What shot for partridge?

shawn1172

What would you recommend for shot size & weight for partridge hunting with a 20g? 26" barrel, if it makes any difference. Thanks.

BigDanS

7 1/2's 8's or 9's - They are small and almost any shot will bring them down.

D

Teach

Small shot over a light field load powder charge- - - -otherwise you'll damage the pear tree too badly!
Jerry

Jayhawker

I trust you are talking about Ruffed Grouse since folks up in MI call them "Pats"...as stated 7 1/2s, 8's and in the really thick stuff I really like 9s with the most open chokes I can screw into my shotgun...

CHIRO1989

You want a light load with lots of shot and you want it the pattern to open up alot. I usually just use cheap target loads.

shawn1172

Does "high brass" make any difference?

Previous years, hunting with my 12g, I've used Winchester Super X 2 3/4" #7 1/2 1 1/8 oz. I bought that on the recommendation of the guy at Cabela's after telling him I wanted a general purpose/ skeet/ partridge load. It worked fine for both. I guess I'm actually looking for the same sort of general purpose load again, just in 20g, but I am more interested in it applying to birds than clays.

I could also use choke suggestions if you have them. Thanks again guys.

CHIRO1989

I prefer high brass, but the end result is the same. Improved is best but modified is fine for other than close shots, aim high if you use modified and they are on the ground.

Jayhawker

My grouse gun is choked I/C and Mod....the Mod is for those birds that flush down power line cuts...

minnesotashooter

I tend to flock shoot partridge which is usually a poor idea and I end up not hitting anything. Pick one out and shoot that one first then move on, don't do what I do!

shawn1172

Thanks for all the input guys! I don't even have the shotgun yet! Still waiting for delivery to the lgs- a Savage o/u.

Razorbacker

To my knowledge there's really not that much difference between 12 and 20. The 12 just has more pellets. So, to me, if you liked 7 1/2s in a 12, you might wanna move up to 8s or 9s. Just for more pellets. And it's really not a question of more energy except that more chances of more pellets impacting the target equals more energy on the target. But in the open chokes we're talking about here, pattern is king. So I'd worry more about how my 20 patterned with the different loads than anything else.