What says the group about 20 gauge dove loads? If lead was an option I'd use 7.5 or 8's maybe 6's. I'm not seeing a lot of choices for 20 gauge non-tox besides duck loads.
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What says the group about 20 gauge dove loads? If lead was an option I'd use 7.5 or 8's maybe 6's. I'm not seeing a lot of choices for 20 gauge non-tox besides duck loads.
You should be able to find #6 or 7 steel target loads.Quote:
Originally Posted by kickingfrog
From what I have gather from your posts and success over the years why not use a pellet gun with steel shots. You seem to be capable of the distance. Unless they are out of range for a pellet shot, I know around my house in the morning they are stiiting on the clothesline. Just seems to me that a shotgun is over kill and the amount of meat is less than the value of the shot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kickingfrog
i think i remember going down that road with my 22 pellet rifle... something about not being able to use a single projectile had me euchured... has this changed? it'd be alot of fun with the pellet rifle...Quote:
Originally Posted by greatwhite
Doves .....no pellet gun.Quote:
Originally Posted by punkrockerpj
Pigeons.....shoot away.
Oh sorry guy's didn't realize u could not use a single projectile. Wow thats crap. Shotgun just seems over kill
Are pigeons really worth the time? What do they taste like? Don't see many around here but I do see the odd one at the farm I use to work at and usually they are white
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowwalker
Pigeons are great eating. I used to do a lot of shooting for them at different farms. We even had a taxidermist in the group who did up some decoys that were great. The meat is all dark, with the filets a shade of pink. Roasting bags, clay bakers or a slow cooker work best to keep the meat moist. A couple of strips of bacon help as well.
Btw you can't get steel pellets, they would not be barrel friendly at all. Alloy pellets are available but they tend to be light and are unstable at any decent speed.
Cheers
couldn't u use a waterfowl gun my 12 will soot any steel load.
But since I can hunt them with a pellet or BB maybe I take the BB pistol to the farm some day when I check to see that their in season.
Quote:
Originally Posted by smitty55
The breasts are twice the size of a Morning Dove. They are eating grain and seeds out of the livestock feed, corn, Soy Beans, Millet, Wheat or what ever is in the feed, field or silos around the farm, as well as berries and insects.Quote:
Originally Posted by greatwhite
Worth it? I would rate them( and doves) above pheasants, grouse, and even ducks or geese. If there a steady supply of food, them will breed upto "SIX" times a year, as opposed to the others that breed only once per season.
Your pellet pistol will likely not have the power to kill pigeons, but could be used to finish a wounded walker. A .177( 4.5mm) Air Rifle with an advertised velocity of 1200 to 1500 FPS( these speeds are obtained with light alloy pellets that will damaged your springer or piston rifle. Do NOT use them.)with a heavy lead pellet the velocity will drop to between 900 and 1000 FPS. If your shooting outside of buildings you could use a .22 or .25 Calibre, but inside they will punch holes in things that should not have holes.Quote:
Originally Posted by greatwhite
For example a 1250 rate rifle with the standard 7.6 grain pellet will be around 900 to 1000. If you have a high velocity you use pellets up to 10.6 grains. Which now have the energy to put holes in things that should not have holes.
Always have a backstop that will stop the pellet on a miss or pass-thru. Yes you can get a pass-thru with a .177 rifle. Straight through the chest hit both lungs and the heart, but only ribs and a thin lay of muscle on both sides, no breast plate or spine.
Oh yes you can shoot them with your 12.
Pigeons can also be shot with lead.
Except you need about a dozen of them to equal even 1 grouse or 1 and 1/2 dozen doves.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowwalker
The breast meat off a pigeon is as big or bigger then a grouse. Pigeons are long distance flyers, and they need a lot of muscle to do that.Quote:
Originally Posted by greatwhite
Or maybe your fishing for an invite to come try hunting them.:goodstuff:
OK Maybe I give them a try I'm stopping by the farm later today I will take a look and see if there are many around. Do I clean them the same as a grouse?
Lebarons used to have non-tox target loads but it doesn't look like Cabela's does. I may have to make a trip to EPPS or even BPS. The closest I have is some blindside in #5.
I have never had any luck with the stand on the wings and pulling the feet trick, like you can with grouse.Quote:
Originally Posted by greatwhite
I pluck the feathers from the crop(neck) down to a couple inchs below the breast, and then up the sides to the wing pits.
Start under one wing and run a blade along the ribs( you will feel them between the breast and back) across the thin skin on the stomach and back up the other side of the bird. The cut will look like a big U. Now put your thumb under the breast and pull the feet with your other hand to tear the breast off the body. You will be left with a pair of wings( good to show the CO for IDing) and the breast in one hand and the rest in the other. I debone the breasts at home.
You could also just debone the breasts and take the meat, but there is no way for the CO to ID the bird.
Have fun.
Kent makes their "Upland Fasteel" 20 gauge 7/8 Oz steel loads in # 5, 6, and 7.Quote:
Originally Posted by kickingfrog
You may have to order it, or you may get lucky and catch the one pallet they bring in a year. They have just gotten one pallet of #6 per year in the past.
You can also look for steel target loads.
After you have them breasted out , don't forget to remove the silver skin/membrane from those beasts.Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowwalker
Pigeons have to be the easiest bird to clean. With the bird on it's back in your hands take each thumb and just peel the breast skin back on each side exposing the breast. Then make a claw with three fingers and just rip the breast out. It works real easy, takes like 5 seconds.
Cheers