I’m working with a tiny Epaguel Breton that just turned 6 months. This is her second time out. We were at a club. The birds are not “wild”, however unlike a “preserve” where the birds are put out upon arrival this private club released quantities of birds in different sections throughout the week. You can’t hunt the section that received today’s release. So overall, the experience is nice since you don’t know what, where or how many birds you might find. Annual fee and then pay per bird killed. Anyway, I loaded the 20g Pedersoli double with an ounce scoop of Goex card wad, half cushion wad, ounce of shot and over-card. I’ve tried plain lead #8 and copper coated # 7.5 hardened shot. Among the few birds the 7.5s noticeably knocked them down quicker. Some #8 shot birds were flipping around when they came down or just dropped a leg and glided down. I think the 7.5s are penetrating a little better. The right barrel patterns about “ skeet” and the left like “ modified”. I only used the Mod barrel twice, after all I’m dog training not really working to kill every bird. The birds hit with that barrel may have been a few yards further out by the time the second shot was taken, but the overall effect was just the same as the more open barrel. The little dog is a retrieving maniac. She doesn’t chase the bird in flight, she watched for it to land or fall. That should make training easy. She brings the bird to hand and holds it. I only shoot if she holds a point until I pass her and flush the bird. As the day went on her points were more rigid and she held until I got the bird airborne and shot. Great progress with this runt. Between the little dog and the little muzzleloader we are a big hit with the staff. I go on Mon and/ or Tuesday and I’ve yet to see anyone else there.
