Pattern Size For Doves?, How wide Options

[varhunter]

I don't know anything really about patterns and the like. I went and shot clay pigeons today for the first time and did pretty good. I missed about 6 out of 25. I don't know if I had a good choke in (It was a modified). I never really got one to explode and I knicked a lot of my hits. I don't want to be wounding birds all season so would the full be better or maybe the improved cylinder. I don't know if my pattern was off or maybe I was just off in aiming. It was just me and my dad and my dad has never shot at clay pigeons before either so we don't know what was really going on. Any help will be apreciated.

[Goose Bonker]

19 hits for your first time? Even if you nicked all of them, that is some mighty fine shooting. I've been shotgunning for years, I miss probably 1 out of every 3 clays.

You want your clays to explode, but you do not want your birds to, they don't taste that good if you are chomping on lead. 1 bb in a bird is usually going to drop it, so I would say you want about a 30-40" pattern using #8 or #9 shot at whatever distance you hunt. Go out and shoot a standard piece of paper, 50-100 bb's is what I would look for in a piece of paper at the distance you plan to shoot dove.

I just use a modified choke in a 20 gauge, and shoot at about 30-35 yards and under. My brother uses a 20 with a full choke or 12 with a modifed choke and thats good to 40 yards no problem. Honestly, if you hit a dove with any bb's it is going down, dead or not it is going to hit the ground.

[varhunter]

Ya it was either beginner's luck or I have a gift. Thanks for the info. I'll be going shooting again hopefully next monday and i'll just take a box and some pieces of paper and set that up at various ranges.

[TXAgduckhunter]

I hunt with a 20 gauge and I usually shoot 7 1/2's out of it. I haven't ever really had any problems with the range or anything like that.

[varhunter]

Ok thanks. I was shooting 1 oz. of number 8 shot. I didn't get much for explosions so i think i'll just go with that for dove hunting. I only really got them to burst into 4 major pieces. I'm hopefully going to go and pattern it with the different chokes and at different ranges. I wish I had a job and was 18 so I could pay for all this ammo.

This post has been edited by Big D: May 22 2007, 10:00 PM

[George Fasciano]

To become good at anything you have to do it a whole lot. Texas hunting season for Dove is one of the only places where you can hunt almost everyweekend and limit out. I to asked the question what choke and what size shot. My results have told me this:

9 shot hits them no knock down power injures fly aways.

8 shot Best just adjust your choke for the terrain and distance

7 1/2 ok Late season, if the wind is blowing or if the birds are really moving

CHOKES
I always carry all my chokes with me when I hunt and cahnge them often depending on the birds.

improved: Best choke if I had one

light modified: New choke out middle of improv and mod

modified: works well for medium shots

[varhunter]

Ok, thanks for the info.

[Goose Bonker]

My favorite shot is actually #6, its a little big, but its less pellets with more knock down power. If you hit one with a bb, its going down. Keep it 35 and under and you'll be fine with a Modified or full. Have fun, hope you aren't all that confused though, it can get rather complicated.

[varhunter]

I'm pretty confused but i'm just going to go with what I shot at the range and see how that works. I know if I can hit em the job will get done.