2 1/2 vs 2 3/4 shell?

[eightbore]

If you want to be entertained and learn something about shot stringing, read Brister. I am so fond of Brister and his research that, several years ago, I got a new wife and a wood sided station wagon. Unfortunately, The Lovely Linda is not as fond of driving the Ford and being shot at as Mrs. Brister was.

[Silvers]

I agree with Vernal on the shot string thing. And I think that was cooked up by the ammo companies when regular wads and bare shot were used, and it had some validity then. But with progressive burning powders and modern shotcups I think it's mostly bs. Only the very fastest birds that are in range and flying at right angle to the barrel(s) can outfly even a small part of a shotstring traveling at whatever the terminal velocity is at that range.

....... I do know when shooting my little .410 SXS with a 1/2 ounce, I shoot as well or better than those throwing up 1 1/8 ounces. I drop the pigeons, Eurasion dove and quail with no problem.

This thread is on a tangent and I apologize for that since I started writing about target shooting. Let's get back to hunting and specifically humane hunting. 1/2 ounce in a 410 for pigeons, doves and quail? Come on now. I can see that if you're potting a bird sitting on your backyard clothesline. OK, maybe for the first shot on a quail rise. But how many birds are thought to be missed (wounded) and fly away for a slow death? We're supposed to be sportsmen/women. Silvers

Edited on 7/23/14 at 3:30pm to clarify what I was referring to

[Jim Cloninger]

That truely is a good one Bill. Jim

[eightbore]

I agree with Frank's last post, even though that's not really what we were discussing. If someone wants to discuss .410s for birds or #9 and #10 shot for birds, we can open another thread. Back on the competition subject, I was shooting competitive (well, maybe not so competitive) International Skeet when the switch was made from 1 1/8 ounces to 1 ounce and was still competing when the switch was made to 24 grams. I was one happy camper, because I had been shooting lighter loads all along. I was also shooting much slower loads than the factory International Skeet loads which were 1300 plus fps. I believe my scores were a bit higher with the more comfortable loads I was shooting. I didn't carry this philosophy over to USSCA or NSCA, however. And, as Frank suggests, I won't go light on game. A dove doesn't take much killing, but I like to pop a high one when it presents itself, so I will load 1 1/8 ounces if I am shooting a 12 gauge.

[eightbore]

By the way, Jim, thanks for the comment. Brister happens to be the only "mass media" newspaper person who dared to mention or cover flyer shooting in his column. I guess that's one advantage of making your living in Texas. My hero. His books sell for about nothing on Amazon and all of us should take advantage.

[Mike of the Mountain]

I too USUALLY use 1 oz in competition, but my dram equivalent is 2 3/4 max. Keeps pressures down and less setback. Of course some guns I just have to shoot 2 1/2" 3/4 or 7/8 oz 12g loads and have excellent results. The extra pellet count is found on the outside of the core of your pattern. The main core is basically the same no matter what shot load you are throwing. The extra pellets go somewhere and that is to the fringe of the pattern. Frank loves his 1 1/8 oz. That's fine. Whatever works for your mental game. If you get good scores with 1 or 7/8 you will keep shooting them too. It is all mental. Sort of like the guys who constantly change chokes. Whatever works for ya whether it's necessary to success or not. That's the beauty of this game.

[Vernal pike]

Vernal, you're a genius!

Chris..............AZ

Thank you!

[fox shooter]

Vernal, it sounds like you have the winning combination with those loads of yours. The 28 is a great round and at 3/4 ounce will bot string out, great ballistics. I shoot the 1 ounce 16 for quail with a MOD and IC set barrel combo. If they get away it's my fault, not the gun or the load. I know what you're saying with the pellet count, but more shot will not be any more effective than less. I'm not 100% sure, but I think more shot in a narrower column will string out and be less effective, whereas less shot in the same column will get there all about the same time giving you a denser pattern. I'm probably going to get pushed down and kicked around the forum, but these are my thoughts on more or less.

Thanks, Chris

[fox shooter]

Just read your post Mike, thanks! I think we think alike.

Chris

[Mike of the Mountain]

Eightbore, Linda is both lovely and smart!! I wouldn't want to be pulling the sheet either!!!!

[Jim Cloninger]

Think Moss,Mallards & Mules.

[eightbore]

Yup, Jim, that is a great Brister title. The only important outdoor writer since Nash Buckingham to have a background in "Shooting for Money".

[Jim Cloninger]

Isn't the standard live pigeon shell 1 1/4 oz. for good reason?
Jim

[tony williamson]

I love 2.5 in shells. Im not a physicist, im a chemist. But i took a boatload of physics and math. Doesnt matter, 2.5 are better on me, my gun, i shoot better, and i trust their killing power. Got two crows at 60 yds with my 16 ga rst shells in my sterlingworth. Fwiw.my .02 $.oh, and they were flying...not that i shoot walking crows....

[fox shooter]

Good job Tony! Good thing you mentioned that you shot them with the 16! Don't say the .410 word like I did, these guys will laugh at you, except for Mike of the Mountain, he's cool and a believer in "the indian" rather than "the arrow". I've shot my Sterly 16 these past few weeks while hunting quail, but I've shot my Crescent .410 (fake LC) also. A couple of trips I shot better with the .410 than I did with the 16. I load 2 1/2 .410s with a 1/2 ounce and they work excellent. The 16 is the way to go though, that extra 1/2 ounce may get you 2 for 1 if you're lucky! Good luck, and keep shooting them 2 1/2s !
Chris.............AZ