Lead banned on state release sites now for pheasants

[mossy835]

So the ban this year includes all state owned pheasant hunting sites, sure am glad that Environ metals (HS) has some steel HS loads for pheasants (25 rounds per box). Now most of the sites are also used for ducks and geese so it kind of makes sense since water fowl has had a lead ban for years here in WA.

[allaboutshooting]

We have to use steel shot when we hunt for doves on some state ground here in Illinois. I'm not a real fan of the smaller steel shot but it does work as long as you limit shots and find the right choke and load combination.

Thanks,
Clark

[mossy835]

Clark the Heavy metal for pheasants is a duplex load of steel and heavy shot as I understand it so it might not be so bad but it is still expensive for many shooters right now. If it follows suite with their duck and geese loads it should be OK and maybe with more demand the price will come down in the future. Below is a pdf page from Environ Metals showing the new load (I Have yet to try it out as it is not in the stores around here).

http://www.hevishot.com/images/stories/_Pheasant/HEVI-MetalPheasant.pdf

[allaboutshooting]

Thank you. That's a good looking shell and make a lot of sense. I may have to give that one a try.

Thanks again,
Clark

[bird]

Pass on those Environ pheasant loads.  If you want to get a *HOT* non-tox pheasant load then you need to check our Remington Hypersonic Steel 12ga 3" 1 1/4oz #6's @ 1700FPS.  Right around $22 to $25 a box of 25.

There are several options for non-tox pheasant loads available which are much better that the Environ loads in my opinion.

bird

[mossy835]

Pass on those Environ pheasant loads.  If you want to get a *HOT* non-tox pheasant load then you need to check our Remington Hypersonic Steel 12ga 3" 1 1/4oz #6's @ 1700FPS.  Right around $22 to $25 a box of 25.

There are several options for non-tox pheasant loads available which are much better that the Environ loads in my opinion.

bird

Hey Bird like I said I have not shot any yet and they also only make them in 2 3/4 right now and the duplex looked good to me as that is what they have done with their duck/geese loads. One of my friends has been shooting the duck/geese loads for a long time and really likes them. Unfortunately the new pheasant loads are not on the shelves here so I can patern them out. I looked at a couple of sites on the Remington loads and they are getting good marks.
We hope to pattern my friends new mossy 835 for the goose duplex loads soon and hopefully they will live up to the hype like the turkey loads.
PS Like the Perry for Pres. logo, Mike

[allaboutshooting]

I have shot a lot of the 12 gauge 3" Remington Hypersonic 1700 f.p.s. loads and they are indeed "hot". I've shared them with a number of other hunters as well. It's not a shell that you want to shoot with just a "T" shirt on! It will rock your world.

Thanks,
Clark

[bird]

Pass on those Environ pheasant loads.  If you want to get a *HOT* non-tox pheasant load then you need to check our Remington Hypersonic Steel 12ga 3" 1 1/4oz #6's @ 1700FPS.  Right around $22 to $25 a box of 25.

There are several options for non-tox pheasant loads available which are much better that the Environ loads in my opinion.

bird

Not to be argumentative, but I think steel 6s are marginal on pheasants at any speed. For pheasant/duck sized birds, the min recommended penetration in ballistic gel is 1.5". Steel 6s @ 1700 fps only give you that to 22 yards. You'll need to go to at least 4s IMO to get descent distance from a steel load. Fours provide that 1.5" of penetration to 37 yds, 3s to 45, and 2s to 53 yds.

All of those numbers are immaterial as far as I'm concerned.  37 yards to 53 yards data....... Heck I'm lucky if I let them get to 22 yards before blasting them from the sky.  One good thing about having a good pointer is that you get to kick the birds up out of the cover from under your feet.  I have to force myself to take my time and wait before pulling the trigger. 2's on pheasants would blow the meat off the bird.

bird

[dirt road ninja]

steel sucks. no matter what your hunting. I not conviced that the lead hurts the envoriment in anyway.

[gobbler74]

steel sucks. no matter what your hunting. I not conviced that the lead hurts the envoriment in anyway.

Steel is weak agreed but man the birds that have been taken with it.... These alternative rounds are getn pricey arent they.   

[dirt road ninja]

I don't duck hunt much, but it seems like I loose way more birds now then when I was a kid. The few times I've shot geese with steel I can hear the pellets hit them and the birds flies off only die overnight. The days I've accidently had lead in the gun that doesn't happen near as much. If you are a die hard bird hunter you will go broke buying alternative shot.