Game Guides
Game Guides: Choosing the Right Ammo
| These Upland Game/Waterfowl Guides, and Caliber/Game Usage Charts will help get the beginning or inexperienced hunter off to a good start before he or she steps into the woods, fields, sloughs, or on the range. If you would like to become more familiar with shotgun terms, such as “choke,” and learn all about “shot sizes,” and if you would like some tips for patterning your shotgun, check out Shotgun Patterning Tips. As you read these charts, you also will see some options for gauge and shot size. The options in BOLD type are those recommended for beginning shooters for the best results for their shooting skill level. |
Upland Game Guide
| Species | Gauge | Choke | Lead Shot Size | |
| Turkey | 10 , 12 | Extra-Full, Full | #6 , #5 , #4 | |
| Pheasants – Early Season | 12 , 16 , 20 , 28 | Modified | #6 | |
| Pheasants – Late Season | 12 , 16 , 20 , 28 | Full | #6 or #4 | |
| Experienced hunters know that birds will flush farther out as the season progresses. They will shoot bigger shot out of a tighter choke in the late season. | ||||
| Ruffed Grouse | 12 , 16 , 20 , 28 | Improved Cylinder, Skeet | #7-1/2 or #6 | |
| Experienced hunters know grouse usually flush close in thick cover; thus a wide-open choke works best. | ||||
| Prairie & Mountain Grouse | 12 , 16 , 20 , 28 | Modified | #6 or #5 | |
| Experienced hunters know these grouse tend to flush farther out, so more choke and bigger shot is required. | ||||
| Chukar, Hungarian Partridge | 12 , 16 , 20 , 28 | Modified, Full | #6 or #5 | |
| Experienced hunters know these birds are tough, so you have to hit them hard — using a 12-gauge is recommended. | ||||
| Quail & Dove | 12 , 16 , 20 , 28 | Improved Cylinder, Modified | #9 or #8 | |
| Experienced hunters know both of these birds go down well with small shot. The choke to use depends on the distance you are shooting. | ||||
| Woodcock | 20 , 28 , .410 | Modified | #8 | |
| Experienced hunters know fast shots are required, but big guns are not. Have fun hunting this bird with a smaller shotgun. | ||||
| Rabbit & Squirrel | 12 , 16 , 20 , 28 , .410 | Modified in open cover, Improved Cylinder in thick cover | #7-1/2 or #6 | |
| Experienced hunters know if you are hunting with dogs for rabbits, a modified choke works best. If you are kicking bunnies out in cover, use an improved cylinder choke. | ||||
| For a fine selection of shotgun ammunition, click here…**If you are hunting upland game on a Wildlife Management Area or Wildlife Protection Area, lead shot may be prohibited. Call your local Department of Natural Resources for your local regulations. |
Waterfowl
| There are many choices of non-lead shotgun ammunition for waterfowl hunters. The ban on the use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl became nationwide in 1991. It also is banned in Canada.The shot types that are approved for waterfowl hunting include steel, bismuth, and several combinations of tungsten, iron, nickel, tin, etc. Steel shot is lighter and harder than lead. Steel’s more aerodynamic shape than lead shot creates shot strings (the shot pattern length) that are smaller in length and diameter, delivering more dense patterns.As you read this chart, you will see some options for gauge, shot size as well as choke recommendation. For shot, there will be a recommended size given for steel shot as well as the other approved non-toxic alloy types. The options in BOLD type are those recommended for beginning shooters for the best results for their shooting skill level. |
| Waterfowl | Gauge | Choke | Non-Toxic Shot Size |
|
| Mallard, Pintails, Merganser, Canvasback (Large ducks) |
10 , 12 , 20 | Modified | #4 or #2 , BB (Steel) #5 , #4 , or #2 (Other Alloys) |
|
| Experienced hunters advise to stay with larger shot for big ducks, even over decoys. These birds are hard to bring down for keeps. | ||||
| Bluebills, Gadwall, Wood Ducks, Widgeon (Medium ducks) |
10 , 12 , 20 | Modified | #4 or #2 (Steel) #5 or #4 (Other Alloys) |
|
| Experienced hunters know that most of the medium-sized ducks will offer lots of passing shots. Therefore, #4s are always a good bet. | ||||
| Teal, Bufflehead (Small ducks) |
12 , 20 | Modified | #6 or #4 (Steel) #4 (Other Alloys) |
|
| Experienced hunters advise that quick swings, long follow-throughs, and lots of pellets are the keys here. They advise #6 in steel. | ||||
