The 3" 20 ga 5's hammer a pheasant. Never patterned them but I love em. Unbelievable performance out of a mod choke. Birds hit the ground dead

 

Yes. After tearing up pheasant and ruining meat, we patterned 12 gauge. We compared the pattern with other shells. Our results were as we suspected. The pattern for the Prairie Storm was significantly tighter than our usual shells. We preferred the pattern and performance of other shells.

 

So am I hearing you correctly? You don't like the shells because they pattern to tightly?
That's very interesting! "ROFLMAO"
MG

 

Believe it or not, they pattern superbly! I don't know why exactly, but I would guess it's because of the hardness
of the shot. I would recommend IC choke at the most. I myself use skeet choke most of the time.
MG

 

Nope. You are not hearing me correctly. We actually shot separate paper targets using a variety of shells. We preferred the superb patterning of other shells. Your reply was rude.

It was meant to be! And you should stop wasting our time with your ridiculous comments!
Too tight? Go figure!
MG

 

I thought the solution to ammunition that patterned more tightly than desired was to use a more open choke, not to change ammunition.

 

To each their own. I change chokes too depending upon the circumsances. If I start with cylinder or "IC at the most" and that choke is too tight, I, essentially, have no room to open it up anymore.


edit: spelling

 

a friend of mine broke. a baretta 302 bolt in 3 pieces just shooting one prairie storm. No thank you

 

It is completely irresponsible to blame factory ammunition for a malfunction that winds up destroying a firearm. It's easy to blame the ammo when the fault lies with the operator. Most likely a barrel obstrcution for which any brand of ammo would cause damage.

 

I bought a box and cut one just to see what was in it. The powder looks like a fine ball powder, the copper plated shot was normal, the odd shaped shot looks like it formed in some kind of a form die rather than dropped from a shot tower. I can see why the pattern is tight due to the wad, it is a non spreading wad with fingers that deploy to slow the wad down to separate it from the shot. I still don't get how it can consistently pattern after years of telling us that shot must be perfectly round to pattern well. Who knows?

 

Think about it. When oblong or no-spherical shot is propelled at 1200 fps, the heavy end will point forward. Apparently, it doesn't have an impact on the pattern. Hevi-shot looks like shrapnel. I think Win uses hex shaped steel shot in its blind-side loads. And the wad separates from the shot string within a short distance from the barrel and has little impact on pattern.

 

I 'm thinking about it - I think I will get a cold beer!

 

That doesn't take thinking, that takes instinct.

 

NEB's the gun did not blow up . nor did it have a obstruction in the barrel. The force that the shell blew the bolt open broke the bolt. We were shooting Annie's . had 45 witnesses on the line. Glad I declined not to shoot them as I was offered it first. And I will never shoot them because of that instance.

 

The 3" #5's are awesome, but I did have a wad stick in the barrel with a squib load. The next shot may have been disasterous.

Pictures tomorrow.

 

Prairie Storm are awesome shells and yes I have patterned them. They do have more recoil than other shells in their class but, they drop pheasants with authority. The funny thing is that I absolutely can't stand Federal Black Cloud they are dirty and they don't pattern worth a damn.

 

NEB's the gun did not blow up . nor did it have a obstruction in the barrel. The force that the shell blew the bolt open broke the bolt. We were shooting Annie's . had 45 witnesses on the line. Glad I declined not to shoot them as I was offered it first. And I will never shoot them because of that instance.

It's the gun's fault then, not the ammunition's. And it wasn't the force of the shell, it was the force of the gas that operated the action. That gun was not set up to operate that type of ammunition. I use a Beretta autoloader and I have a set of springs with different tensions I can use adjust how much gas gets cycled to the action. When I have a spring for heavy loads in it, it won't cycle light loads.

 

The wads are quite thick and heavy.

 

Bought a box of 12's last fall on a ND pheasant hunt. They are the best pheasant load I have ever used.

 

548
Thanks for your input. I hunt pheasants in ND and have really liked the Fiocchi Golden Pheasant in nickel plated 5 shot. I'll try a box of the Prairie Storm just to compare

John

 

Also everyone be aware that Prairie Storm Ammunition is available in two different forms.
STEEL & LEAD! Federal manufactures both under the Prairie Storm Name.
I have never used the steel, but the lead version is Top of The Line.
Right up there with Fiocchi Golden Pheasants & Winchester Super Pheasant.
I only use the ultra fast 2 3/4" load, can't imagine the 3" load.
MG

PRAIRIE STORM® FS LEAD™

This ammunition fits the needs of most serious pheasant hunters and produces consistent patterns for those jumpy, high-flying roosters. Available in 12- or 20-gauge #4, #5 or #6.

PRAIRIE STORM® FS STEEL®
Targeted for use in areas were non-toxic shot is required. Prairie Storm FS Steel is designed with the same pellet count and downrange velocity of popular lead loads. Available in 12- or 20-gauge #3 or #4.

 

548
Thanks for your input. I hunt pheasants in ND and have really liked the Fiocchi Golden Pheasant in nickel plated 5 shot. I'll try a box of the Prairie Storm just to compare

John

I also love the Golden Pheasant Shells and use them in SD but after reading everyones input I'm going to give the Storm a try also.

 

We use Prairie Storm in South Dakota on wild birds , and love them. The golden pheasant shells are also a good choice #5 shot is our choice..

 

+1 on the Golden Pheasant loads on wild birds in SD. I believe there also is a substantial price differential with the Prairie Storms. #5 nickel plated shot plasters them.

 

I have only shot a couple given to me and my thoughts no magic but a lot of marketing hype.
My Favorite is Remington Winchester copper plated & B & P in Nickle plated.

 

Whatever happened to the days of taking plain ol' trap loads to the Pheasant patch? 7.5 at 1200fps? Hunting over my dog, Bart, that was all I used. Still tore up a few birds. If I'd a shot em with these loads y'all are talking about they'd a been shot to doll rags. Call it maintaining fire discipline but I didn't need to shoot Roosters at 60 yards. If they were that spooky we moved to another patch and kicked them out.

 

Whatever happened to the days of taking plain ol' trap loads to the Pheasant patch? 7.5 at 1200fps? Hunting over my dog, Bart, that tfire discipline but I didn't need to shoot Roosters at 60 yards. If they were that spooky we moved to another patch and kicked them out.[/QUO TE]

I have shot a lot of 7 1/2 at pheasants too but I know farmers in SD who won't let you on their place if they know you are using small shot.
Too many cripples!

 

Many of us don't have the luxury of a good pheasant dog. In my experience, wild birds get pretty spooky after the first couple of weeks of the season. They do not tend to hold but either run or flush a longer distances.
Loads containing larger, plaited shot in larger payloads have swung the odds more on my favor. Just my personal observations
John

 

I use the 20 gauge Prairie Storm 2-3/4 #6's and have dropped pheasants from farther than a body should be able to. I just wish they would start making them in the proper gauge for pheasant(16 gauge).

 

They shoot good,but dam they kick. Bill