Favorite dove load?

• Aug 9, 2017

• #1

D

dawgvet

Senior Member

So I'm still fairly new to dove hunting and was wondering what everyone's favorite 12 and 20 ga dove loads were? What shot size do you prefer for larger open fields?
Any input appreciated.
Thanks

 

• Aug 9, 2017

• #2

Mexican Squealer

Senior Member

Number 9's early season heavy 7 1/2's after that..don't much care about manufacturer.

 

• Aug 9, 2017

• #3

groundhawg

Senior Member

Or just find some #8 shot about 1 & 1/4 oz should be good anytime.

 

• Aug 9, 2017

• #4

SC Hunter

Senior Member

8 or 9's like already said above. I shot some mid brass number 9's a few years ago and really liked them.

 

• Aug 10, 2017

• #5

smoothie

Senior Member

An ounce of number 8's

 

• Aug 10, 2017

• #6

HookinLips

Senior Member

groundhawg said:

Or just find some #8 shot about 1 & 1/4 oz should be good anytime.

Click to expand...

I second this. Although 1 1/4 isn't as easy to find as it used to be.

 

• Aug 10, 2017

• #7

snuffy

Senior Member

I usually shoot Winchester or Federal #8 out of my 20 ga. Stevens 311.
I have been hearing good things about the Rio shells so am trying the 1oz. load of 7 1/2 shot this year.

 

• Aug 10, 2017

• #8

Quackmasterofgeorgia

Senior Member

I like 7.5 or 8 shot. I like any brand but rio(had the most misfires with their rounds)

 

• Aug 10, 2017

• #9

casey0802

Member

Rio # 9 high brass.....or any high brass #8

 

• Aug 10, 2017

• #10

Totaloutdoorsman

Senior Member

The value boxes at Walmart work fine. 100 rounds for about $20 is hard to beat.

 

• Aug 10, 2017

• #11

deast1988

Senior Member

Rio or Fiochi 1.25oz #8 crushes them

 

• Aug 10, 2017

• #12

chase870

Possum Sox

Mexican Squealer said:

Number 9's early season heavy 7 1/2's after that..don't much care about manufacturer.

Click to expand...

This is the ticket

 

• Aug 14, 2017

• #13

H

homey

Senior Member

20 ga 7/8 0z 7.5s will do just fine

 

• Sep 8, 2017

• #14

snuffy

Senior Member

snuffy said:

I usually shoot Winchester or Federal #8 out of my 20 ga. Stevens 311.
I have been hearing good things about the Rio shells so am trying the 1oz. load of 7 1/2 shot this year.

Click to expand...

Was pleased with the Rio shells. They seemed to shoot as clean as anything else.

Managed to hit about as many birds with them as anything else, but my shooting hasn't improved with age.

I will use them again.

 

• Sep 9, 2017

• #15

NCHillbilly

Administrator

Staff member

1 1/8 oz. of 7 1/2s. Usually Winchester or Federal.

 

• Sep 9, 2017

• #16

cowhornedspike

Senior Member

Rio 1 oz #8 28ga. Kills em dead.

 

• Sep 10, 2017

• #17

BriarPatch99

Senior Member

My normal load is one ounce of #9 20 gauge out of a Trulock skeet II choke ...

Later in the season ...I change to #8 in the same load ...

 

• Sep 10, 2017

• #18

rhbama3

Administrator

Staff member

cowhornedspike said:

Rio 1 oz #8 28ga. Kills em dead.

Click to expand...

I had no idea there was a 1 oz. 28gauge load out there.
Got to get me some of those!!!

 

• Sep 10, 2017

• #19

blood on the ground

Cross threading is better than two lock washers.

Any of y'all remember Dan Arms dove shot? Those things would pack a punch and felt like shooting turkey load every time you pulled the trigger. You were boss when the birds were flying high though.

 

• Sep 16, 2017

• #20

L

leroy

Senior Member

Shot limit with 1.5 boxes of 20 ga winchester AA 7/8 ounce of #9s might he my new favorite