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[Mo. Beagler 5000]

Mo Beagler 5000, I was really wanting to know if anyone could come up with a single advantage in the FIELD. I don't think anyone can.. I believe you understand why 7-1/2's are a illogical choice in every aspect compared to the larger shot sizes, such as #6 and #5, that is why you drove sixty miles to get them and I feel the same way as you do If I have to drive 100 miles to arm myself with a good choice of ammo before entering the field I will. You have actually given the matter some thought and have come to the conclusion that 7-1/2's are a poor choice .Seeing as how no-one can come up with one advantage over #6 or #5 you would think most would shy away from this poor choice of shot. Actually what should make some re-think their choice is the FACT that 7-1/2's are INFERIOR in every respect to the larger shot sizes on game such as rabbits, now the tables do turn when one is shooting woodcock, rails, doves and the like , but this small birdshot is a poor choice for rabbits, but it will kill rabbits at modest ranges and if you like eating lead I say use them!

I agree, I was just giving you crap...

I am taking a kid out tomorrow and he wants to use his 7.5's but I told him that I would give him a box of sixes if shot them instead. I never have liked the 7.5s.

I am very interested in trying 5 shot though... I need to try a box or two out.

[chris83]

[S.R.Patch]

I tell you what a feller did one time and maybe it was wrong or illegal, but after he butted heads with a bear one time, afterwards, he would put a slug in the magazine first, and then 2 shells of #6 shot. His thinking was, if he ran into the bear again, he's had a slug for protection.

My reasoning for using the 7 1/2 shot, tho Gw can't comprehend it is, if I get a shot a birds, the 7 1/2 have the pattern density to kill them,...if a rabbit come 'round that the hounds circle, I can also kill it, you just have to know the shot size and choke limits.
I don't think I've ever tried to kill a rabbit by aiming directly at the rabbit putting it in the center of the shot pattern like some have professed, I always try to aim at the front on the swing of a crossing rabbit. the same with a rabbit coming towards you or away from you, most guys miss a rabbit running toward them cause they aim at the rabbit instead of aiming in front of the rabbit. If you aim at a rabbit running at you, you will shoot over it's back, you have to lead the rabbit as you do a bird. jmho

That's my story and I'm stick'n to it...

[Mapel Valley Kennels LLC.]

Patch i thought we all shot like that? I dont fill like reading all those post but u nailed it for me. I use 6 shot 12 guage auto.
Used to shoot 20 guage and semi now just 12 guage autos, when rabbit hunting my ol dad taught me to aim in frt of em not at em. Usally lay my bead towards the nose. Maybe i have shot wrong for years but during rabbit season my belly stays full. Why change what works.

[Casey Harner]

Patch i thought we all shot like that? I dont fill like reading all those post but u nailed it for me. I use 6 shot 12 guage auto.
Used to shoot 20 guage and semi now just 12 guage autos, when rabbit hunting my ol dad taught me to aim in frt of em not at em. Usally lay my bead towards the nose. Maybe i have shot wrong for years but during rabbit season my belly stays full. Why change what works.

That's how I shot, and always will. Never aim at the moving rabbit or you will shoot behind it. I've never used 7s because I was always brung up on 6's. Dad always told me to lead them with the pass, just like a good quarterback would do.


Opening week of this year I bagged two bunnies at 35 yards each and both were shot by my 20 gauge with six shot and the rabbits were both moving quick. Both were shot in and around the front shoulder and neck area.

[east80kennels]

use ya a slingshot boys, its more fun lol!!!

[gwyoung]

Entirely different subject, what some are referring to is properly LEADING moving targets! Maybe I am reading it wrong, several different methods of hitting running game but one must allow for reaction time and time of flight not only for the shot charge but the distance the animal will be traveling. This does make it necessary to LEAD targets( shoot in front as some say) This is NOT the same as catching a target in the outer edge of a pattern. Regardless of how or WHERE one must aim the idea is to CENTER the target in the pattern. So even though moving targets must be lead and I don't recall anyone saying that targets should be Aimed directly at ,by the way, and I don't think anyone but a beginner without a qualified teacher would even try it , I never thought that any on here would have to be told to lead a moving target! the idea is to center the target in the pattern, regardless of how one must aim or lead. this provides for the greatest margin of error. Int. skeet targets come out of their houses at 90mph, you never hear of anyone trying to catch them on the edge of a pattern, To intentionally try and hit a target on the edge of a pattern is like saying I don't need 90% of the BB's in this shell . You do need them. So if some are saying they are not trying to use the center of their pattern this makes no sense. Think about it. S.R. patch, you may not be aiming directly at him and you shouldn't be but this has NOTHING to do with centering a target in the pattern.

[Joeyman]

12G - 6Shot 1-1/4oz..boom dead

[likeemfast]

Certain places i hunt, have super hard packed rocky dirt roads. When Mr Cottontail comes outta the brush and is running smack dab straight at me i shoot in front of the rabbit and skip the shot off the road into its noggin or into its chest cavity. Never a pellet past the chest cavity, dad taught me that shot, we do it all the time. Easy skinning and cleaning of the meat for the pot. When we hunt the soft roads of the old coal fields we dont use that trick.

[Mo. Beagler 5000]

Certain places i hunt, have super hard packed rocky dirt roads. When Mr Cottontail comes outta the brush and is running smack dab straight at me i shoot in front of the rabbit and skip the shot off the road into its noggin or into its chest cavity. Never a pellet past the chest cavity, dad taught me that shot, we do it all the time. Easy skinning and cleaning of the meat for the pot. When we hunt the soft roads of the old coal fields we dont use that trick.

I can't hit the broad side of the barn most days let alone ricochets!! That is some neat stuff.