Hunting ballistics for pheasant hunting: the choice of shotgun and ammunition: The importance of hunting ballistics for pheasant hunting, the most hunted sedentary bird in Italy.
The two different ways of hunting this bird, in the woods or in open land, require a thoughtful choice of the weapons, caliber and ammunition to be used, to obtain effective and precise shots. The most hunted resident bird species in Italy is undoubtedly the pheasant. In our country, the most popular hunting technique for this bird is that which involves the use of the pointing dog, even if some hunters organize English-style hunts with the classic shotgun on the shoulder.
The choice of shotgun corresponds to the hunting mode you choose. In wooded areas the hunter will use the relative means (cartridges and rifle), which will be different if the hunt takes place in open places composed of meadows or moors. In the latter case, the shooting distances, the ability to escape the game and the fatigue of the hunter are very different from each other; these differences will increase if the hunt takes place on a post-driven hunt.
In the woods, the choice of the shotgun can only fall on the 12 gauge, preferably a light model with short barrels with reduced choke, even better if the latter is absent. Hunting in the woods requires short and immediate shots, with a consequent decrease in the ballistic effectiveness of the weapon and the cartridge due to the foliage. In such circumstances, the choice of a short gun is certainly the best, since it has a quick swing and is able to develop an open roster to balance the difficulty of achieving a precise aim.
In the swinging firearms segment, the side-by-side is the shotgun par excellence, considering its characteristics, but also the over-and-under, with its firing stability, is equally effective.
With the semiautomatic shotguns one more shot is available and this would allow to fill the “air space” of the shape. For this reason, some hunters believe the semi-automatic is the best. The schools of thought are varied, but everyone agrees that the use of the shotgun on external dogs is highly discouraged, because in the middle of the woods the risk of entangling the branches of the shrubs with the dogs of the weapon increases.
The 20 gauge is not recommended because it has a greater need to be targeted precisely, despite its light weight. In case the pheasant hunting it takes place in open ground, free from natural obstacles between itself and the prey, the shot will take place at long distances, with the consequent need to use powerful cartridges of a certain power. The weapons used (side-by-side, over-and-under, semi-automatic) must have 70 - 71 cm barrels. with 2-star choke in the automatic and 1/3 in the action shotguns.
In the past, in the past, 20-gauge shotguns were used in roaming pheasant hunting due to the need to carry a lighter weight, but in recent years the problem has been overcome, as many gun companies have produced ever lighter 12-gauge. The shotguns used in post hunts must be rigorously 12 gauge with long and choked barrels and of proportionate weight, due to the need to explode shots with powerful cartridges suitable for long shots. It is also necessary to take into account the effect of the recoil that is generated with magnum charges, the result of which is evident on direct shotguns, such as over-and-under and side-by-side shotguns. The recoil effect is instead cushioned by the semi-automatic shotguns with gas removal, which are also preferred for the possibility of firing the third shot.
In wandering hunting with or without the dog along the reeds, choosing the gun is important, since the firing distances are never excessive and the bracing is rather fast. Some hunters prefer light, non-magnum shotguns.
The caliber of the shotgun must be strictly 12, since the 20, even if magnum, does not reach the indispensable potential on long-distance shooting.
As for the choice of cartridges, if you use a more or less choked and light shotgun in wooded areas, the recommended ammunition is those with a load of 28 - 30 gr. with lead 7 or 6. Some hunters prefer to use dispersant cartridges, in order to compensate for the difficulties of pointing inside the forest. If the shots take place outdoors and are long enough, you can use cartridges from 33 to 36 grams and in some cases in fairly heavy shotguns you can load the baby magnums of 42 grams.