There's More to Dove Hunting...

[mobirdhunter]

Oh, no! More inspiration... I'll wait until you report on your hunt before I even think about reloading for .410

[Stan Hillis]

I consider 37 steps a long shot for a .410, with any load. Well done!

I have been insulted, chastised and belittled for using a .410 on game birds ......... dove, quail and woodcock. I don't do it to get attention. I do it to prove a point (to myself), which is this. Density and pellet energy is what kills game birds, whatever the species. If I can, by choosing the appropriate choke, create a pattern at a maximum distance that has the same density as a larger gauge using a more open choke, what's the diff? A no. 8 lead pellet out of a .410 has exactly the same energy as a no. 8 pellet out of a 12 gauge, at the same velocity. The number of those pellets on target determines the outcome. Tighter chokes put more pellets on the target (density), IF ....... you can hit the bird with the smaller pattern.

The other side of the deal with .410s is that so many of them are super-lightweight, which changes the dynamics of handling. Shooting one enough builds muscle memory, which is remembered by the subconscious when the gun is shot at game. Some of the best shooting I've ever done with a .410 on game birds was with a Yildiz 28" barreled S X S that was gifted me by a friend. A $489 gun. The little thing has an aluminum alloy action and weighs 4 lbs. 14 oz. Don Amos spun it on his turntable many years ago, at my request, and found that it had basically the same MOI as a 12 ga. English "game gun", because of how the weight in the little Yildiz was distributed, in the butt and in the barrels, with very little in the action.

I am a bit enamored of .410 double guns. I have five. And, I love them all. Lord, help me.

[Double Lab]

Originally Posted by Stan Hillis

I consider 37 steps a long shot for a .410, with any load. Well done!

I have been insulted, chastised and belittled for using a .410 on game birds ......... dove, quail and woodcock. I don't do it to get attention. I do it to prove a point (to myself), which is this. Density and pellet energy is what kills game birds, whatever the species. If I can, by choosing the appropriate choke, create a pattern at a maximum distance that has the same density as a larger gauge using a more open choke, what's the diff? A no. 8 lead pellet out of a .410 has exactly the same energy as a no. 8 pellet out of a 12 gauge, at the same velocity. The number of those pellets on target determines the outcome. Tighter chokes put more pellets on the target (density), IF ....... you can hit the bird with the smaller pattern.

The other side of the deal with .410s is that so many of them are super-lightweight, which changes the dynamics of handling. Shooting one enough builds muscle memory, which is remembered by the subconscious when the gun is shot at game. Some of the best shooting I've ever done with a .410 on game birds was with a Yildiz 28" barreled S X S that was gifted me by a friend. A $489 gun. The little thing has an aluminum alloy action and weighs 4 lbs. 14 oz. Don Amos spun it on his turntable many years ago, at my request, and found that it had basically the same MOI as a 12 ga. English "game gun", because of how the weight in the little Yildiz was distributed, in the butt and in the barrels, with very little in the action.

I am a bit enamored of .410 double guns. I have five. And, I love them all. Lord, help me.

I feel the exact same way Stan, only about the 28ga. To me, the perfect gun for 90% of my clay/game shooting.

[Mills]

That tungsten is deadly

[Mills]

I am going back out Thursday afternoon. This time with a new to me 0 frame VH 16. I have high hopes it is going to be a good one. Our friend claimed he had 700 birds with more coming every day.

[charlie cleveland]

mills it sounds like your going to have lots of fun with that many birds...charlie

[Mills]

I have my fingers crossed that they stay put. Will definitely have a report.

[Dean Weber]

I hope I am not hijacking this thread but here are couple pictures of the hunt. BTW, this field produced about 750 doves taken on a 5 day hunt. It will now be the site of a threshing exhibition/competition in the near future. Best!

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Dean Weber

I hope I am not hijacking this thread but here are couple pictures of the hunt. BTW, this field produced about 750 doves taken on a 5 day hunt. It will now be the site of a threshing exhibition/competition in the near future. Best!

So, Dean, what was in those fields? BTW, I love the skies in those photos. Ya get some time to appreciate nature while waiting for birds.

[Dean Weber]

Responses:
We use the wheat straw bales as our cover. They familiar to the doves. Sit on the shady side. Not many trees in SD
The crop is a cut wheat field.