Shot size for the game you shoot

Varminting and vertebrate pest control. Small game, hunting feral goats, foxes, dogs, cats, rabbits etc.

Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by Conallin24 » 28 Jul 2017, 9:05 pm

This is a question for the shotgun shooter, what size shot do you use for the game you hunt? (If you don't like shotguns please don't include your rifle calibre that's not what we are looking for)
What I use
Pigs- N4 buckshot or other buckshot
Goats- N4 buckshot or other buckshot
Dogs- N4 buckshot or BBs
Foxes- BBs or 2 (normally only in the barrel with less choke and BB in the top one.)
Rabbits- 4/5s
Hates- 4s
Quails- 7/8s
Mynas- 4/5/6s
Crows- 4/5s
Cats- 2/4s (never actually done it but if I did I would use these but I want to see what others say)
Ducks-4s steel (I think it's unfair we can't use lead for ducks but law is law) looking forward to your responses, Campbell.
Conallin24
Private
Private
 
Posts: 62
Victoria

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by Dexer » 28 Jul 2017, 9:17 pm

Foxes: 2s
Rabbits: 3/4/5s
Quails: 7/8s
Ducks: 4s,occasionally 3s if I can't get 4s.
Dexer
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 39
Victoria

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by AusTac » 28 Jul 2017, 9:18 pm

Slugs or 00 buck for anything bigger than a fox ( slugs by law for deer here in Vic ) and 32 gram no 4 for anything less than a fox, not interested in birds
Last edited by AusTac on 28 Jul 2017, 9:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Certified part time hillbilly
User avatar
AusTac
Warrant Officer C2
Warrant Officer C2
 
Posts: 1171
-

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by pete1 » 28 Jul 2017, 9:35 pm

2 foxes
4 for rabbits
BB for anything bigger
Choke size does change things slightly as you are getting a wider or denser spread.
22LR
223
308
12G
12G
12G
User avatar
pete1
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 390
Victoria

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by Corn » 28 Jul 2017, 9:36 pm

Great topic, thanks Conallin24.
I don't hunt with my shotgun, unless you call shooting clay targets as hunting ;)

Why do you think it's unfair to not be allowed to shoot ducks with lead? Just a question, I'm not trying to start something or anything like that.

Thanks
Something something something
User avatar
Corn
Private
Private
 
Posts: 78
Victoria

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by duncan61 » 28 Jul 2017, 9:47 pm

00/SG for goats and heavy field load BB for everything that flies unless we are parroting then 7 target shot works well.As all shooting is done on private property here we get a lot of mountain ducks in the paddocks in winter and they will shake off BB at 50 metres with there wings down so I use 00/SG on them.I fillet the breast meat on all the ducks I shoot and slow cook with onion and gravy with boiled sweet potato.As far as I am aware we have no season or limit on ducks here and I have only ever seen Teal,Maned geese or wood duck ,Pacific blacks and Mountain ducks I think they may be called Australian shell ducks.Most dairy farmers wish to keep the numbers down as they swim in the sullage pond then fly in to the fresh water pond and all the poop goes in the fresh water pond.
.22 winchester .22hornet .222 .243 7mm rem mag cbc 12g
User avatar
duncan61
Officer Cadet
Officer Cadet
 
Posts: 1905
Western Australia

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by darwindingo » 28 Jul 2017, 10:17 pm

bentaz wrote:Slugs for fun.


Don't forget, camp fire wood when you are desperate and don't have a chainsaw on hand :D :lol: Oh and wasp nests in my old mates shack :wtf: :lol: :crazy:
“Accidental Discharges” DO NOT OCCUR !!

An "Unintended Discharge" is nothing more than the lack of appropriate safety procedures or the failure to follow them..!

I love my country, but fear my government.
User avatar
darwindingo
Sergeant
Sergeant
 
Posts: 596
-

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by Conallin24 » 29 Jul 2017, 9:16 am

Corn, as a reloader it makes it difficult as in Australia there is no source or steel shot. Therefore I have to buy them brand new at a very high price. If I could reload the steel I would be all for it though. Cheers, Campbell
Conallin24
Private
Private
 
Posts: 62
Victoria

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by wrenchman » 29 Jul 2017, 9:57 am

slugs and buck shot for dear or pig.
t shot for foxs or yotes we shoot geese with t shot also.
number 6 for rabbits and most birds.
i am sorry to read that you cant get steel shot for reloading
wrenchman
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1345
United States of America

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by southwest shooter » 29 Jul 2017, 10:43 am

Foxes ..... 42 gms bbs or 36 gms 2's
Rabbits ..... 32 gms of no's 4 or 6
southwest shooter
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 289
Victoria

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by bladeracer » 29 Jul 2017, 12:20 pm

Conallin24 wrote:Corn, as a reloader it makes it difficult as in Australia there is no source or steel shot. Therefore I have to buy them brand new at a very high price. If I could reload the steel I would be all for it though. Cheers, Campbell


Is steel shot different from ball bearings?
Not as cheap as lead shot but I can't see any problem with using ball bearings as shot loads.
I bought thousands off Ebay from .118" (#4) up to .298" (SSG).
Never thought of patterning them but I could do.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by Oldbloke » 29 Jul 2017, 4:10 pm

"steel" shot is actually iron. Much softer than ball bearings. I wouldn't use them.
The greatest invention in the history of man is beer.
https://youtu.be/2v3QrUvYj-Y
Member. SFFP, Shooters Union.
SSAA, the powerful gun lobby. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Hunt safe.
User avatar
Oldbloke
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 11192
Victoria

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by bladeracer » 29 Jul 2017, 4:14 pm

Oldbloke wrote:"steel" shot is actually iron. Much softer than ball bearings. I wouldn't use them.


While it would be softer I doubt even iron balls would deform hitting steel let alone a duck?
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by hunting99 » 29 Jul 2017, 10:45 pm

Pest birds 4 or 5
Rabbits 4 to 2
Foxes BB or 00 buckshot
Goats 00 buckshot or slugs
Deer slugs
Ducks steel 3

And if anything is still standing SLUG
hunting99
Private
Private
 
Posts: 59
Victoria

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by Heckler303 » 30 Jul 2017, 12:18 pm

Pest birds/Clay pigeon: 7 1/2
Quail 7-6 shot
Rabbit 4 or 3 shot.
Wallabies: BBs, although 4 shot works, BB's are much more suited.
Anything bigger: A rifled Foster Slug.
If something doesn't work, apply rule .303!
Title_II wrote:If you carry a fun in Australia you will go to jail.
User avatar
Heckler303
Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
 
Posts: 824
Tasmania

Re: Shot size for the game you shoot

Post by Oldbloke » 30 Jul 2017, 5:50 pm

bladeracer wrote:
Oldbloke wrote:"steel" shot is actually iron. Much softer than ball bearings. I wouldn't use them.


While it would be softer I doubt even iron balls would deform hitting steel let alone a duck?


To clarify, ball bearings are more likely to damage the barrel than iron balls.
The greatest invention in the history of man is beer.
https://youtu.be/2v3QrUvYj-Y
Member. SFFP, Shooters Union.
SSAA, the powerful gun lobby. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Hunt safe.
User avatar
Oldbloke
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 11192
Victoria


Back to top
 
Return to Hunting - Varminting and vertebrate pest control