| Geese | 10 , 12 | Full,Modified | BB , BBB , T (Steel) #2 , BB , BBB (Other Alloys) |
|
| Geese are tough and shots are sometimes very long. Bigger shot is preferred because it carries more energy downrange. With really big steel shot you might want to go with a modified choke because of the competition of the shot to get out of the barrel, and steel shot does not conform to the barrel. | ||||
For a fine selection of shotgun ammunition, click here…
Target Shooting |
| Skeet — Skeet is best shot with skeet bore or improved cylinder in all gauges. #9 shot is by far your best bet. Lead shot is legal for target shooting … but always check with your range to be sure of rules and regulations.Trap — Trap is a mainly a 12-gauge sport (you can use any gauge, however) and full or trap chokes are most common. #8 lead shot under normal circumstances is preferred — #7-1/2 lead for handicapped or windy conditions.Sporting Clays — Sporting clays are best shot with a 12-gauge and #7-1/2 lead shot with a modified choke. |
Caliber/Game Usage Chart
| The Caliber/Game Usage Chart will help the hunter decide which caliber rifle works best on the game being hunted. Remember, no matter the game being hunted, the responsible hunter knows the effective range of their firearm. |
| Caliber | Usage |
| .17 HMR/Mach 2 | Varmints, Predators, Small Game |
| .22 | Varmints, Predators, Small Game |
| 204 Ruger | Varmints, Predators, Small Game |
| 222 Rem. | Varmints, Predators, Small Game |
| 223 Rem. | Varmints, Predators, Small Game, Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Target Shooting |
| 22-250 Rem. | Varmints, Predators, Small Game, Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 220 Swift | Varmints, Predators, Small Game |
| 243 Win. | Varmints, Predators, Small Game, Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 6mm Rem. | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 257 Roberts | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 25-06 Rem. | Varmints, Predators, Small Game, Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 6.5×55 Swedish | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 260 Rem. | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 270 Win. | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 270 Win. (short magnum) | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 270 Weatherby Magnum | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 7-30 Waters | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 7mm Mauser | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 7mm-08 Rem. | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 280 Rem. | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 7mm Rem. Magnum | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 7mm Win. Short Magnum | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 7mm Weatherby Magnum | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 7mm STW | Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 30 Carbine | Varmints, Predators, Small Game, Target Shooting |
| 7.62x39mm Soviet | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Target Shooting |
| 30-30 Win. | Varmints, Predators, Small Game, Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 300 Savage | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 308 Win. | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 30-06 Spring. | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 300 H&H Magnum | Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 300 Win. Magnum | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 300 Win. Short Magnum | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 300 Weatherby Magnum | Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 300 Rem. Ultra Magnum | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 303 British | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 8mm Mauser | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 338 Win. Magnum | Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 338 Rem. Ultra Magnum | Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 338 Federal | Elk, Moose, Brown Bear |
| 35 Rem. | Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear |
| 375 H&H Magnum | Elk, Moose, Brown Bear, Cape Buffalo, Elephant |
| 416 Rigby | Cape Buffalo, Elephant |
| 416 Rem. Magnum | Cape Buffalo, Elephant |
| 458 Win. Magnum | Cape Buffalo, Elephant |
| 458 Lott | Cape Buffalo, Elephant |