards.

I know why I'm loading up with very small "bird shot", but what is the rationale for using very large shot such as #4's (even with regular lead loads)?

 

[whiskey]

I use #4 lead in Longbeards, #7 Hevi Shot or Mag Blends in my 12ga. All pattern great and kill well past acceptable shooting range.

I'm trying #9 TSS in 20ga this year too.

Size does matter dependent on the pellet material. I don't know anyone that uses #7 lead. It's possible to go down in pellet size due to the "heavier than lead" penetration.


"So he cocked both his pistols, spit in the dirt, and walked out in to the street."

 

[Roost 1]

4s retain a lot of energy at greater distance..

 

[TLRanger]

I always used copper coated, buffered #2 shot until TWRA made them illegal because some AH shot his buddy with them...I guess he would not have hit his pal if he had been using #4, #5 or #6 shot! Now I use different shot sizes, early season when visibility is good, I use #4, later when visibility due to vegetation gets thicker, I use smaller shot.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I use a pretty simple formula.

What is the farthest shot I might take under ideal circumstances, accounting for margin of error in estimation?
What is the smallest pellet (of whatever material) I'm comfortable with at that range?
Then that's what I shoot because it gives me the best pattern density.

The problem is, it's a sliding scale. Lead 4s are heavy enough to be deadly at 60 yards. BUT, with 4s most patterns are laughable at 60, so your max range is 35-45 depending on gun/choke. At that range, 4s are overkill, so I'd drop down to 5s or 6s to get better pattern density. Using this formula, I've never seen found a use for lead 4s.

 

[Roost 1]

Would you change your mind if you could put a 100 lead 4s in a paper plate (8") at 60yds??

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Would you change your mind if you could put a 100 lead 4s in a paper plate (8") at 60yds??

Absolutely. I've just never owned (or touched for that matter) a gun that would do this with lead 4s. I'm sure there are a few out there, but they are the exception. Most people who are shooting lead 4s through a stock gun with a basic aftermarket choke (jelly head, kicks, etc) would do well to put 10 pellets in a 10" circle at 60 yards.

 

[Roost 1]

Try the Longbeard 4s, you might be surprised...if you would like more info send me a pm. It's not that I have an exceptional gun because I got 4-5 buddies who use 4s as well.

 

[Wrangler95]

4s retain a lot of energy at greater distance..[/quote

Absolutely!! :super: :super: :super:

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Try the Longbeard 4s, you might be surprised...if you would like more info send me a pm. It's not that I have an exceptional gun because I got 4-5 buddies who use 4s as well.

I will conceed that I have never tested the longbeards as I started handloading before they came out. I know they are good, but if the 4s will shoot 100 pellets (i.e. 40 percent of the payload) in an 8" circle at 60 yards out of a stock gun, then i didn't realize just how good they were. But I bet they are slug-like at 20.

 

[TheLBLman]

But I bet they are slug-like at 20.

There's the dilemma, least for me.

Getting something to be more ideal at longer ranges . . . . makes it less ideal at shorter ranges.

I've seen lots of hunters miss an easy 25-yard shot in large part because their turkey guns shot more like a rifle than a shotgun (and they didn't have rifle-like sights, ideally an optical sight).

 

[Roost 1]

There's always a trade-off, but with today's chokes snd loads rifle like sights are almost a must.. I
Prefer a scope or red dot.