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Looking to add some extra fun to the hunt, but not being a bird hunter, what shot size should be used for francolin, sand grouse and doves? What about guinea fowl, given their nature to run instead of flush, is it realistic to use a shotgun for them. I couldn't kill them w/a .22, not sure how the shotgun would work. Any advice? Thanks! | ||
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I used #7 1/2's with excellent luck on all the birds "America's Meat - - - SPAM" As always, Good Hunting!!! Widowmaker416 | |||
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Given guinea fowl may be in the mix...7 1/2s would be minimum...I would lean towards sixes Mike Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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If African birds are as tough as everything else, I'd pack #00 Buck!  Dave "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value." -Thomas Paine, "American Crisis" | |||
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#6 13/42's. Sorry.  ------------------------------- Will Stewart / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun. --------------------------------------- and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor Member, GOA, N.A.G.R. _________________________ "Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped “Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped. red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com _________________________ Hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go. | |||
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Okay, 6's or 7/12's. Francolin are like shooting ducks (in a barrel). Shame on you! ------------------------------- Will Stewart / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun. --------------------------------------- and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor Member, GOA, N.A.G.R. _________________________ "Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped “Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped. red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com _________________________ Hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go. | |||
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Bill, don't count on it, you havn't seen me shoot a shotgun. How did those "Keen" sandals (water shoes) work out for you in Zim? | |||
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Bill, I use number 7 in European 2.5" 12 BORES for everything. Seems to be a good in between load, but 6's would probably be better for guineas. The 7's are called "high pheasant" by the maker. Saves trying to deside how many of each size to take as the 5 kg becomes a problem real quick. | |||
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Have shot lots of guineas and francolin. Not too good on dove. I have always used the local Zim shot shells and the quality leaves MUCH to be desired. For guineas I was using 4's and 6's for everything else. The guineas are the only birds I've ever seen that you hit in the air and it just seems to push them to one side with anything less than 4's. Admittidly the power seemed to be lacking on the Zim loads. I had some remington 6's and they were fine. I do love to eat guinea cassarole they way they fix it. Probably my favorite dish there. SCI Life Member NRA Patron Life Member DRSS | |||
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Tried the Keen's stateside but they catch too much debris. So went back to my standard Tevas. I am surprised no one has commented on Buzz'z bino carry. The very best idea I have seen. You should mention/post it sometime. ------------------------------- Will Stewart / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun. --------------------------------------- and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor Member, GOA, N.A.G.R. _________________________ "Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped “Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped. red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com _________________________ Hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go. | |||
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Guys are free to carry their binos any way they want. But if you want clean, unscratched lenses, I would not pack them in an ammo belt. But what do I know, my binos stay on the dashboard of the truck because I have enough to do keeping up with the trackers and practicing muzzle awareness. | |||
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I used 6 shot for bird hunting in Africa except the time I shoot two guinea fowl with a single shot......of 165 grain .30-06. | |||
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Bill the grouse and francolin 7 1/2 are perfect and I definately would use 4 on the guinea fowl, they get up a good speed and you want to slam them good... This is from experience... Mike | |||
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We use an English Pointer on everything, and he gets the guineas flying nicely. | |||
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6's are just right for Swainson's francolin but too light for a Guinea to reliably anchor him. 4's are great for guinea but if you flush a frankie and shoot too early (common problem) you will blow him to pieces. Shoot too late (even commoner) with an improved choke you may just break a wing in which case without a dog you have a lost runner. Get 32gr (1 1/8oz) 5's, and use them for all eventualities. Remember in SA we use English shot size so convert accordingly. It's best to get the PH to buy the local stuff for you. Now if you are shooting doves and pigeons, ornery 7 to 8 trap 1oz loads do just fine. Pay attention to your chokes - skeet/quarter for walk up without a dog, quarter/quarter for walk up with a dog and quarter/half for chasing guineas all work well. It's no different from american upland shooting, just a bit warmer. Pete If Chuck Norris dives into a swimming pool, he does not get wet. The swimming pool gets Chuck Norris. | |||
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Bill, I shoot 5's and 6's on guineas and 8's on sandgrouse and dove, always in 12 gauge, when I carry my own. However, many times I am stuck with whatever the PH has in the way of extra shotgun ammo rolling around in the floor of the 'cruiser! It will all work if you do your part. Russell On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch... Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son! - Rudyard Kipling Life grows grim without senseless indulgence. | |||
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I brought a box of high base #6 and I had no problem knocking down the Guineas. It may have been more than needed for the francolin, but Africa is the place to be overgunned. ALF, for Gypo's, I would say that #4 lead is the minimum. I tried to take out a few Spurwing with #4's, but they just didn't have enough effect from the distances I was shooting from. Those things are tuff. Tim | |||
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As always, thank you gentlemen. It is clear as with most things that there are a few good options. Between the two of us we can squeeze 3-4 boxes plus the rifle ammo and still be at/under the 11lb limit, plus what's in camp for us. Given Hugh's quote below from his hunt report...I think I'll focus on the smaller birds but take a box of 4's for the GF just in case - and get to the range a few times! But until then...Skeet Game 
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