harwoody Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 Just out of curiousity, I have changed from number 6 to 6.5 shot for pigeon, anyone had any problems with this size or more of personal preference? Good shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retromlc Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 if you hit it it will go down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harwoody Posted February 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 if you hit it it will go down Yeah, thats my thinking behind it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunny_blaster Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 7/7.5's kill just aswell as 6/6.5's Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 I also use 6.5s as well as 6s for most of my pigeon. They will do anything you need them to do within 50 yards. 7s are ok for decoying , but I have had problems with 7.5s. Beyond 35-40 yards I have found they ***** more birds than they kill and under 25 yards they fill the bird with so many holes that you will not be wanting to eat them. There is a very good reason why no 6 is the most popular game cartridge. Most people get the best results with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 I also use 6.5s as well as 6s for most of my pigeon. They will do anything you need them to do within 50 yards. 7s are ok for decoying , but I have had problems with 7.5s. Beyond 35-40 yards I have found they ***** more birds than they kill and under 25 yards they fill the bird with so many holes that you will not be wanting to eat them. There is a very good reason why no 6 is the most popular game cartridge. Most people get the best results with them. I have long favoured 7's for pigeon over decoys and found they fetch down even the longer birds as well as if not better than 6 shot due to pattern density if nothing else. Lately I've been trying to re-invent things by giving 5 and 6's another serious try but keep finding they don't give the best overall package. One thing I find is that bigger shot causes massive damage, blood clots, and shattered bones etc that are less of a problem with smaller shot even taking into account the greater numbers with 7's. The other day I shot a few pigeon with 6's and one had a wing almost clean off. I have found 6.5's a good shell incidentally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 Its not just about shot size, its also about load weight, chokes and target distance. Take all factors into account and you will come up with a combination that suits you most of the time, but it will not suit all occasions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 I use 28g 7.5s for all Pigeon Shooting. I just change chokes around i.e I will be roost shooting at Grimsthorpe Estate this afternoon and as the trees are quite tall I will almost certainly be using 3/4 or full choke. Decoying I use 1/4 choke as the birds are closer in. I never chop and change make of cartridge, I feel confident in what I use and get my fair share of birds. On the other hand, the young lad I take with me buys all sorts of loads and chops and changes guns as well as choke combinations, he then wonders why he misses or dont get clean kills and decides its another useless cartridge he's been fobbed off with by the shop. My advice is to find a cartridge/shot size etc, thats withing your budget if money comes into the equasion and stick to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caeser Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 I think that there's much too much thought put into cartridge choice. Personally, I normally use 6's or 6.5's, but thats only through habit, basically whatever I can get hold of on the day that I buy them. I'm not really bothered about the weight, 30 or 32grm or whatever. Its as simple as this, if you're on the bird with you're aim, it will be a hit. If not , obviously you'll miss. Nothing else to blame but yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harwoody Posted February 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2012 Thanks all, went out yesterday using 6.5gm and had a very good day, overall very pleased with the shots, very clean and didnt mess the meat up much either. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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