It's been so long since I've had a chance to hunt wild quail that I don't remember what size shot we used in the old days. I'm going to OK next month, and was planning to use the same 1.25 oz load of 8 shot that I use on doves. Now the outfitter is telling us not to bring #8 shot; he gets too many cripples from hunters using 8s.

But then he also said that most of his hunters used a 20 gauge, so I'm thinking that issue is more likely that they are using 7/8 oz loads of 8s.

I remember using 6 shot on quail late in the season, but I think we mainly used 7.5 and 8 back in the 60s and 70s. What say the aldeer experts? I'm gonna load some shells using Unique instead of my usual Green Dot because I know the Unique is less likely affected by cold weather. I thought of mixing some shot sizes; not sure if that's a good idea or not.

Since you're loading your own, I'd mix shot and speed them up a little. I'd imagine the shots might be a bit further and I'd imagine wind may be a factor? I use 7.5 and 8 blended in a fast load. Longshot powder under a PISK wad in a 2 3/4 Fiocchi hull running close to 1400 fps. Might use a lighter load for my first shot, depends on conditions.

There was some research years ago on a GA Plantation where they had their clients switch to #6 shot and it reduced loses. They were doing radio collar studies at the time.

Not sure how those Blue and Scale react to being hit? I seems the Grouse in WI die if you just nick them.

Thanks Carter, these will be regular old Bobwhite quail. Interesting to hear there has actually been a study on it and 6 shot was better. Outfitter said it would be common for temps to be run from teens in morning to 30s during the day, and wind blows all the time out there. I think I will load that 7.5/6 mix in a few boxes and also load some straight 6s and see if I can tell any difference.

I was gonna take my SBE because it would be so versatile, as this is also the duck hunt I talked about earlier. I am reconsidering and may take a Beretta sxs and shoot the TSS in one barrel and steel in the other. Outfitter says first shot is probably gonna be within 20 yards, so not much point in wasting TSS on a shot that close when steel would work fine. If I can find a box of steel that runs about 1400 that would require the same lead as my TSS loads.

I'd use 7.5 or 8's. The reduction in cripples may be in the the hunters can't hit them solid. Don't want too heavy a shot or you will tear them up. Where are you going to hunt quail? Mixing may screw up your pattern.

Not sure about wild ones but 1 ounce of #8s will kill the heck out of tame birds

I'm not real positive the study was formal or not just a side product, but a guy I know was a part of it. I'll ask just for clarification. Gobbler might know, I think he was there during that time.

There's 2 ways to look at shot size.
First, the MORE pellets on target should result in a quicker kill. Smaller shot should not pull feathers into the wound channel.
Second, larger shot requires fewer pellets and should result in less meat damage.

The hand loaders I follow for steel shot go way way way into this. The one thing I have personally seen, as thy fps go up, the cleaner kills do too. When we first had to switch to steel shot for waterfowl, it was pathetic at best. No telling how many birds flew off to die later. This was also the time when I seen the importance of a good dog!

I'd take the SBE too, it's makes easy work of loading the chambered shell as you wish and still keeping the following shells something else. I've shot enough steel loads, hand loads and purchased, Winchester Experts will kill as well as all the others all day long! That says a lot coming from me since I'm one of those that's never satisfied and always searching!

Just load up some TSS 10s. You could kill them at 80 yards or so I'd imagine

I use 8�s from a 20ga on grouse and never had a problem and they�re much bigger than a quail

Thanks for all the comments, guys. I loaded a few boxes yesterday morning and shot some clays with them. Not exactly ideal clay size but it was dusting them well. Used a mix of equal amounts of 6 and 7.5. I'll also load some straight 6 and straight 7.5 boxes, and see if I can tell any difference in how they perform.

One of our party is taking his dog and he is gonna drive out and said he would carry our guns and shells, so I can send some of all of them. It oughta be an interesting hunt and a lot more fun than sitting in a tree.

I used the Beretta sxs on the clays and there is no doubt it just fits me better than the SBE and I shoot it a little better. My uncle is encouraging me to take the sxs; he has watched me shoot a lot the last couple of years and thinks I'm a lot better with it. Plus, he reminded me that this is a place where we expect 30 coveys a day and I am not gonna need 3 shots to get a limit. I'm gonna believe 30 coveys a day when I see it; never experienced anything like that even back in the good ole days.

I have wasted a lot of money getting ready for this hunt, but my uncle just bought a Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon to take. I take comfort in not wasting as much money as he has.

But as I tell my wife, it's a once in a lifetime trip so I oughta go all out. Of course, I told her the same thing on my first Midwest turkey hunt in 2005 and I've been back nearly every year since.

That's how you work it!

The SxS adds cool element too!

Rio has 1 oz 7.5's for a 20 gauge they are so hot, I destroy speeding doves with them.

Back when wild quail existed around here in huntable numbers, I remember using 6 and 7.5 for them.

You know how to play the game Mr. Steve! If you're hunting with good dogs and birds are holding tight you can kill them all day with low brass 8s. Turn that around and your hunting with a less than perfect dog or young dogs that are flushing birds before you get to the point and you'll find yourself wanting something with a little more pop. High Velocity 7.5s maybe but I couldn't see the need for 6s.

Hope you have an awesome trip and can't wait to hear the story and see some pics!

We always used 8s here in Alabama. But my dad uses 6 in Kansas the whole season, due to pheasants being there also.

I shoot 8's up to December and 7.5's after December.

I didn't realize there were any wild quail left in Alabama. We used to shoot 8s

We shot 8's and even 9's when we could find them. Never had an issue.

I never did report back in this thread on how my shells worked on quail. We were all disappointed in the number of quail we found. The duck hunting was spotty and that didn't surprise me, but I really thought the quail were a sure thing. I didn't know that it had not rained or snowed out there since September, so the dry conditions made everything tough.

But my mix of size 6 and 7.5 performed well on quail when I could hit them. Every bird I hit was graveyard dead when we found them. It was so dry the dogs could not find the dead birds, so I had to mark any bird I killed and go straight to it and find it myself. That was usually a 15 minute job to find one.

All of the hunters I went with were true sportsmen and carried 20 gauge guns. I saw feathers knocked out of several, and saw a couple winged down, but never saw any of them recover a bird. I knew things were gonna be tough the first afternoon when the first covey we saw got up 300 yards in front of us. We had very few birds to hold on point; most of them would just run off when the dogs pointed.

It was still fun to chase wild quail again, and that was probably the last time I ever do it. And now I have 6 boxes of 6/7.5 shot that I need to use on something. I'm thinking they would work well jump shooting wood ducks.

Thanks for all the advice.

Sounds like some tough hunting, really earned why y'all got!

Sounds like a great time! I'm gonna get on some here soon, I use #6 cause I don't use dogs and they usually spook pretty quick