Like most have said. A good 2 3/4" #7 1/2 or #8's work great. If your in an area where they are just not totally committing...#6's are the cats meow. #3 3" or 2 3/4" is gunna bag you some crows everyday. I'll use a mod or IMC when I'm sure shots will be close to med range.
Jerry, as you have discovered from close to far the reload of hard #6 outperforms other loads, but you have to reload to get that performance because nobody is marketing a premium component heavy trap load with that shot size.
Jerry, as you have discovered from close to far the reload of hard #6 outperforms other loads, but you have to reload to get that performance because nobody is marketing a premium component heavy trap load with that shot size.
Hi,
Hull sterling No5 (=2.9mm) pack a mean punch! Not available in true 6 though me thinks. If I was reloading I'd probably go for 3" 12s No 5 or 6, just for the fun of it :)
Remington 2-3/4" long range 6 shot and some Winchester 2-3/4" 7.5 shot pheasant loads is what I'm using. Is it the best? Probably not but like nhcrowshooter pointed out, for me it’s working
This fall I'll probably use up a lot of my 8 shot low brass depending on how the crows are flying.
the cheapest of the cheap in 2 3/4" 7.5 shot. Usually Federal trap shells are the cheapest.
These also work for dove, squirrel, and rabbit, so they are my go-to round for everything.
Nothing wrong with that per se if cost is the primary consideration and for many it is. It's what the majority of people do, they settle on what shell is the most economical rather than spend a little more time and money, learning to reload, and shoot something that will work even better at all ranges, close and far.
I have use 7 1/2 & 8's in my 12ga use 8 in my 20ga. Pattern is frist step which works best in shot gun ;) in chokes use LM & IPM in 12ga. In 20 ga use mod or full depends where I set up. I find short trees when run & gun use mod. If in open filed use full :)
Nothing wrong with that per se if cost is the primary consideration and for many it is. It's what the majority of people do, they settle on what shell is the most economical rather than spend a little more time and money, learning to reload, and shoot something that will work even better at all ranges, close and far.
I want to learn how to reload pretty badly, but the money issue is holding me back until I get out of grad school and get a job that pays a little more. Then I just have to convince the wife that its necessary!
Do your homework. Buy a choke and find a shell that works for you and your rig...The shell I found that works best for me is the Remington Heavy Dove Load. 12ga/ #6 / 1 1/4 oz / 1200 fps...I shot the Remington Express #6 for years and wasted a lot of $$$$ . The Express is great but not necessary..I can buy a case of the #6's for $84 out the door..Good luck with your search. The 7.5's that everybody talks about........they are great price....
Well I got a great tip from a fellow crow hunter here in NH about Rio ammo. It's basically the same round I'm shooting now with two exceptions. The Rio I bought are 3-1/4 dram instead of 3-3/4 and it's $7 per box cheaper I do see that Rio makes a 3-3/4 dram (HV), which is exactly the same shell as the Remington Express load so I need to see what it cost to really compare the price.
I'll now how the new load works tomorrow when my son and I hit VT
I do see that Rio makes a 3-3/4 dram (HV), which is exactly the same shell as the Remington Express load so I need to see what it cost to really compare the price.