Indeed. Good post, sxs. It reminds me of the time I wanted to shoot brass shells in the worst way. I must admit the actual results no matter what I tried were less than reliable/consistent/excellent.... Thus I keep them on my bed table because they look so cool and I even bring them out and show them to young gun enthusiasts, but do not hunt with them. Everysone says wow when they see a 12 gauge brass shell especially with a .715 round ball sticking out the top
I do admit over the time and in most---albeit not all cases certainly---I have become more of a big/heavy/slower slug guy when it comes to hunting four legged animals and smaller pellet/bigger dram charge guy on birdies. The last deer I shot a friend and BIG hunter insisted I try a winchester gold, very fast slug, something like 2000 fps plus, some kind of high tech composite expansion design. Hit the heart but because of the angle the exit was the front leg. Mercy, lost a lot of good meat due to slug damage.
On birdies it seems in MANY---not all---I get more dead ones down with highly charged smaller pellets and although I may be called a heretic: a more open choke. Oh my, resembles Hammonds findings. Okay, I guess I'll drink alone.... hahaha
