Number 10 birdshot

[Phil C]

The bird you are hunting and the situation dictates what a person uses. I dont like losing birds and I like eating them. I have been blessed to have lived my whole life were we have 4 1/2 months of quail hunting per year and I love to hunt.
I use what works for me. Im guessing each of us are using what works best in our own situations.
I dont shoot 9’s for every situation, but anyone the doubts the effectiveness needs to spend a day behind some good pointers out here in the grassy and oak covered hills.
My findings are like Tom mentions above. Very few pellets in the breast. Then again I shoot 90% of my pointed birds from behind and varing angles of the birds going away. Lots of close fleeting shots. I can't tell you the last time I lost a bird due to it being shot up.
The main factor in choosing 9’s over 6 or 7 1/2” is less meat damage while effective killing at closer ranges.