Ok fellas I am stoked that pheasant season is about to start. but I don't know squit when it comes to chokes for shot guns and ammo loads to use.

I don't want any high priced stuff just a deccent choke and decent ammo. I have the standard remington 870.Give me your opinion thanks guys

If you are hunting over good dogs in tight cover, an improve cylinder is best and I like low brass #7.

If you are hunting thin cover where birds might flush far; a modified with #6 is good.

If you are hunting driven birds or a tower shoot, then I use a full choke with #4.

If you are hunting without dogs ( or marginal dogs) a modified with #6 is a good compromise.

I shoot 3-400 pheasants a year, and use one of three Remington 870 pump guns.  A ultra light 20 gauge 21" bbl for over dogs close, an 870 express with a 22 inch barrel w/poly-choke; and a Delux Wingmaster  with 30 inch full choke for tower shoots.

I love the 870s and shoot it for all birds; even though I have expensive doubles and all the guys in my group shoot o/u or autos.  They laugh, but I get more birds and usually make the best shot of the day afield.

I never shoot magnum loads even though most of my 870s are 3"chambers, just not needed.  I seem to see the young guys in my hunting group are more into magnum copper plated shellls...insecurity?  light field loads (1 1/8 oz) are fine, and I've killed tons of pheasants with trap loads in 7 1/2.

I like #5's but they are hard to find. I use mod/full in my double barrel 28ga. As Bear said if you have a specific way or place you are hunting you can adjust chokes and shot size but #6's and a Mod choke will be your best all around set-up. No need for 1 1/2 oz. or magnum loads.

DD

As an all-round "it'll do", #6 lead shot & a modified choke.  If you're a good shotgunner, a full choke will bring in further birds.  But unless you're either willing to let 'em get out there a touch, or can reliably head shoot 'em close, all you'll do is blow good sized holes in the bird.

In which case, you'll then say:

Foo

Igbo Foo wrote: As an all-round "it'll do", #6 lead shot & a modified choke.  Foo

Yes!

 I do like #5 in lead a bit better.

 If you Have to shoot NON -TOX, I use #4s or #3s if the wind is bad. There cheaper than your Bismuth shot like black cloud or Heave -shot.

8 row pheasant picker/plucker......

DD

Fella's;

But God help ya if you don't buckle yer seat belt.  If you fall off ole John will be yer problem, not yer solution!

900F

deaddog wrote:

 There ain't any reel on the front of that thing ????

I see I need to put up a classified ad here.  "Large green hunting ATV, John Deere brand.  Used, cheap".  I gots two of 'em for sale.

foo

I can't add much to what the others have said. I use 12 guage 1 1/8 oz #6 hand loads loaded in AA winchester hulls. Early season I use my dads or grandpas old pumpguns. Just for nostalga. And, you never know, They might be watching. At least I I feel like they are there with me. Late season when the birds flush a little farther out I use an over under with modified choke in the top and full choke in the bottom. I leave the selector in top first position.

Wing master