doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Avoiding Two Birds with One Shot

I have tried both different shot size and different loads. I no longer use number 9's because it seems like I have too many pellets in a pattern and have wounded or killed an extra bird with just the unintended fringe or had a second bird fly into the pattern down range. I tried 7 1/2 which gave me thinner patterns but I still worry about birds being hit by accident. With today's vast wad selection I load a very light 20 with just under 3/4 ounce 7 1/2s or you could go 5/8 in a 28 but keep the 7 1/2 instead of 9s.

I have given up trying to manage my farms for golden days quail numbers. Those days are gone. One farm has just one covey left that I know of. Use to be seven or more there every year. Makes me feel sad and old just to think about what I had that my kids never will have. To then they have turkeys and deer in number I never had so it is not all bleak for them.

KY my thoughts on the 9s were that they would lose energy faster. That is, a #9 pellet loses velocity faster than a #7. I thought perhaps the 9s would lower the chance of inadvertently hitting and injuring a bird at the far side of the fleeing covey when I was shooting at one in the near side. The little 28 throws a really tight pattern at 23 yards (the maximum target distance at my local pistol range).

The RSTs I was shooting were 1175fps. I suppose I could go to a lower velocity load and a larger shot?

Mike, looks like you folks do have some water on the lease. Your pictures always strike me as being generally dry country with not a whole lot of cover. Maybe if it's not too labor intensive you could set up a few water tanks and keep a rifle around, maybe even trap, off season for the predators that you can take legally.

Mike,

You have a lot of friendly acquaintances on the board. Why not take a road trip the next two seasons and enjoy some pheasant or grouse shooting?

Craig it is pretty dry. But it is on the banks of the pictured Salt Fork of the Red River.

I keep trying to get Joe Wood to get some coon dogs. He could keep them in his gun shop. He keeps saying no. Says he is scared of snakes and isn't going stumble through the draws in the dark with all the rattlesnakes and feral hogs.

There is a guy hunting coons on the lease now. He says skinned the hide goes for $17, unskinned $10. So there is perhaps going to be some predator control.

I have been told if you leave corn out on the ground for a few days and then pull up at night there are lots of coons around.

Another good use for a .410.

I'd recommend you and Joe take up shooting .410s with full chokes. If you need some shooting instruction for the .410 , I'm available for a phenomenal fee.

nca, do you really believe anyone here is willing to share their meager game-bird resources with an admitted gamehog/trickshot like Amarillo Mike?...Geo

NCA my "drug of choice" is bobwhite. When I can't hunt them pheasant, grouse, and huns are almost as much fun for me. Where do you live? Do you have any hunting? Do you have a spare bedroom? I have five bird dogs and almost all of them are mostly housebroken. Can they live in the house while I stay with you for a few weeks and we hunt? Tell your wife I am not a picky eater at all. Oh, and tell her I am not picky about my how my laundry is done either. When does season open there? I might come a little early and get the dogs acclimatized. I will send you a list of my preferred brand and gauge of shells as I may fly and it is hassle bringing ammunition on the plane.

Thanks so much for the invite!

Geo,

Perhaps if he came accompanied by a fine bottle of bourbon, he would be more well received.

Mike,

Notwithstanding Geo's warning about you, my wife and I would be happy to have you. But you have to be able to put up with our politics. Just a warning, you may find her more opinionated then me!