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< 16ga. Guns ~ Best chokes and shot for doves |
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Posted:
Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:12 pm
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Joined: 31 Oct 2014
Posts: 3
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Best chocks and shot for doves |
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Posted:
Tue Dec 12, 2017 3:35 pm
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Joined: 01 Oct 2007
Posts: 962
Location: Minnesota
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It depends.
Are you shooting 25 yards or less at a waterhole, of 40 yards pass shooting. Or something else.
In a 16 ga, I like 7.5 shot in an IC or light mod choke, for most hunting of doves.
I also hunt them a lot with a 28 gauge and use #8 shot and a light mod/IC gun. |
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Posted:
Tue Dec 12, 2017 4:21 pm
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9464
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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Hello mscott3887
welcome on your first posting
Yes, depends on the time of year and the distance
Lately with Collared doves here in December, I have been using #6 with
great effect
Early in the year (September) I use #9 or 8s and they are the bomb!
Again, welcome
Mike |
_________________
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USAF RET 1971-95 |
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Posted:
Wed Dec 13, 2017 12:23 pm
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Joined: 26 Apr 2010
Posts: 3177
Location: NCWa
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As noted above, I have found that Mourning Doves fall with very little shot, so generally use #8s. The Eurasian Collared, which in Washington are considered an invasive species, with no closed season and no bag limit, are a bigger bird, so I use larger shot 6, 7 or 7.5 if I'm focusing on removing them from the habitat.
Also to say again, welcome to the site. |
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Posted:
Thu Dec 14, 2017 4:26 am
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Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2013
Posts: 2169
Location: Florida
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I never go smaller than 7 1/2s but I always load 1oz , Late season I sometimes switch to 6's . 90% of the time I use I/C as my tightest choke |
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Posted:
Thu Dec 14, 2017 6:57 am
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Joined: 02 Nov 2015
Posts: 147
Location: N. Georgia
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AmericanMeet wrote: |
As noted above, I have found that Mourning Doves fall with very little shot, so generally use #8s.
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I use #8 early and #7 1/2 late. Like you say, they're actually not as hard to kill as most hunters think, the trick is hitting them to begin with. |
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Posted:
Thu Dec 14, 2017 9:08 pm
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Joined: 16 Jul 2015
Posts: 2126
Location: Hudson,Wy
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On Mourning doves I have found that 8 1/2 shot works far better than it ever should. The high pellet count also lends itself very well to skeet or I/C choke designations. On the other end of the spectrum, full choke and 7 1/2 shot will reach far on "walk 'em up" birds. With Eurasion doves, #7 reloads combined with full choke is not out of the question if serious reach is deemed necessary (also my long range choice in 16 ga. for chukar and hun). |
_________________ Only catch snowflakes on your tongue AFTER the birds fly south for the winter... |
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