Distance

[flynny]

Stop messing about with differant loads and get some consistency and your shooting will improve

 

Bang on advice,

 

ATB

 

Flynny

[karpman]

So turns out to be just another thread knocking the use 28g 7 1/2s on pigeons.

 

Now if anyone can find some actual factual data, I would be very interested to read it.

 

Karpman

[anser2]

First forget about taking 60 yard shots until you have many years of shooting behind you and have become a good shot. 28 to 32 gr of 6s will do all you need to kill pigeons and crows out to 50 yards. There may be a case for no 5 when roost shooting , but you will be able to do almost as well with no 6.

The idea of heavy loads is not to extend your range , but to ensure clean kills withing a reasonable range. There will be times when the odd bird is fluked down at 60 yards with the lighter loads , but they are flukes and not to be recomended shots. Too many birds will be wounded or fall so far off as to be unretrievable.

 

7.5 will kill close birds , but falls down badly beyond 35- 40 yards and can smash birds at close ranges. Like wise I found I had a box of Alphamax 4s left over from the old pre non toxic days. I have shot about 20 of them at 55 yard pigeons when roost shooting and yet to kill a pigeon with them. I suspect the pattern is far too open despite being fired through a full choke for a small bird like a pigeon at long range.

Finaly if you do get into the right place to kill a lot of pigeons and fire a lot of shots the lighter 28-30 gram loads are a lot more comfortable to fire than heavy 34-36 gr loads. Whats the point in shooting long range shots with heavy loads if after the 100th shot they start to give you headache or a sore shoulder. Shooting is about enjoyment more than killing stuff.

Edited March 8, 2013 by anser2

[motty]

First forget about taking 60 yard shots until you have many years of shooting behind you and have become a good shot. 28 to 32 gr of 6s will do all you need to kill pigeons and crows out to 50 yards. There may be a case for no 5 when roost shooting , but you will be able to do almost as well with no 6.

 

The idea of heavy loads is not to extend your range , but to ensure clean kills withing a reasonable range. There will be times when the odd bird is fluked down at 60 yards with the lighter loads , but they are flukes and not to be recomended shots. Too many birds will be wounded or fall so far off as to be unretrievable.

 

7.5 will kill close birds , but falls down badly beyond 35- 40 yards and can smash birds at close ranges. Like wise I found I had a box of Alphamax 4s left over from the old pre non toxic days. I have shot about 20 of them at 55 yard pigeons when roost shooting and yet to kill a pigeon with them. I suspect the pattern is far too open despite being fired through a full choke for a small bird like a pigeon at long range.

 

Finaly if you do get into the right place to kill a lot of pigeons and fire a lot of shots the lighter 28-30 gram loads are a lot more comfortable to fire than heavy 34-36 gr loads. Whats the point in shooting long range shots with heavy loads if after the 100th shot they start to give you headache or a sore shoulder. Shooting is about enjoyment more than killing stuff.

Great post.

[Hamster]

Great post.

 

Seconded.

[Wa02ger]

Excellent post anser2. Really helpful and explains a lot in a small section. Great stuff

[sco_tish]

You missed one ....

 

30g 6's ... I hit a pigeon at 62 yards and killed it dead in the air

Aye so ye did

[Darno]

So turns out to be just another thread knocking the use 28g 7 1/2s on pigeons.

 

Now if anyone can find some actual factual data, I would be very interested to read it.

 

Karpman

I use Kent velocity 28g 7.5

An experienced shot told me to use them as he did and can't say enough how impressed I am with them.

I seem to get on really well with them.

Even a fairly rangy bird is not out of my reach with them( obviously if I'm on target:-). )

It's all I use for rough shooting now and I think there is a lot to be said for having consistency in your cartridge choice.