Preferred Upland Loads?

[NoWiser]

That Federal 2-3/4” 1-1/4 oz #5 copper plated lead going out of a 12 gauge at 1500 fps is the most deadly load (for me) I’ve ever used for pheasants. I’m not a good shot but, with those, I don’t miss too often.

I like a good, higher velocity 7.5 shot out of my 20 gauge for ruffed grouse and woodcock. I miss those birds, especially grouse, very often.

 

[MNHunter67]

I’ve been shooting non-tox exclusively for a few years now and I’ve had good luck with steel 7s on ruffs/blues/spruceys in the mountains. Bismuth 4s or 5s for pheasants. With the trouble in getting bismuth lately, I might have to go back to steel for pheasants since I often hunt in areas where jump shooting ducks is an option.

 

[Arkancide]

7½ on ruffed grouse and woodcock.

Fiocchi

 

[Tilzbow]

For wild chukar, my favorite load ever was a 12 gauge, 1 1/8 oz, nickel plated 7’s that was loaded using Hodgen long-shot powder and traveling at 1450 FPS. I killed birds out to 50 and 60 yards stone cold dead a few times with those loads. I switched to a 20 gauge and have been shooting 1 oz copper plated 6s in that with good results but I should get a 20 gauge loader and try those nickel plated 7s again for a denser pattern.