killed alot of them with 7 1/2 international pigeon loads

For all upland game including pheasant, 1.125 oz number 6 shot killed 'em dead. I believe Remington used to market them as Sure Shot.

My dad used to load baby magnums for ducks, but I couldn't tell the difference between baby magnums and 1.125 oz loads as long as shots were on the mark.

I've been fortunate to both walk up shoot pheasants and stand on a peg at some of the UK's premier shoots and 1 1/4 ounce of Eley V.I.P fibre wad at 1360fps has done me sterling service for decades. The same load killed a hill of geese before the wetlands lead shot ban. I bulk bought the Eleys and they were the only thing used in my half and three quarter choked 28'' barrel Beretta Silver Pigeon for anything from snipe to greylags. Whenever someone tried to tell me 6's didn't kill geese/duck/pheasant at distance I'd always ask them to stand at 45 yards and let me tickle them with my puny shot. To date no-one has let me give it a go.

There is little sense in using non-tox for pheasants unless required.

I usually shoot a light (2-1/2") twelve or a sixteen for pheasants. I use one ounce of #7 or #6 shot at 1160fps, through IC/LM chokes (1/4 and 1/2) in the Brit twelve gauge. This works well on pointed birds.

The large shot/heavy load cartridges are mostly blast and recoil, but not more effective. Just center your bird in the pattern.

Steel 3's and 4's

I agree with the 4s but I REALLY don't like using steel shot.

I shoot about 200 preserve pheasants a year. I have used 12, 16 and 20ga, all with an ounce of 5s. I had RST load one ounce of 5s in 28ga and can’t tell the difference. 4s will kill longer but regs limit us to 5s or smaller. I shoot chukars with 7.5s.

I have pheasant in my yard and pasture. I use #6 high base whatever on my wild birds in my superposed mod/IMP cyl. It does the job as good as anything else...I had a Full/mod an it didn't work as well,,I think most folks do better with a bit more open choke on everything with the exception of geese and probably ducks..I do anyway.

An ounce of 5's at 1200 fps in any gauge does fine for me. I prefer 16 and 28ga.

We have developed lead load, 3 1/2", with no "shot protector", just with FS 12 12ga Flex-Seal Wad ( https://www.ballisticproducts....productinfo/072FS12/ ). It was developed for friend's Benelli SBE2 for turkey hunting. Using clear 12ga Clear Overshot Disk ( https://www.ballisticproducts....roductinfo/COS12250/ ) and roll crimp. It is full of 2 1/2 oz lead #4. Intended to shoot with Muller UFO choke at extended distances on turkeys.

But he is using it also with great result on pheasants with open choke.

Another friends, used to clay shooting a lot, they used sporting shells for duck and pheasants hunting (lead allowed). They are used to its speed and gun behavior.

I don't hesitate to take sporting "SUPER PARCOURS", 1 oz of 2.5 mm lead shot, 450 m/s (1475 fps).

Why I wrote that? Just take anything what is working for you.

Jiri