Chokes, Shot, Gauge?

[wheels]

Went out this weekend and did a little patterning with my guns. I typically use a Briley extended choke for geese. I was trying to decide if I should take this choke out for pheasants and use the stock modified choke. The Briley does give a nice tight pattern, and lets me get out farther for distance.

With the modified I get a similar pattern with the 12 gauage as I do my 20. If the pattern is similar at a comfortable shooting range, it would be easier (lighter) to just haul the 20 gauge around.

So, all this got me wondering what everybody else does:

What choke do you use for geese, and for pheasants
What shot do you use for geese, and for pheasants
What guage gun do you use for pheasants


"Friends don't let friends fish for trout!"

[Birddog]

I use my Browning Fusion 12 ga. for both. Factory full choke for both. 2 3/4" in 4's or 5's for pheasant, and 3" in BB for geese. As far as the pheasant go, I wouldn't use anything different. When it comes to geese, I don't spend many days hunting them, i'm sure there are better combos available.

BIRDDOG

FOR BETTER OR WORSE FISHING AND HUNTING COME FIRST

[J J Mac]

It depends on what the birds are doing:

Pheasants: If they are flushing close and your shots will be within say 20-40 yards, an IC choke is ideal. I use an O/U and use M/IC in the early part of the SD season and then switch to F/IC or F/M later using the tighter choked barrel for a second shot. For the last few years, I have used a 28 ga the first five days of the season and then switched to a 12 ga later. A 20 ga with 1 oz of shot in the early season and 1 1/4 oz later is fine too. Shot - early season #6, later #5 or even #4. A good compromise for the whole season with a single bbl gun is M choke and 5 shot unless the birds are really flushing wild when a F would be OK for 35+ yards.

Geese: Experience of late in ND with steel shot: Use IC (shoots M with steel) when geese are decoying. If pass shooting use M (shoots ~ F with steel). Use BB for decoying geese and big ducks and can go to BBB or even T for pass shooting geese. Some people are using Pattenmaster chokes (www.patternmaster.com). I will be getting some to pattern test soon. This is a completely different design in chokes.

Good idea to pattern your chokes.

[SoDakMac]

I have settled on a rather simple pattern for upland game. I use a 12 ga. with modified choke and five shot from the get go and then switch to four shot late in the season. It seems that our pheasants are wild even early in the season and I usually do not have to worry about ruining one with a full pattern at close range. At least it works for me on wild SD pheasants.