Overall Best Size/Type Shot

[MikeC]

Looking for opinions.

I want to work up one load if all possible using one size shot for small game, basically squirrels, rabbit and pheasant from a .62/20gauge. I was thinking #5 shot but should I use regular shot or should I use chilled, plated or whatever. I'm not very knowledgable on shot types.

 

[roundball]

Looking for opinions.

I want to work up one load if all possible using one size shot for small game, basically squirrels, rabbit and pheasant from a .62/20gauge. I was thinking #5 shot but should I use regular shot or should I use chilled, plated or whatever. I'm not very knowledgable on shot types.

Lead shot = pure soft lead, rarely if ever a good choice for shot...cheapest and very few places even sell it;

Chilled shot = contains a little antimony to slightly harden if for improved patterns due to less pellet deformation in the bore...a little more expensive;

Magnum shot = hardest due to highest antimony content, gives better patterns as a result, etc...getting pretty expensive but worth it;

Copper plated = harder still due to copper coating, better pattern still, and is also advertised to give better penetration than bare lead...very expensive;

If your .62cal is a cylinder bore, I'd use magnum 6's to keep the pellet count up in an open bore...5's pack more punch but the lower pellet count might be an issue at distance with the smaller targets...you could see what you max distance would be with just a few shots on paper.

In any case with a cylinder bore and no protective shot cup, always at least use the harder magnum shot to minimize deformation and promote a tighter pattern.

For pheasants, if they're flushing long then IMO copper plated #5s would be best for pattern at distance AND energy / penetration at distance...remember the velocity of your BP shot charge may be running slower than a modern shell's.

But if you're dead set on only one shot size then I would go with the 5's instead of the 6's.
They'll do better for pheasants vs. if a squirrel occasionally slips through the pattern and you can probably find another squirrel easier than another pheasant :grin:

 

[MikeC]

Thanks roundball. Based on your info I'll give the magnum 6 shot a try first as i will be doing more squirrel hunting then anything else.

 

[paulvallandigham]

If you are shooting an open cylinder gun, where shot patterns are going to be good at 30 yds, and not much more beyond, using #5 shot is not going to leave you a thin pattern at all. I have a bag of magnum #5, and some nickle plated #5 shot to try in my gun. I know from experience that I can kill pheasants out past 30 yards with my #5. I would not hesitate to use this on squirrels in leafy tree tops. #6 will work on the squirrels at 30 yds and less, which should be a rather long shot for squirrel shooting. But you are asking a lot of that shot beyond 30 yds if you are hunting pheasants. You have to put a lot of pellets on the target at the longer range to get the pellet energy sufficient to shock the bird so it falls, where a dog can retrieve it, and kill it. About every third bird will have a head shot that kills it in the air, but the other two will only die if hit with 6 or more pellets. That is asking a lot of a pattern at that range, even with the extra pellets that start in the shot charge in your gun.

By contrast, I found that 2 out of three pheasants are killed outright when I use #5 shot. The third is so badly crippled that I can walk up and retrieve the bird, and kill it with my hands.

Use a chronograph, and for testing velocities, make a paper package to hold the shot so it passes over the screens as one object. That will give you a good velocity reading. When you have a load that produces consistent velocity at speeds that you like, then work on pattern size. I like a muzzle velocity that is about 1025 Fps at the muzzle, with my BP loads. I shoot a slightly faster load out of my 12 gauge cartridge guns, but still stay under the sound barrier to get better patterns.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Many years ago I did a lot of pattern shooting and a lot of calculations and came to the conclusion that within 40 yards, there was not much that couldn't be done with one ounce of sixes. Now that was with choke bored guns. With a cylinder bore I'd sure not go larger than number six. Number six shot has plenty of penetration for the game mentioned at 35 yards or so and I doubt your pattern will have sufficient density much past 25 yards. A larger shot size will only exacerbate the problem of a thin pattern.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I'm with Roundball. If you'd listed rabbit, squirrel and grouse I'd have suggested #6. What choke (if any)? My New Englander is straight cylinder and the higher count of #6 vs. #5 keeps me with the smaller size.