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Wingshooters are a romantic bunch. Rifle hunters might spend hours at the range penciling out the best loads for their next adventure, but shotgunners are apt to pick a box of ammo based on whim, hearsay, and habit. With six common gauges and many cartridge offerings per gauge, the options are nearly endless.
When it comes to selecting a shotshell for upland hunting, not all options are equal. Some will give you a distinct advantage, depending on your quarry. We tested offerings from top shotshell manufacturers. Component quality, shot patterns, downrange energy, and recoil were all evaluated. These are the test’s winning shotshells for North America's favorite upland birds.
Pheasants are a big bird that require a bit bigger load to bring down. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) Best Shotgun Shells for Pheasants The colorful pheasant is the most popular upland game bird. It is no coincidence that the 12 gauge is the most popular shotgun. While smaller gauges work, it’s hard to beat the versatility of a 12 gauge for wild roosters. 12 gauge loads are readily available in many configurations, making it easy to find your perfect shotshell recipe. These are our top picks for your next pheasant mission.
Baschieri & Pellagri Privilege Game 12 Gauge 2 ¾ inch 1 1/5 oz 5 shot
B&P’s Privilege Game shotshells were designed with European high-bird shoots in mind. Turns out, they are also deadly on wild American ringnecks. These shells are packed with premium components, including biodegradable wads and super hard lead shot. Impeccable shot patterns lend confidence, and the unique Gordon system base wad absorbs recoil. You’ll be amazed at how smooth they shoot, given how hard they hit.
Federal Prairie Storm 12 Gauge 2 ¾ inch 1 ¼ oz 6 shot
Federal’s Prairie Storm loads have been a mainstay for years. Their Flitecontrol flex wads house a mix of beveled FLITESTOPPER pellets and copper plated lead shot for better impact energy. New for 2024, Prairie Storms are also available in slower loads. They use the same proven wad and shot, but propel them at a moderate 1330 feet per second (FPS). Young and old shoulders will appreciate less recoil, but the pretty shot patterns are really worth crowing about.
Boss Warchief 12 Gauge 2 ¾ inch 1 ¼ oz 3/5 shot
Boss Shotshells made a name for themselves by championing the use of bismuth shot. If you need a non-toxic load but don't want to sacrifice the ballistic benefits of lead, bismuth is the way to go. Boss mixes two shot sizes in the Warchief shells we tested. Buffered shot and a new wad design produce even, tight patterns at long distances. This makes them a perfect match for late season roosters or mixed-bag duck days.
Due to their small size, many people hunt quail with sub gauge loads. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) Shotshells for Quail Hunting Plantation bobwhites , desert scalies, and hill country California quail are different critters. While terrain and behavior vary, all quail have something in common: they are very fun to hunt with a 28 gauge. For close-flushing coveys, try a skeet choke. Switch out to an improved cylinder or modified choke for desert sprinters.
Federal Upland High Velocity 28 Gauge 2 ¾ inch ¾ oz 8 shot
Federal uses copper plated lead in these staple shotshells. While they carry the High Velocity name, we think they are a good balance between pattern quality and knockdown power. They'll cover everything from mountain quail to southern bobwhites. These cartridges are also relatively easy to find if you run low in the middle of a quail road trip.
Winchester AA 28 Gauge 2 ¾ inch ¾ oz 7.5 shot
Winchester’s AA line is designed for clay sports, but they bring even patterns to your favorite quail cover thanks to quality shot and Winchester’s cushioned wad design. A slightly larger shot size works well on desert Gambel’s and late season bobwhites on the central plains. The 1300 fps velocity will reach out to wild-flushing birds. Many sub-gauge gunners like to reload, and AA hulls make an excellent choice.
Shotshells for open prairie birds. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) Shotshells for Hunting Prairie Grouse Sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens vary significantly in behavior from early to late season. While September birds are easy to work, late season birds are likely to flush on the edge of gun range, or further. A svelte 20 gauge is hard to beat for long prairie walks where miles often exceed flush counts. Simply switch from improved cylinder to modified chokes as the season progresses.
Fiocchi Golden Pheasant 20 Gauge 2 ¾ inch 1 oz 6 shot
Fiocchi’s Golden Pheasant line has been around since before coated shot became cool. Fiocchi uses nickel plated pellets to resist deformation in these reliable workhorse cartridges. They pass the ‘tailgate test,’ as they have put many wiley prairie grouse in the bag for us over the years.
While 6-shot is a bit larger than necessary for early season chickens and sharpies, it works well for late season birds when you need clean kills on longer shots.
Kent Tealsteel 20 Gauge 3 inch 1 oz 6 shot
Lead-free hunting areas are increasingly common on the central and northern plains. Kent designed Tealsteel for teal and other small waterfowl, but it happens to be a great non-toxic load for sharptails and prairie chickens.
Zinc plated for corrosion resistance, this steel shot delivered better patterns than some of the lead loads we tested. The 1250 fps velocity smoothly cycles autoloaders, and gets the job done on late season prairie grouse.
Light 12-gauge loads are often favored for Dove hunting. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) Shotgun Loads for Doves Hunting While dove hunting feels more like a waterfowl shoot, dove shotshells are comparable to upland loads. Most dove hunting is sedentary, making a 12 gauge appealing. When the birds are pouring into your decoys, you'll enjoy the smooth swing and soft recoil of a heavier gun. Try these dove loads through an improved cylinder or modified choke and you'll be grilling poppers for days.
