What's your experience with ...

[BRDHNTR]

Karl, when i last hunted pheasants in south dakota this time of year, if the birds saw you getting out of the car or if you happened to slam the car door shut, the pheasants would flush wild. That is how skittish they can be this time of the year. As much as i enjoy hunting with my 20, i would take a 12 ga 28 or 30 inch barreled gun out there.

[Randy Roberts]

Karl I know how much you like your 20 gauge guns and how you are chomping at the bit to use your new toy. However I think you are going to be disappointed with the results with that choke combination for pheasants this time of the year. Have a great hunt and take some pics for us.

[charlie cleveland]

i agree with the other fellows use your 16 if it has a full and modified barrel with some 1 1/4 heavy loads or a 12 ga with full chokes....try the twenty one day also.....charlie

[mobirdhunter]

Wear your track shoes and make sure you and your dog break at the shot because you need to get to the bird quickly as pheasants are often ready to run if you don't hit them hard. I agree with Ken, and if you are disciplined, you can use your VH effectively. Not too many folks can withstand the excitement of Mr. Rooster rising, cackle or no cackle, and often shoot first and step off distances later.

[TxHuntermn]

This is what that back trigger is for!

Seriously...if you dont completely fold the bird with the tight barrel, thump him again with the cylinder barrel. Stuff some 4’ or 5’s in the right barrel for a swatter load, that bigger shot flys good out of an open tube. You will know if you dont connect with the tighter barrel.

[edgarspencer]

As both Scott and Brian suggest, cylinder bore, i.e. No Choke, can be effective in the hands of a good shootist. 30" circles at 40 yards, may be a method of determining pattern density, but, try a circle which might best represent the distance a jumpy bird might fly at. The best dog may not be responsible if a jittery bird flushes early, but if you're withing 20-25 yards, your pattern test in a 20" circle (about the area a bird occupies, in flight), and your skill to put the shot IN THAT CIRCLE will almost always drop the bird. If you don't consistently shatter clays at that distance, with that gun, pick a tighter choked gun.

[Heff]

I would not be afraid of shooting using #5’s

[B. Dudley]

The last time I hunted with a Cyl/ Full gun, I had no problems.

I think it is a very good combination.

[Dean Romig]

I have a 16 ga. Parker with both barrels at Cyl and it breaks clays effectively out to 40+ yards but I would never attempt to bring a pheasant down with it even at 25-30 yards.





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[edgarspencer]

I know the 16 of which you speak, and I killed 4 grouse with it the first day I took it out.
That said, a few #8 pellets will break clays quite impressively at about the distance you mention, even as your pattern is pretty dang open at that range, but, I still maintain, #5 shot, at 20-25 yards will most certainly kill pheasant, if you put your shot centered on the bird.
If you don't put your shot on the bird, perhaps you are correct in choosing a different gun.