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what ammo for birds?

  • 09-12-2014 08:49PM
    #1
    hathcock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 310 ✭✭


    I use an AYA no. 2 side by side gun,ya I know some might call me old fashioned,but I love it,I don't miss much with it,through experiment down the years I have found the following cartridge combination deadly on birds Remington no.7 32gram in the right barrel and RC no.5 32gram in the left.Generally each hit is an outright kill,very few runners.I like to let the birds out a nice bit before I fire 30 yards or more for the most part.I tried different cartridges from time to time and didn't find them as effective.I'd be interested to hear what works for you.


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Comments

  • #2
    useurowname
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 396 ✭✭useurowname


    Not being smart but what type of birds, there is a significant difference between a goose and a snipe? Generally the 32g number 6 shell is the most common found in the chambers of Irish hunting shotguns and is effective for walked up game particularly pheasant. I personally like RC Sipe and Eley Grand Prix brands.


  • #3
    hathcock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 310 ✭✭hathcock


    useurowname wrote: »
    Not being smart but what type of birds, there is a significant difference between a goose and a snipe? Generally the 32g number 6 shell is the most common found in the chambers of Irish hunting shotguns and is effective for walked up game particularly pheasant. I personally like RC Sipe and Eley Grand Prix brands.

    sorry I didn't make myself clear,I'm referring to pheasants,ducks,woodcock,and snipe,although I have shot geese in Scotland with the RC no. 5 to great effect.


  • #4
    Eddie B
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,994 ✭✭✭Eddie B


    hathcock wrote: »
    sorry I didn't make myself clear,I'm referring to pheasant,ducks,woodcock,and snipe,although I have shot geese in Scotland with the RC no. 5 to great effect.

    I use different shells for pheasant, duck and snipe! Not so much woodcock, because i usually come upon them whilst out pheasant shooting, rather than targeting them specifically!

    I really like GB's, but finding it hard locate them of late!


  • #5
    rebok classic
    Closed Accounts Posts: 77 ✭✭rebok classic


    sorry got distracted there , im the same but use a sipe 6 or 7 in bottom barrel and 5 in top for pheasants . 7 8 or 9 then for snipe only started the 8s and 9s this year got a box from a friend i down a pheasant earlier in nov while hunting snipe with a no. 10 sipe at a good 35 yrds roughly so goes to show dont really need the heavy shot but comes in handy for those far out pheasants


  • #6
    tikkahunter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,052 ✭✭✭tikkahunter


    cant fault sipe no 6 32g, good all rounder


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  • #7
    useurowname
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 396 ✭✭useurowname


    rebok classic wrote: »
    were you eating any mushrooms around the time you took that shot because that i would have to see to believe

    It can be done alright, I was with a guy who dropped a teal stone dead at over 100 yards with a number 7. I'd put it down to a very lucky pellet though, I personally would rarely fire at a bird at over 60/70 yards, you're far more likely to only prick a bird at extreme ranges and leave it wounded but unretrievable.
    Pattern testing your gun with it's various chokes and a variety of different shells will give you an idea of the optimum combination. Any bird hunter worth his salt should do this.


  • #8
    blackpearl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 668 ✭✭✭blackpearl


    express supream game 30g 7 and sipe 32g6 my mate uses 28g 71/2 and 32g6 he very rarely misses with first barrel this is for pheasants ov er setters.


  • #9
    LIFFY FISHING
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,791 ✭✭✭LIFFY FISHING


    Question for the OP please, at the end of last season I decided that my o/u was to heavy to carry all day, & after years of o/u shotguns I went for a sxs.
    I went all out & bought an Aya no2, its a beautiful gun, however I am having trouble adapting to two triggers and am missing lots of birds, I am blaming it on me, the triggers and even the ammo, have you any recomendations for ammo for phesants, I hope that I can adapt to the Aya, as I really want to keep it to pass it on to my lads who wont be of an age to shoot for about 15 years yet.


