Here's my primary 16 ga. wild pheasant load, my favorite over many years:

Old WW compression formed hull
WW209 primer
WAA16 wad
18.8 gr./WSF
1 1/8 oz magnum #6

This is at the upper end in pressure, but I've used it in many guns and it is superb. Patterns are excellent.

Because of this load, the 12 stays at home...