Steel shot for chuckar

[Double Maduro]

I have been asked to be a gunner for a setter hunt test. The birds will be chuckar. Steel shot is mandatory.

I have a Remington 870 Express with a modified barrel, a Benneli Nova with interchangeable chokes and a Winchester Upland special O/U with interchangeable chokes. All are 12 Ga.

What would be the best steel shot load for this situation?

Thanks,
DM

I posted this in Hunting also.

[Duckman]

I've hunted Chuckar here in Maryland, but only used lead. Using 7 1/2.

However...I would imagine 6 shot using Imp.Cyl., Mod. should get the job done.

Have fun.

[HSMITH]

4's or 6's would be fine. A little pattern testing is in order though. For a hunt test gunner the shooting isn't all that challenging compared to hunting but knowing the load helps.

[Dr Strangelove]

I hunt pheasant all the time with steel shot. You will need Steel #4, and realize that IC/Mod chokes in steel = Mod/Full generally speaking. So open up the pattern one size wider than you would normally use with lead. You may need a second shot since steel does not penetrate well, so unless you're a great shucker, go with the O/U, so long as the barrels and chokes are steel rated. The Remington will shoot full, so don't use it. The Benelli with Cyl or IC would be my second choice.

[TrapperReady]

My vote is for the #6's. For a hunt test, I assume that they will be preserve birds. Pen-raised chukars will typically sit very tight, so your shots will be a little closer. Also, chukars are pretty easy to bring down, and I'd want the higher pellet count over the #4's.

If the Winchester and its tubes are rated for steel, I'd probably use an I/C and Mod, shooting the more open barrel first. Otherwise, I'd use the Nova and go with I/C.

If you have time and facilities to do so, I pattern the loads, starting with the ones I just recommended.

[Double Maduro]

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to this thread.

The hunt test went ok. I used #4's and didn't miss! This was unexpected.

I also had a reinforcement of rule #4; Be sure of your target and all that is beyond it.

The first bird that flushed took an unexpected angle, the handler ducked so that I could get a shot. As the bird cleared the handler by enough that I thought it was safe I brought up the Winchester and was ready to fire when I saw movement along a line of trees directly in line with the bird. Brought down the gun and said " I can't shoot".

Both the handler and the judges said something along the lines of "why not?".

When I told them I didn't want to kill the idiot in the woods they all looked over and started yelling for the idiot to get out of there. That was the first time they had seen her. She later said she "wanted to watch the dogs work."

If it hadn't been for the "hunter orange", about 3 square inches on the front of her ball cap, I probably wouldn't have seen her either.

This is the first of these I have shot for and hope it isn't the last. I had a great time and met some nice people. Most of the dogs there were setters and German Shorthair Pointers. I have a couple of Gordon Setters and have had GSP's so I had a good time with the dogs.

One surprise, the judges before the first pair of dogs said, "This is a big running shorthair and he will most likely be on point for several minutes before we get in sight."

Sure enough, we were watching the field before the bird field and here came the shorthair, burning and churning. I happened to glance into the bird field and saw his competitor already on point. How that big Irish setter got there first I'll never know. If there is anything prettier that a dog on point I don't know what it would be, except for someone you love.

Thanks for all the advice and help and remember the 4 rules.

DM