is 28g about the lowest to game shoot

[washerboy]

As above is 28g about the lowest cartridge worth using.

I See Reports of 36g Killing High birds but nothing about smaller load shooting,close range pigeons

Ferreted rabbits etc.

 

Thanks in advance

[robbiep]

Its more about putting the shot in the right place.

21g of 7.5 will kill a pigeon or rabbit. Effective range will be less than No.6 in 28g, but it'll still do the job at anything up to 35 yards (or more) quite comfortably.

 

I regularly shoot rabbits with a .410 (14g of No.6) at 30 yards

[washerboy]

Free Rats and trapped foxs are the only time i have shot a 410 in yrs

[kent]

I have seen the .410 used by a crack shot on driven game though I have one myself and view it only as a 20-25yds tops gun in normal hands

[washerboy]

I have stalked the odd rabbit with One but 10-15 yrds

[washerboy]

I will try a few lighter loads when my sgc arrives and i shoot a sxs in wooded areas.

There are a few spinies that hold a pigeons.

Snap shooting at its best

[Ears]

If people advise pigeon shooting with 7.5 shot please make sure the lead is of a low antimony as alot of trap cartridges are 5% antimony or more, this just causes alot more wounded birds. most game shells have a antimony of 3% makeing the shot soft to distort on impact. proper game shells of 7 shot or bigger are better. Generally 6 or 5 shot game cartridges. As for the above 28grams are fine,as stated above, it is about getting the lead on the target.

[sitsinhedges]

If people advise pigeon shooting with 7.5 shot please make sure the lead is of a low antimony as alot of trap cartridges are 5% antimony or more, this just causes alot more wounded birds. most game shells have a antimony of 3% makeing the shot soft to distort on impact. proper game shells of 7 shot or bigger are better. Generally 6 or 5 shot game cartridges. As for the above 28grams are fine,as stated above, it is about getting the lead on the target.

 

Soft shot doesn't distort enough to make any difference whatsoever whereas hard shot will hold a better killing pattern with less fliers if anything.

 

Just use no6 or no5 shot and forget about it.

 

I use 24 grams of no4 for lamping rabbits with my moderated 20gauge. They are very effective at sensible ranges.

 

It's also worth noting that 24grams of shot is the standard 20gauge load.

Edited January 18, 2013 by sitsinhedges

[Underdog]

I have used a 410 super imposed loads of times on driven and walked up game. 30yds straight up is quite a respectable bird and I would not use a 410 on a notorious high bird shoot.

 

I have seen many a 28g keeping up with lager guns just as well with exception to the really really high birds.

 

A 28g is much closer to a 20g and even 12g than 410 is to a 28g in my humble opinion.

 

U.

[Underdog]

I don't fuss over shot size, small shot gets heads and necks resulting in clean kills and breaks wings allowing a dog a retrieve. Bigger shot is no better really. Holes in patterns can cause just as much wounding.

To much in my humble opinion is made of energy and a pellets ability to make depth into a birds cavity/vital organs, a birds head and neck is just as important a vital zone and alot easier to connect with with smaller shot.

 

After years of shooting I don't get in a flap over pellet size with exception to geese , fox and hares. 7 1/2s to 5s will cover most cases but less than 3/4oz as with my 410 I stick with 7 1/2s and 7s to keep pellet counts up.

 

My favourite 410 load was just 1/2oz of 7s.

 

U.

[motty]

I don't fuss over shot size, small shot gets heads and necks resulting in clean kills and breaks wings allowing a dog a retrieve. Bigger shot is no better really. Holes in patterns can cause just as much wounding.

To much in my humble opinion is made of energy and a pellets ability to make depth into a birds cavity/vital organs, a birds head and neck is just as important a vital zone and alot easier to connect with with smaller shot.

 

After years of shooting I don't get in a flap over pellet size with exception to geese , fox and hares. 7 1/2s to 5s will cover most cases but less than 3/4oz as with my 410 I stick with 7 1/2s and 7s to keep pellet counts up.

 

My favourite 410 load was just 1/2oz of 7s.

 

U.

I totally agree.

[Rimfireboy]

I don't fuss over shot size, small shot gets heads and necks resulting in clean kills and breaks wings allowing a dog a retrieve. Bigger shot is no better really. Holes in patterns can cause just as much wounding.

To much in my humble opinion is made of energy and a pellets ability to make depth into a birds cavity/vital organs, a birds head and neck is just as important a vital zone and alot easier to connect with with smaller shot.

 

After years of shooting I don't get in a flap over pellet size with exception to geese , fox and hares. 7 1/2s to 5s will cover most cases but less than 3/4oz as with my 410 I stick with 7 1/2s and 7s to keep pellet counts up.

 

My favourite 410 load was just 1/2oz of 7s.

 

U.

 

Totally agree with that.

[wildfowler.250]

A .410 is more than capable for game shooting. With the .410 I have shot pheasant, partridge, mallard, woodcock, red grouse and hare.

 

Just need to keep the distance sensible. All of this was with 3" 7's. Placing the pattern in the right place is the key thing. I think a 28g would be more than capable for most shooting instances.