Round For small game?

**Mastiff4570** · October 26th, 2008, 10:26 PM

i hunt small game with .12 gauge mostly cause i might get a bird and secondly cause i am at college and like to only have one gun here.

the question is what ammo for a shotgun is best for small game?

i should say i have been hunting small game for about 7 years and always use the same remmington 6 shot i am just curious as to what other people use? looking to use the best round for the job?

**God's Country** · October 26th, 2008, 10:31 PM

I find 6 shot to the best all around small game load. I prefer high brass, but low brass is good for rabbits and grouse IMO

**Mastiff4570** · October 26th, 2008, 11:09 PM

what brand of high brass do you get?

**Lycanthrope** · October 27th, 2008, 12:19 AM

I like Federal and Remmy 6 shot. It may just be luck, but I have lost more birds to Winchester shotshells than anything else and I no longer use it to hunt with.

Lycanwhoknowsthrope

**knight0334** · October 27th, 2008, 06:22 AM

For dove and close grouse I like 7-1/2 or 8 shot. Squirrel and rabbit I go for 6 or 7-1/2 shot depending on range. For pheasant I usually pick 4 or 6 shot depending on range as well, for the ringnecks I will get a higher brass if I know I'll be further away from my quarry. Most of the time low brass will suffice with where I hunt.

If you use a dog, you might want higher brass because they will spook and flush the bird/rodent sometimes before you are in range with low brass. High brass really isn't needed in most cases, it only give you a few more yards than high brass. And for any of the game I mentioned above, magnums are not needed at all.

I use whatever brand is cheapest. In the 24+ years I've been hunting I couldn't find any difference in performance between any of them. I've taken more small game with cheapo Walmart $3-5 boxes of shells than I could ever begin to count.

**Buckmark.35** · October 27th, 2008, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by Lycanthrope

I like Federal and Remmy 6 shot.

Ditto. 6 shot is probably the best all around shot size for small game. The only time I use 7 1/2 and 8 shot is for clay pidgeons. I don't like to shoot a shot size that light for anything I have to kill. It's a personal preference thing. I prefer the Federals myself, but also use Remington loads if that's all that's available at the time.

**God's Country** · October 27th, 2008, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Mastiff4570

what brand of high brass do you get?

As stated FED and REM.

**Poonie** · October 27th, 2008, 12:25 PM

It all depends on the game. You're not going to want to use #4 or 6 on doves because the shot is too large and the shot cloud will not be dense enough to ensure a kill. Just the same you're not going to want to use low brass #7 1/2 for say turkeys because its too light a load and too small a shot. Let the game dictate the shot shell and size, and don't get caught up in the "this one's the best all around " game.