Choosing the right stuff for your shotgun


September 16, 2011|BY BERDETTE ZASTROW, Special to the American News

Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of two stories. Today's story deals with shotgun shell sizes.

How many times in the field have you grumbled about not hitting a bird, or hitting a bird and it didn't fall? You might not have the right size shotgun shells.

After spending time and money for a good experience, hunters want the best performance from their shotguns. That means choosing the correct size shells for the game you are hunting.

“The purpose of multiple sizes depends on the size of target you are shooting at,” Sodak Sport & Bait owner Scott McIntire said. “If you are shooting at small objects that come down easily, use smaller shot which has more pellets in the shell to create a dense pattern to kill a small object.”


For doves, use size No. 7 and one-half or No. 8, similar to target loads. Ducks will fold on Nos. 2, 3 and 4. Use Nos. 5, 6 or 7 for grouse. Nos. 4, 5 and 6 work well on pheasants.

When shooting at a large target, use larger pellets because it takes more energy in each pellet to bring the target down.

If geese are shot at with small pellets, there is not enough energy to kill them. Use large shot, between BBB, BB and No. 1. If geese are close over decoys, you can use No. 2 shot; however, No. 2s don't have enough energy for a kill beyond 20 yards.

Even though wild turkeys are large, you want a head shot, which is a small target. Hit them with a huge payload like No. 4, 5 or 6 because they are hard to bring down.

“The new high-density Federal and Winchester shot weighs more than lead, so No. 7 and one-half weighs the same as No. 5 in regular shells,” McIntire said.

A No. 7 and one-half has five times the energy of a No. 5 and three times more pellets in the shell.

“There are so many pellets that if you hit the bird, it's dead.”

Know your game and size loads before you hunt. Also check on nontoxic shot regulations for where you hunt. See

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