Number 10 birdshot

[Phil C]

I have stated a number of times the effectivness of # 9 shot on pointed Mearns quail. My hunting partner likes the 10’s. I used #10’s spreaders this last season in my Remington 12 gauge DEO that is choked F/F. Shooting RST’s. Killed with authority. Under 25 yards I have nothing but positive things to say.

That said not so effective on the late season skittish Gamble and Scale quail. Shot some 6 and 7 1/2 shot, killed much better. These birds were getting up at 30 yards plus a lot of times.

[terc]

Tom, I'll have to look a closer this October.

[Brush Buster]

I always skin Pheasants and Pluck Grouse ,I also skin Woodcock for what this information is worth ! I have used #10 Shot in a 28 Gauge for years , it is for whatever reason a wonderful Woodcock load and seems to do well on Grouse also ! Like Dave T ,I really never thought shot penetration was a huge deal in Grouse or Woodcock as it surely is in Pheasant Hunting where I have even gone as large as #5 in late season birds that have had a lot of hunting pressure , Well Dave maybe it is just a Pennsylvania way of reasoning !

[Tom Flanigan]

I don’t think penetration is a big deal in grouse hunting either although #9 shot will often penetrate the bird to wind up under the skin on the far side.

As far as skinning grouse, in my youth after tiring of picking a bunch of birds, I asked my grandfather if I could skin some of them to save time. He told me that anyone who skins a partridge doesn’t deserve to eat one. Harsh words but I got his point. I have never skinned a game bird.

Woodcock have a bit of fat under the skin on both sides of the backbone. Skinning would remove this fat which is beneficial in roasting. To each his own, but I’ll go with my grandfather’s ways.

Just a note, the New York city market of the 1800’s would never accept a skinned bird or one with a lot of shot in it. The market buyers were very particular back in the day.

[Reggie B]

Game birds are plucked. Rabbits and squirrels are skinned. Also you don't cut the heads or fins off a trout!

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Reggie Bishop

Game birds are plucked. Rabbits and squirrels are skinned. Also you don't cut the heads or fins off a trout!

To each his own ! I “pluck” the breast from dove Grouse quail and pheasent . Heck the last several turkey I slam dunked got the breasts removed from them . I also remove the head and tail from trout . In my older age I do not have the time nor the inclination to pluck feathers from birds .

[Tom Flanigan]

AMEN!!!!!

[Rick Riddell]

Interesting piece, I've always liked using 10's. Never had any issues with lost or running birds. There seems to be a lot of criticism regarding that shot size, but I think its knowing your gun and your limitations.

[todd allen]

So, I've got my buddy from Vegas over last Friday, for dinner. He's my hunting and shooting partner, for well over 30 years. Dinner's over, were sitting on the back porch enjoying an adult beverage, and I bring up the topic from Tom's welcome back post regarding hunting grouse with #10 shot. Chuck is as close to a ballistics expert as anyone this side of SAMMI, having done a lifetime of research on what drops a pigeon in the ring.
His first reaction is, whaaat? That's crazy! Next thing you know, we've got shot diameter, weight in grains, velocity, energy calcs, and journee's formula going.
Then, Chuck came up with a theory. I said, yeah, let's find out. We've got the guns, got the time and equipment, we need some number 10 shot. We will get to the bottom of this.

[6pt-Sika]

To the best of my knowledge I’ve never fired any #10 or #12 shot I do however remmember reading about #12 a bit more in old dog training books and in a couple of Havilah Babcock books . The training books suggested dusting hard headed pointers/Setters at about forty yards (never was inclined to try) . Babcock suggested the would be quail hunter that had a hard time hitting should use these to get ones confidence back up on a covey rise (never was inclined to try that either).