  • #10
    hathcock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 310 ✭✭hathcock


    LIFFY FISHING wrote: »
    Question for the OP please, at the end of last season I decided that my o/u was to heavy to carry all day, & after years of o/u shotguns I went for a sxs.
    I went all out & bought an Aya no2, its a beautiful gun, however I am having trouble adapting to two triggers and am missing lots of birds, I am blaming the me, the triggers and even the ammo, have you any recomendations for ammo for phesants, I hope that I can adapt to the Aya, as I really want to keep it to pass it on to my lads who wont be of an age to shoot for about 15 years yet.

    I'm not an authority on the subject but here's my tuppence worth.I think it will take you a while to adapt to the two triggers,but stick with it, you'll never regret changing to the side by side once you get used to it.As regards missing birds,in my experience the most common problem is firing too soon,I like to let the bird out a nice bit maybe thirty yards minimum before firing,my shooting buddy calls my gun the long range killer.As regards cartridges I outlined what works for me in my original thread.At the end of the day it's all about confidence,and that will take time,hope this is some help.


  • #11
    RICKYD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 69 ✭✭RICKYD


    Im thinkin of doin somethin similar disyr liffey.hav a heavy lump of an O&U and wudnt mind anice aya.do u mind me askin how much u paid 4 urs & where did u purchase?I used 2 use a sxs when I startd out so hfully twudnt take me long 2get used 2it.


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  • #12
    ace86
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 682 ✭✭✭ace86


    I have a browning 30" Sporter and I use all Remington cartridges as I did with my previous gun a Lanber. I'm still expermenting in terms of chokes and I'm hoping to try 1/4 AND 3/4 shortly to see how I get on but i will be laid up for a few wks after geting me appendix out. I think guys are wondering wat cartridges suite this gun etc patterning is the only way ur going to know and like that it will give a good indication how it performs and if it suites the gun.I find that american made guns and cartridges work well to together as the same with european made counter parts,but that's just me. For woodcock I used to use 8's but have moved to 9's this yr and I use a 34g 7 as my 2nd shot and at pheasant and use 36g 6's and 4's for Duck.


  • #13
    PDAhunter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30 ✭PDAhunter


    Black gold 6 32gr and B&P 7 32gr in d repeater they would knock a house


  • #14
    hathcock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 310 ✭✭hathcock


    PDAhunter wrote: »
    Black gold 6 32gr and B&P 7 32gr in d repeater they would knock a house

    jasus don't knock mine it's the only one I have:D:D


  • #15
    pedroeibar1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,105 ✭✭✭pedroeibar1


    @OP - The AyA No.2 is a lovely gun. Don’t be tempted by the idiots to use high power cartridges, they are not necessary. They will kill your shoulder ; fire a lot of them and you will wreck your gun.

    Duck No.4
    Pheasant No.6
    Woodcock No.7/8/9
    Snipe No.9
    The reason is three-fold – get the right amount of shot into the right place at the right time with the right stopping power. Nothing works unless you point the gun at the right place.

    @Liffey Fishing - You will get used to the double triggers, it is just practice, I find it hard to get used to a single trigger when I have to borrow one.

    As for bringing down birds at 135 yards, that is total nonsense.:rolleyes: If it happened the bird probably dropped dead from a heart attack.:D

    Using Eley’s figures, to bring down a pheasant using No.6 shot it needs to be hit with three pellets each having a striking energy of at least 0.85 foot pounds. At 50 yards the energy per pellet is about one ft.lb. so that means hitting it with at least three pellets. At 50 yards about 40% of the pellets will be within a 30” circle, the rest outside it. The forward allowance at that distance for a crosser flying at 40mph is about 11 feet. So it can be done if you know what you are at and have had lots of practice, otherwise you will just prick the bird and it will glide on to die later, miles away.

    The reason it is BS to claim to bring down a bird at 135yards is that the deceleration of the shotstring coupled with the drop, the forward allowance would have to be at least 50 feet and point of aim several feet above the bird. Also, the spread of the shot out that far would be so wide it would leave gaps in the pattern big enough to drive a car through and the stopping power would not be sufficient to do any damage to a bird.

    Anyone who fires at a bird beyond 65 yards is not a sportsman, is cruel and has more money (to waste on cartridges) than sense.


