16ga.com ~ View topic - SuperX: 1-1/8 ounce #4's

Anybody use these on wild pheasants? How do they compare to the Fio Gold Phez?

I'm sure if the shooter does their part, they'd work just fine.

Anyhow, it's just a few days until hunting season and I can't focus on anything except hunting.

I can't comment directly on the #4 shot, but I really like the SuperX #6 shot 1 1/8 oz. loads for pheasant. I'd bet the #4s would be good shells too.

I have a couple of boxes of the older compression formed hull Super X 1-1/8 ounce loads in #5. They swat big pheasant with authority from my experience. The #4 loads might need a full choke to get a decent pattern at a reasonable range. However, you can bet the farm that any pheasant caught in that pattern is a dead bird for sure.

#4 shot hits big pheasant even harder than #5 shot (which is no slouch either). Look up the late Don Zutz's old articles on #4 shot performance on pheasant for a far more qualified opinion than mine. He killed his share and witnessed far more being taken. He loved #4 shot for them. That is good enough for me. Don knew his stuff.

Would you guys chose the #5 Fio Gold Phez over the SuperX 4's?

I want to try them because I like to reload Ched's.

I should probably just reload some nickel #5...that's been extremely effective for me.

I just know I'm not spending $25-$30/box for Federal 1-1/4 ounce 4's!

Joined: 06 Aug 2009 Posts: 960

Holy crap batman.

Those are some huge pellets. How big are those roosters that you boys are trying to kill?

Seriously, Kinda think a 1 1/8oz. of #6 or maybe 1 1/4 oz. of #5's might be a better idea in a 16 Gauge.

Well, I'd never claim to be much of pheasant expert. We really only have pen raised birds that are released in WI and knock them down with spit-wads.

But, my friends in Iowa, where they have real, wild pheasants...all use #4 shot. They're the same folks that introduced me to the 16 gauge, so they must know a little something about it.

Joined: 20 Mar 2009 Posts: 428

Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 694 Location: MN

I have to highly recommend the B and P shells...I shoot Hi Pheasant loads in #5 shot at 1 1/16 oz at 1280 ft/sec. I think B and P has a 10% off sale going on with free shipping. Over pointing dogs and out to 40 yds, they work great for me.

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1257 Location: Nebraska

Only your gun knows for sure, but they're a good starting point. I've used Sure-Shot light loads from Remington in #4s and they brought down wild birds to stay on opening days past. That size shot in sufficient charge weight and through the right choke should have no problem.

Like you said,

kgb wrote, "Only your gun knows for sure, but they're a good starting point."

I agree and would take the load to my pattern board and shoot at the distances that I would normally encounter a wild late season pheasant. I hunt behind both a flushing dog and a pointing dog. When behind a pointing dog the shots are normally closer than I encounter with a flushing dog. My personal preference is based on extensive patterning at my shooting distances and I have an ounce of nickel plated #6 shot in my open barrel and an ounce and a half of #5 1/2 nickel plated shot in my tighter barrel.
Jim

CORRECTION!
PLEASE READ 1 1/8 OZ. OF #5 1/2 NICKEL PLATED SHOT NOT ONE AND A HALF.
Yes, you read it correctly, but it was not typed correctly. Rolling Eyes

Thank goodness you explained it to us better J. Some folks think 1-1/4 ounce 16 ga loads are suicidal. They probably were thinking you are crazier than me for a little bit. Laughing

Joined: 20 Mar 2009 Posts: 428

I bet that would hurt'ya Laughing

1-1/2 ounce---Wow Shocked

Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Posts: 477

I know some guys who run a pheasant lodge in SD. They stock #4's and #5's for their clients. They go to the #4's in late season. I figure they must know what they're doing. They see hundreds if not thousands of roosters go down every year.