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<  16ga. General Discussion  ~  2.5" shells for Grouse, Woodcock & Quail
Pine Creek/Dave
PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2018 8:38 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2786
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa

Gentlemen,

With the advent of the 2.5" thread for Turkey hunting I wanted to let the 16 Gauge guys know how incredibly well the 2.5" Poly and RST SpredR shells work on Grouse & Woodcock, along with wild Quail also.

Using my L.C. Smith pre 13 guns and my pre war J.P Sauer 16's with these 2.5" shells these guns have preformed incredibly well. I did not even open my Sauer 16 Cokes up and the old gun preformed incredibly well with the 2.5" SpredR shells in her, one deadly Grouse, Woodcock and Quail gun using these shells.

I do have to warn ya however after 35 yards the 2.5" SpredR shells do not have the killing power of the 2 3/4 Fiocchi's. I found this out one day in Potter County on a big Grouse that I shot at going up over the trees, at about 38 yards. I hit the big Grouse hard and it kept flying, eventually went down some 100 yards away and my Gordon Setter retrieved the bird to hand. Without a good dog this bird would have been lost for sure.

I am finding there is a definite limit to my 2.5 #8 and #7 1/2 shells. I am now starting to back them up with #6's to see if it makes any real difference.

All in all however I love these 2.5" SpredR shells for hunting Grouse, Woodcock and Quail.

Pine Creek/Dave

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WyoChukar
PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:26 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 16 Jul 2015
Posts: 2124
Location: Hudson,Wy

Well that makes perfect sense. Spread R's are not intended for shooting that far anyway. I build my own but only use them in the right barrel if I expect some longer shots too.

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Gil S
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 7:36 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 1943
Location: Lowcountry Ga.

I have used Polywad Spredr's for almost 10 years in my doubles with a tight barrel. They work fine for woodcock and quail over dogs. I've ordered the spreader posts from Polywad and will load my own when I run out of the factory rounds. Gil
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Pine Creek/Dave
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 8:11 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2786
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa

Gil S,

Got to admit out of my old L.C. Smith & JP Sauer double guns the Poly SpredR's are fantastic, try using the # 8's or 7 1/2's s out of your 1st Barrels and 6's out of your 2nd. Deadly Grouse, Woodcock and Quail set up for sure.

Lion Country will ship right to your door, free shipping if you use their online purchasing set up. The SpredR's are not cheap however.

Very serious Bird Killers out of my old LeFever 12 Gauge, on it's 16 Gauge Frame, especially early in the season, when the foliage is so thick here in Pa.

Pine Creek/Dave

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1885 16 Gauge J.P. Sauer. 2 1/2" Chambers
1901 L.C. Smith 16 Gauge. 2 1/2" Chambers
1889 #2 L.C. Smith 20 Gauge Briley Sleeved for 28 Gauge. Now Chambered 2 3/4"
1919-1926 Lefever/Ithaca 12 Gauge, on it's 16 Gauge Frame. Chambered 2 3/4"


[URL=http://www.jpgbox.com/page/53827_800x600/] [/URL]

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Savage16
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 8:41 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 30 Nov 2011
Posts: 1693
Location: Minnesota

Both brands work well but I give the nod to Poly's for hunting since they are 1oz vs 7/8 oz at RST. Do like the RST lite non spreader in my Elsie for phez as those are 1oz. If you plan on reloading the empties, know that the polys are roll crimped.

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Gil S
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 4:04 pm  Reply with quote
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Location: Lowcountry Ga.

I shoot the Polywad low pressure Vintager and SpredR loads in my 16's, 2.5". They are 7/8 oz. in both. Gil
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Pine Creek/Dave
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 9:40 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2786
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa

Savage 16,

Actually I have now used them both, the 7/8 shells are good to a little over 30 yards max, out of my J.P Sauer 16. Very deadly shells and they do not make a mess out the Woodcock that I take with them.

I also like the new 2 1/2" Poly 1 Oz shells for Grouse, especially out of my L.C. Smith Double Guns, these shells are good to about 38 yards, these shells hold a good repeat pattern for killing Grouse. As with all the shells I use I recommend you pattern them out of your particular double gun, to actually see what they do on a repeat basis.

In my opinion both these new 2 1/2" shells are great stuff!

Pine Creek/Dave

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3birddogs
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 9:53 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 07 Sep 2011
Posts: 567
Location: wheeling, wv

I load 2 1/2" shells almost exclusively for both sporting clays and grouse hunting. I use RST hulls and Herters cheddites that i have cut down to 2 1/2". Primarily load 7/8 oz, but often use 3/4 oz loads at clays esp. with my little hammer 16 that weighs 5 lbs 13 oz.

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Rick O
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 5:50 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 202
Location: Southern California

I shoot both PolyWad and RST 2-1/2" 3/4 and 7/8 oz 7-1/2's just as I would any other ammo at Dove and Quail and Clays, and don't even give it a second thought.

3/4oz for me,anyway, is FAR more effective via 16ga than either .410 or '28. I assume it must have a short dense string coming coming out the larger bore, more pellets on target.

I once got a Scotch Triple on Whitewing Dove with 3/4 oz RST and a MOD choked Model 12 sixteen.

Problem now though, is getting it shipped to CA and next year lead will be illegal, period, for hunting here.
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Pine Creek/Dave
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 6:21 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Mar 2017
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Location: Endless Mountains of Pa

Rick O,

Good shooting with good shells!

Pine Creek/Dave

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67galaxie
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 8:20 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 16 Mar 2017
Posts: 226
Location: Valdosta GA

I have all the faith in the world in them. Slammed a 20lb tom at 45 yards with 2 1/2" 5's. Stone dead! I'm getting into reloading so I can shoot small low pressure in all of my shells. Until I'm confident enough RST and polywad it is
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Pine Creek/Dave
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 9:57 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2786
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa

67 Gal,

Congrats on your nice Turkey, especially at 45 Yards with the #5 2 1/2" Shells, some real fine shooting!

Pine Creek/Dave

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Rick O
PostPosted: Wed May 02, 2018 3:46 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 16 Dec 2004
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Location: Southern California

Oh yeah, Dave...Thanks..It was Pure Skill. I had That One all planned out... Razz
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fourtrax
PostPosted: Wed May 02, 2018 4:27 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 04 Jun 2009
Posts: 827
Location: N. Shore, mn

Pine Creek Dave,
Mighty nice "spread" of classic shotguns there. Congrats. & good hunting.

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Pine Creek/Dave
PostPosted: Wed May 02, 2018 11:12 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2786
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa

Fourtrax,

Thanks much for the kind words!


Rick O,

God plans them out we are just along for the ride!

Pine Creek/Dave

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