Baschieri & Pellagri Upland Game Classic 12 gauge 2 ½ inch 1 oz 8 shot
B&P developed this new cartridge as a low-pressure option for vintage guns. This might sound like an odd choice for a fast-flying dove shoot, but sometimes the only thing speed kills is your shoulder. Doves are one of the easiest birds to knock down, and the Upland Game Classic’s mild 1160 FPS velocity is more than enough. Bonus, you won’t need dental work after running through a box of shells.
Whether shot through your grandfather’s old side-by-side or a modern autoloader, this shell delivers best-in-test patterns. Even if you manage to miss a bird, the Gordon system cuts recoil down to almost nothing.
Winchester AA 12 Gauge 2 ¾ inch 1 ⅛ oz 8 shot
If you are after excellent dove loads, it’s worth looking at premium target shotshells. Winchester’s AA line is designed to excel in sporting clays and skeet competitions, but they are also a great match for dove hunts. The “Light” 1145 fps rendition we tested was comfortable to shoot in volume and delivered impressive patterns. You can’t argue with the results, even if there isn’t a dove printed on the box.
Traditional 16-gauge loads for a bird surrounded by hunting tradition. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) Shotgun Shells for Hunting Ruffed Grouse It's tough to beat the nostalgia of a 16 gauge in the grouse woods, even if you don't have a tweed jacket and an English setter to match. The heft of a properly scaled 16 makes it a joy to carry as you weave through the popple. Try these cartridges through a skeet or improved cylinder choke for your best chance at bagging a wise old drummer.
RST Spreader 16 Gauge 2 ½ inch 7/8 oz 7 shot
The RST name is heralded amongst 16 gauge aficionados. That's because they make short chambered, low velocity shells that work in most vintage doubles. Their Spreader shells open up patterns quickly to catch fast action flushes in thick cover.
Ruffed grouse aren't hard to bring down, if your instinctive shooting is on point. These shells deliver beautiful patterns out of proper purple hulls. They’ll do their part-if you do yours.
Boss 3 Dram 16 Gauge 2 9/16 inch 1 ⅛ oz 7 shot
Non-toxic bismuth shot fills this exciting new 16 gauge offering. Aimed at modern guns, these shells deliver a great balance between downrange energy and even patterns. Boss thumbed their noses at the velocity arms race and built these with a modest amount of clean-burning powder.
The 3-Dram cartridges show off Boss's premium components through a roll-crimped clear hull. A purple wad inside wins this shell a ‘prettiest in test’ award. Save your shoulder, and feel good about leaving less lead on the landscape every time you pull the trigger.
20-gauge loads are a good mix of knockdown power as well as light enough to pack up steep mountains. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) Ammo for Shooting Himalayan Snowcock Few uplanders pursue the wiley mountain snowcock, so why are they in this test? Snowcock require stealthy stalks and long shots, making them a perfect proving ground for the ballistic limits of a scattergun. Days of backpacking are necessary to reach them and a goose gun will weigh you down. We think a 20 gauge autoloader with an improved modified choke is the best compromise for snowcock—and for any quarry requiring buckets of sweat equity combined with marksmanship.
Apex Upland Bird TSS 20 Gauge 3 inch ¾ oz 7.5 shot
At first glance, 7.5 shot appears woefully inadequate for larger upland birds like snowcock. With the marvel of tungsten shot, you can launch more small projectiles that still pack a wallop downrange. Apex puts a 1500 fps velocity behind these shells, making 40-50 yard shots reasonable. Combined with one of the tightest patterns in the test, they are a good choice when you only get one shot at a trophy bird.
Tough birds in steep country require a generous pattern in an easy gauge to carry. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) Chukar Hunting Shotgun Shells Released chukar can easily be taken with light target loads, but their feral brethren are significantly tougher. They also live in steep, challenging terrain, demanding a balance between an easy-to carry gun and generous patterns. A 20 gauge achieves this balance and is the preferred weapon of most experienced chukar hunters. Try a modified choke to cover most flushes as the season progresses.
Kent Ultimate Fastlead 20 Gauge 2 ¾ inch 1 oz 7.5 shot
Kent’s Diamond Shot is polished and graded for superior uniformity. This means more lethal downrange energy, even in smaller shot sizes. We were able to test this load both at the patterning board, and extensively in the field last season. An ounce of 7.5 shot will easily fold a cliff diver at 30 yards—assuming your aim is true.
Federal Upland Pheasants Forever 20 Gauge 2 ¾ inch 1 oz 6 shot
Even though chukar aren't particularly large, they can be surprisingly hard to kill—especially late in the season. Rather than over-choke your gun, step up slightly in shot size. Federal’s Pheasants Forever loads hurtle at 1350 fps, but still pattern well thanks to copper plated lead and other premium components. Even better, Federal donates a portion of sales to Pheasants Forever for access and habitat improvements.
Try Before You Go Whatever shotshells you decide to try, be sure to pattern them before you go hunting. Every gun, choke, and shell combination will shoot differently. Especially when you hunt multiple upland species, research is imperative. Some wingshooters have faith in a favorite shotshell. If you test your loads, you won’t need to say a prayer when you pull the trigger. You will know exactly what the shot does when it leaves your barrel.
