I'm coming out in early October for a combo duck/pheasant/sharptail hunt and I'm wondering what to bring to shoot sharptails with. Ideally I'd like to shoot them with my Browning BSS 20 ga but it's choked IC/Mod. What's the normal flushing distance for these birds? If they get up much beyond 30yds the IC will severely handicap me. I'll have a lab with me and my buddy is telling me to practice on HEEL and only use her for the retrieves as the birds are too spooky for the flushing dogs. I can also go 20ga 2.75" auto with screw ins, 16ga IC auto, or 12ga O/U with screw ins.
What about loads? Both lead and Bismuth. 6's? 7.5's? Heavy loads??? I'm clueless on these birds.
For the pheasants I was figuring the O/U with M/IM chokes to start and backing down to IC/M if they are flushing close. Again, being used to the stocked CT birds 1-1/4oz of 6's is fine in 12 and I usually use 20ga 6's.
Thanks, Jim
What about loads? Both lead and Bismuth. 6's? 7.5's? Heavy loads??? I'm clueless on these birds.
For the pheasants I was figuring the O/U with M/IM chokes to start and backing down to IC/M if they are flushing close. Again, being used to the stocked CT birds 1-1/4oz of 6's is fine in 12 and I usually use 20ga 6's.
Thanks, Jim