  • #16
    Stonehall9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 388 ✭✭Stonehall9


    Obviously I mean yards not feet in my post !! Doh


  • #17
    shotie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 256 ✭✭shotie


    pheasants i use Remington 32g 8s in bottom barrel and a 34g fiocchi 7 in top never any problems use the same for snipe,teal and woodcock if they get up .
    for mallard id use 36g remington 6s and 4s .but have shot many mallard coming into a small pond with the 34g fiocchi 7s .thats what works for me and my gun .once birds are within the right range you should have no problems.


  • #18
    LIFFY FISHING
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,791 ✭✭✭LIFFY FISHING


    RICKYD wrote: »
    Im thinkin of doin somethin similar disyr liffey.hav a heavy lump of an O&U and wudnt mind anice aya.do u mind me askin how much u paid 4 urs & where did u purchase?I used 2 use a sxs when I startd out so hfully twudnt take me long 2get used 2it.

    As you probably are aware the Aya no2 are Hand build guns and rare to come across and hold their value.
    I picked mine up in Cresent Sports In Monkstown Dublin, Its a beautiful gun in excellent condition & came with a purpose made tan leather Brooks takedown box


  • #19
    LIFFY FISHING
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,791 ✭✭✭LIFFY FISHING


    PDAhunter wrote: »
    Black gold 6 32gr and B&P 7 32gr in d repeater they would knock a house

    I didnt find the Black Gold 6 32's good nor did my shooting buddy ?


  • #20
    RICKYD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 69 ✭✭RICKYD


    cheers liffey.imay start saving a bit more i think...


  • #21
    hathcock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 310 ✭✭hathcock


    LIFFY FISHING wrote: »
    As you probably are aware the Aya no2 are Hand build guns and rare to come across and hold their value.
    I picked mine up in Cresent Sports In Monkstown Dublin, Its a beautiful gun in excellent condition & came with a purpose made tan leather Brooks takedown box

    At the risk of incurring the wrath of o/u gun owners.This is the model I own,the AYA no. 2 round action,wouldn't swop it for all the o/u guns in the world.Try one and see the difference,light,superbly balanced,sweet shooting,natural pointability,the original game gun design,never improved on,no gun beats the side by side for game shooting.


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  • #22
    varmintbill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19 ✭varmintbill


    I shoot with Hathcock all the time and i two have an aya xxv side by side i use sipe no 7s and 6s all season on pheansant, duck ,snipe and woodcock ,i find them very good ,as for hathcocks gun sometimes i think its a rifle he uses he kills at such distance crazy shots.


  • #23
    pheasantmad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39 ✭pheasantmad


    I use 33g rc desperante 7 and 32g sipe 6 for pheasant and woodcock, find them a good combination.


  • #24
    useurowname
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 396 ✭✭useurowname


    pedroeibar1 wrote: »
    @OP - The AyA No.2 is a lovely gun. Don’t be tempted by the idiots to use high power cartridges, they are not necessary. They will kill your shoulder ; fire a lot of them and you will wreck your gun.

    Duck No.4
    Pheasant No.6
    Woodcock No.7/8/9
    Snipe No.9
    The reason is three-fold – get the right amount of shot into the right place at the right time with the right stopping power. Nothing works unless you point the gun at the right place.

    @Liffey Fishing - You will get used to the double triggers, it is just practice, I find it hard to get used to a single trigger when I have to borrow one.

    As for bringing down birds at 135 yards, that is total nonsense.:rolleyes: If it happened the bird probably dropped dead from a heart attack.:D

    Using Eley’s figures, to bring down a pheasant using No.6 shot it needs to be hit with three pellets each having a striking energy of at least 0.85 foot pounds. At 50 yards the energy per pellet is about one ft.lb. so that means hitting it with at least three pellets. At 50 yards about 40% of the pellets will be within a 30” circle, the rest outside it. The forward allowance at that distance for a crosser flying at 40mph is about 11 feet. So it can be done if you know what you are at and have had lots of practice, otherwise you will just prick the bird and it will glide on to die later, miles away.

    The reason it is BS to claim to bring down a bird at 135yards is that the deceleration of the shotstring coupled with the drop, the forward allowance would have to be at least 50 feet and point of aim several feet above the bird. Also, the spread of the shot out that far would be so wide it would leave gaps in the pattern big enough to drive a car through and the stopping power would not be sufficient to do any damage to a bird.

