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Old November 19, 2012, 02:11 PM   #1
John1 S
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What size shot

I have been using 1 3/8 oz. of # 5's that I have reloaded to hunt squirrel & ducks with this year and like that size load a lot. What Oz. load do you use???
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Old November 19, 2012, 09:09 PM   #2
SauerGrapes
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Your load for Ducks sounds fine. Although I use to use 1 1\4oz #4. That was before steel shot.
Squirrels? I use 1oz #5 or #6 shot. 1180fps.
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Old November 20, 2012, 02:51 AM   #3
idek
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Are you hunting ducks with lead or squirrels with steel???
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Old November 20, 2012, 04:11 AM   #4
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Oh Lord, I just had a mental cartoon image of a group of 'migratory squirrels' on little bitty hang gliders.
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Old November 20, 2012, 06:41 AM   #5
John1 S
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I am using the 1 3/8 oz shot on squirrels of #5's. You can nock them down at a long rang. Can't tell anyone that I get ducks with lead. HAHA
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Old November 20, 2012, 07:07 AM   #6
Virginian
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One time two goose hunters were sitting in a blind. Suddenly a guy came flying over hang gliding. "Holy [color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color] !!!" one guy yelled, and jumped up and shot.
"You missed," his buddy said.
"Yeah, but I made it drop that guy." he replied with satisfaction. "Damn steel shot !!"
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Old November 20, 2012, 09:20 AM   #7
OkieCruffler
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For squirrel, rabbit and the like I load a 1 oz dose of #4. I haven't hunted duck since the lead ban.
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Old November 20, 2012, 10:13 AM   #8
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I use 3" steel, either #2 or #4 shot, for ducks. For turkey I use a load of #5's very similar to your load. Field load of 1 1/8 oz. 2 3/4" #7 1/2 for everything else. Most consider it a bit light for squirrel, but I haven't had a problem.
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Old November 20, 2012, 12:16 PM   #9
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I've knocked down majority of my ducks with 4 shot and maybe 2 with 2 shot (accidentally bought box of 2)
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Old November 20, 2012, 12:35 PM   #10
John1 S
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Mr La man you are right about the steel shot , to me BS on the steel shot. but you have to do what they say.
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Old November 21, 2012, 01:37 PM   #11
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Squirrel hunting should have a special place all its own in a hunter's world.

I prefer huntiing squirrel from my canoe the delta swamps. I grab the old slouch hat and 32" full choke single barrel and canvas bag of paper hull shells.

My favorite load finds the Federal paper hulls stoked with an ounce of #5 high antimony shot over 90grains of FFFg. A couple of over powder cards and a shot collar from dime wrappers complete the assembly.

Drifting along watching for squirrels in the moss draped branches. There is nothing like the throaty roar of black powder and the white cloud drifting in the cool damp air.

Now when the temperature rises, I set aside the long 12 bore and reach for the fishing gear and work my way back to the landing.

Life is good.
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Old November 21, 2012, 09:28 PM   #12
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You guys have some tough squirrels. I use a 410 full choke with 7.5 shot.
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Old November 21, 2012, 09:57 PM   #13
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Well #5 shot usually penetrate all the way through a squirrel or end up under the hide opposite entry.
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Old November 21, 2012, 10:04 PM   #14
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I use #5 for pheasant and took a squirrel last year while pheasant hunting. High up in an Oak and he came crashing down hard. Don't know if it worked better or not, he was pretty dead when I picked him up. Funny but I've had less meat damage hunting squirrel with a shotgun then using my .22lr or .17hmr.
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