Shot sizes for African birds?

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Hi all;
Just curious as to what the "common wisdom" is for shot sizes (and payloads) for African birds......do you typically use just one size ("one size fits all"), or do you go up a few sizes as the birds get larger? Also, I'm curious as to what payload (1 oz, 1 1/8 oz, etc) is used for each species as well.
If you could let me know where your shells are manufactured (for the size you are refering to, I would appreciate it, as a #5 American is not necessarily the same as a U.K. #5, etc. If you want to put down the payloads in grams, that's fine...........I'm pretty good with the metric system.

Looking forward to your responses!

 

[JustinC]

Ducks and Geese 1;3
Guinea fowl 4;5;6
Small birds (doves;pigeons etc) 7;8;9

Specifications of the 70x16mm Hunting Load 35 gram (Swartklip 12 bore)

 

[siml]

Rock pigeon and doves, 7/7.5 28 gram
Ducks, francolin, guinea fowl 4/5 32/34 gram, I usually load first barrel with 5 second barrel 4.
Geese 4, one pellet in the head is better than a whole 1 or 3 in the chest.

I have a group of old timers that swear by 7 on geese.

12 bore.

 

[siml]

Typical mixed bag, Free State, South Africa.

 

[Ole Bally]

Rock pigeon and doves, 7/7.5 28 gram
Ducks, francolin, guinea fowl 4/5 32/34 gram, I usually load first barrel with 5 second barrel 4.
Geese 4, one pellet in the head is better than a whole 1 or 3 in the chest.

I have a group of old timers that swear by 7 on geese.

12 bore.

Believe you got it right!

 

[siml]

Fiochi from Italy
Hull from England

Swartklip factory blew up years ago, they don't manufacture shotgun ammo anymore.

 

[JustinC]

Fiochi from Italy
Hull from England

Swartklip factory blew up years ago, they don't manufacture shotgun ammo anymore.

Thanks for the correction Simon.

 

[siml]

Swartklip had just perfected their shot when factory blew up, was a pity, they said not enough market in South Africa to rebuild. Now we paying 8-15$ a box of 25 to import ammo.

 

[PeteG]

Rock pigeon and doves, 7/7.5 28 gram
Ducks, francolin, guinea fowl 4/5 32/34 gram, I usually load first barrel with 5 second barrel 4.
Geese 4, one pellet in the head is better than a whole 1 or 3 in the chest.

I have a group of old timers that swear by 7 on geese.

12 bore.

Always used AAA's for spurwing geese...
will try 3's/4's next time out. can i blame you if it doesn't work?

 

[siml]

PeteG, with pleasure, if you don't come right.....you can always come for lessons...

 

[PeteG]

PeteG, with pleasure, if you don't come right.....you can always come for lessons...

ha ha ha, sounds good

 

[Wheels]

Always used AAA's for spurwing geese...
will try 3's/4's next time out. can i blame you if it doesn't work?

Spurwing goose.....possibly the toughest animal in Africa.

220 Swift worked pretty good. May not be considered sporting but did reach to the other side of the rice fields.

 

[Wheels]

Typical mixed bag, Free State, South Africa.

View attachment 40543

Sweet.

Typical mixed bags, Southern Highlands, Tanzania.

Game wasn't posed as nicely in the old days.

 

[spike.t]

PeteG, with pleasure, if you don't come right.....you can always come for lessons...

pete def needs some from what i have seen..........................

 

[spike.t]

Spurwing goose.....possibly the toughest animal in Africa.

220 Swift worked pretty good. May not be considered sporting but did reach to the other side of the rice fields.

yup wheels a 9.3x62 solid works as well

 

[PeteG]

pete def needs some from what i have seen..........................

does that mean i get to go to takeri for more practice...

yup wheels a 9.3x62 solid works as well

you dont actually hit them, do you... just scare them to death with lots of noise!!!

 

[PeteG]

Spurwing goose.....possibly the toughest animal in Africa.

220 Swift worked pretty good. May not be considered sporting but did reach to the other side of the rice fields.

good choice, most of the spurs on the last trip out were taken with 22h and 243 as there was not enough water so they weren't flying much.

 

[spike.t]

does that mean i get to go to takeri for more practice...


you dont actually hit them, do you... just scare them to death with lots of noise!!!

no1. i am sure we can work some deal out......
no2. yup gotta love that big boom noise

 

[Velo Dog]

Presuming you are shooting a 12 bore:

One ounce of #8 for sand grouse and dove - cylinder (sand grouse actually look more like a dove than they do a "grouse" anyway).

One and one eighths ounce of #6 for rock pigeon - cylinder (essentially a hugeass dove).

One and one quarter ounce of #4 for guinea fowl - cylinder or modified.

(And I have no experience in hunting African water fowl, only N. American water fowl).

 

[TvanHeerden]

In my experience I have found the following shot to work best, and it has taken me years to figure it out. (Remember US No.6 = UK No.5 and South Africa uses the UK-Sized shot)
Assuming 12ga:
No.7 in 21g - Quail (Coturnix) (smaller gauges are better)
No.7 1/2 in 28g - doves and pigeons
No.5 in 32g - partridge/francolin
No.3 in 34g+ for all waterfowl and yes Guineafowl too!
And if you need AAA's for spurwing, you are shooting at them too high!