    Anyone who fires at a bird beyond 65 yards is not a sportsman, is cruel and has more money (to waste on cartridges) than sense.

    Harsh on the original poster...but it's true.
    Best post I've seen yet on the ballistics of shotguns. The thread would do well to end on this one.


  • #25
    tikkahunter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,052 ✭✭✭tikkahunter


    Beretta Silver hawk sxs single trigger ,selector for manual ejection or auto. Photo does not do the gun justice .Sipe 32g no 6 will drop anything around 40-50 yards no bother , anything much further is just let on for another day or i will follow up on if it hasn't flown to the next county.
    20140126_125921_zps4330beea.jpg


  • #26
    hathcock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 310 ✭✭hathcock


    tikkahunter wrote: »
    Beretta Silver hawk sxs single trigger ,selector for manual ejection or auto. Photo does not do the gun justice .Sipe 32g no 6 will drop anything around 40-50 yards no bother , anything much further is just let on for another day or i will follow up on if it hasn't flown to the next county.
    20140126_125921_zps4330beea.jpg

    nice gun too,personally not a fan of the pistol grip,but it's horses for courses.


  • #27
    tikkahunter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,052 ✭✭✭tikkahunter


    hathcock wrote: »
    nice gun too,personally not a fan of the pistol grip,but it's horses for courses.
    It fits me like a glove , i find the aya like most sxs i tried a little short on the stock for me this was just perfect every time i threw it up , not cheap though but it will do me for the rest of my shooting days and wont loose that much value if the need ever came to selling it.


  • #28
    Brianmeath
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 259 ✭✭Brianmeath


    tikkahunter wrote: »
    Beretta Silver hawk sxs single trigger ,selector for manual ejection or auto. Photo does not do the gun justice .Sipe 32g no 6 will drop anything around 40-50 yards no bother , anything much further is just let on for another day or i will follow up on if it hasn't flown to the next county.
    20140126_125921_zps4330beea.jpg

    That is a sweet gun.


  • #29
    Cass
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 28,806 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cass


    I have culled all the abusive, insulting and nonsense posts from this thread.

    Only the other day i made a statement on the lack of civility in the forum, but some believe this either does not apply to them or they can simply ignore it. Well they cannot.


    BE CIVIL to one another. If you cannot then your ability to post insults, abuse, etc. will be removed. There is no leeway on this matter. Attack the post and not the poster. If you feel someone has overstepped the mark then report the post and the Mods will deal with it.

    We do not read every thread. You make up the forum and as such we rely on you to tell us if something is breaking the rules or simply "not right". The thread will remain open, but any attempt to take it back down the road it was on and it'll be closed. So please, back on topic.
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    If you see a problem post use the report post function. Click on the three dots on the post, select "FLAG" & let a Moderator deal with it.

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  • #30
    useurowname
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 396 ✭✭useurowname


    hathcock wrote: »
    At the risk of incurring the wrath of o/u gun owners.This is the model I own,the AYA no. 2 round action,wouldn't swop it for all the o/u guns in the world.Try one and see the difference,light,superbly balanced,sweet shooting,natural pointability,the original game gun design,never improved on,no gun beats the side by side for game shooting.

    That's a beauty, as a lifelong o/u shooter I have to admit that they don't match the balance and general ergonomics of a decent sxs. The Aya no.2 is the very gun I aspire to..only drawback is at the moment I can get roughly three Beretta sp1s for 1 Aya no 2.
    When I can afford to change it'll be tough to make a case to herself for a six and a half thousand euro shotgun, I've a feeling I'll be looking at the new Beretta 690 field at half that price.


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  • #31
    hathcock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 310 ✭✭hathcock


    useurowname wrote: »
    That's a beauty, as a lifelong o/u shooter I have to admit that they don't match the balance and general ergonomics of a decent sxs. The Aya no.2 is the very gun I aspire to..only drawback is at the moment I can get roughly three Beretta sp1s for 1 Aya no 2.
    When I can afford to change it'll be tough to make a case to herself for a six and a half thousand euro shotgun, I've a feeling I'll be looking at the new Beretta 690 field at half that price.

    they can be found in england in super condition for around 1500 sterling,was at the midland gamefair in sept and saw loads of them,absolute bargains.


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