JUst how tough are Doves anyhow???

[ZVP]

For some H/D practice shooting I bought a "Bargan" box of Estate #8 Dove loads. 1 OZ of shot.
I loaded a few in my 12 ga and BOOM acompinied with a hard kick! I grabbed the bpx and checked it out... 1280fps! Rattles your teeth!
Might be a good load for busting those BIG, rangy, Desert Jacks!
I've been away from shotguns since 1970 and it seems lots has changed
1 need to go thru the shell indes in the gun Bibles to re-learn it all.
I used to shoot low Base #6-8 for close up jackrabbit busting and pest Birds, and used the heavy Phesant loads for long range and biggerVarmits. Heck now you can taylor your shells even more than that! Gotta learn all over again.
Whew there must be some huge Doves out there to need that kind of power and shot load!
I saved the other 23 shells for something other than practice. They're probably good S/D shells! Won't penetrate walls but will penetrate bad guys!
I just wanted to put a heads-up out here for you guys so you don't get suprised like I did.
ZVP

 

[griff383]

Dove are armor plated these days, I know for a fact. I shot several times this season and the dove didnt fall, the BBs must have bounced off because there is no way I missed that much!

 

[oneounceload]

You actually will typically get better patterns with loads going right at 1200fps. TOO fast the pattern gets blown with lots of holes, letting those pesky things fly right through

 

[gamestalker]

This really cracks me up

It always raises my confidence when I get that great powder shot and the bird drops like a lead ball. Then you have that next shot. everything looks great, feather trail coming off the bird, it drops to the ground in a some what controlled crash landing, and then you find yourself chasing that bird for the next 10 minutes as it flies from bush to bush, avoiding capture and inevitable death. Ya, I do believe some of them are growing bullet proof feathers or something, or it could be I only got one or two pellets in them due to large holes in my shot pattern.

I do know this, that when I was regularly reloading my own shot shells, I felt like the quality of shot patterns was much better than some of this factory bargain brand that hits the shelves of Walley World.

GS

 

[rbernie]

They're probably good S/D shells! Won't penetrate walls but will penetrate bad guys!

That would be a completely erroneous and non-factural assumption. They will not reliably penetrate bad guys, and there is a lot of empirical evidence to back up that assertion.

Bird shot is designed to penetrate itty bitty birds. It's not designed to penetrate the thoracic cavity or cranium of a human.

 

[MCgunner]

I miss my share, tough to hit. But, 7/8 ounces of 7.5 shot from my 20 gauge takes 'em if I can do my part. You don't want a heavy load for dove hunts. I've fired 5 boxes of ammo in 3 days before. That can beat you up with heavy loads.

 

[MCgunner]

It always raises my confidence when I get that great powder shot and the bird drops like a lead ball. Then you have that next shot. everything looks great, feather trail coming off the bird, it drops to the ground in a some what controlled crash landing, and then you find yourself chasing that bird for the next 10 minutes as it flies from bush to bush, avoiding capture and inevitable death. Ya, I do believe some of them are growing bullet proof feathers or something, or it could be I only got one or two pellets in them due to large holes in my shot pattern.

Well, I just let my dog get 'em. She's good at that.

 

[oneounceload]

I've fired 5 boxes of ammo in 3 days before.

Don't think you'd like Argentina then where you'll shoot 5,000 rounds in three days...

 

[MCgunner]

Don't think you'd like Argentina then where you'll shoot 5,000 rounds in three days...

I've often contemplated how I could handle a day in Patagonia. I come home from Waco with a sore middle finger (a problem with double triggers) and soreness in my shoulder. I just cannot imagine a 4 figure round count in ONE DAY.

I think I'd get me an 1100 in 20 gauge and take a case of O rings for it. I couldn't afford the ammo, though, let alone the trip, so I ain't TOO worried about it. My buddy says when he hits the lotto, he's going to buy is a pair of airline tickets and book a hunt. I'm glad, cause I don't buy lotto tickets.

BTW, the limit this year in Texas was 15, I often could shoot double that a good weekend, maybe.. No limits in Argentina and the birds never stop flying from what I've seen on TV and read in the zines.

 

[Jim Watson]

Years ago, my Uncle complained that the cheap promotional shells were just "picking" the doves, and the high brass that dropped them kicked hard.
I found him some of the old style pigeon loads, 3 1/4 DE, 1 1/4 oz of no 7 1/2. I couldn't find proper no 7s, but it worked out.
He had no more complaints.

 

[greyling22]

they are actually starting to cross breed them with hogs, trying to create a flying pig. Instead they are getting something that looks like a dove, but take a direct shot to the head with nothing less than a 7mm rem mag to kill.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Some of them have flak jackets for sure.

 

[Virginian]

1 ounce at 1280 FPS is pretty darned tame in my book. What kind of gun are you shooting? I typically shoot stuff that stiff out of my 20 gauges.
Early season doves are okay for #8, but later on I prefer #7-1/2s.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Personally, I haven't found any bird yet that could shrug off a 230 gr round from my Colt. Or a 40 gr round from my .22 Magnum. Or any of my other guns.

Now, I must admit that my Colt Peacemaker is untested on birds as yet...but it's coming. I rather suspect that birds will have problems with the 250 gr .45 Colt round as well...

 

[Sav .250]

Like you said, you got surprised.

Doves are not hard to kill.............just hard to hit!