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Every bird at Totara Lodge Shoot is quite shootable with an ordinary gun with ordinary chokes and with an ordinary cartridge; which is how it should be! Whilst we have some legendary drives such as 'Archangels' and 'Pheasants Revenge' where the birds are truly challenging, the practice of consistently showing birds at extreme range poses serious questions especially with less experienced guns or light-load cartridges.
Recently there has been considerable debate about the lethality of non toxic shot and the relative merits of shooting sub gauges such as the 20 bore over the 12 bore. Some argue that because steel is harder there is less pattern deformity and therefore more pellets hitting the target. Then there is the equal shot load point of view which states that an ounce of anything, be it lead or steel, if fired out of the same choked gun, be it 20 or 12, behaves the same!
The most important thing to appreciate is that birds are killed by shot pellets and not by guns. As long as a sufficient number of pellets are brought on to the intended target, with sufficient energy and ability to penetrate to the vital areas, then the result will be a dead bird.
Guns
At the end of the day they are simply a tool made to do a job. Generally speaking, the best quality firearm is likely to be an English or European double gun made pre-war. But this will be of little use unless the gun fit is suitable. There are four principle areas to gun fit: length of pull (the distance from the trigger to the centre of the butt-stock); drop of the comb (height of the top of the butt-stock in relation to the barrel); pitch (the angle of the butt-stock's rear surface relative to the axis of the barrel); cast (the direction the stock is shaped or bent horizontally to properly position the shooter's eye over the rib).
It is important that the correct dimensions are achieved so that the gun will shoot precisely where the shooter is looking as the gun mount is completed. It follows that a good gun mount and the basic skills to achieve it are a major part of good shooting; without it, a well fitted gun does not help much.Choke
What you need to have is a combination of shot size and choke that offers consistent patterns at the ranges you are most likely to be shooting. Improved cylinder in the first barrel suits most situations. For the second shot a half choke is enough for high birds and not overly tight for lower stuff. But if you want to be serious about your shooting, then get a pair of guns and have at least one full choke barrel for the real sky scrapers!Shot Size
There are two considerations for a clean kill on a flying bird: pattern and penetration.
Generally speaking the minimum pattern for pheasants is 120 pellets within a 30 inch circle at whatever range you intend shooting. Ideally this will put at least four pellets into the bird and be reliable enough to reach a vital organ. But the pellets must have sufficient energy to penetrate the bird and bring about a clean kill. The extremes are to use either a smaller shot size which gives extremely dense patterns but less penetration, or a larger shot size with fewer pellets but each being heavier therefore retaining greater energy and giving better penetration. The maximum effective range therefore is where both pattern density and penetration can be reliably expected to produce a kill with a well placed shot. A British made cartridge of traditional 30 grams in No.4 shot has exactly half the number of pellets of a No.7 shot. The smaller shot or No.7 will run out of penetration at a little over 30 yards; conversely the larger shot or No.4 will have plenty of penetration out to beyond 50 yards but by then the pattern is opening up so much that a clean kill will be unreliable except with the tightest of chokes. For the average gun a 30 gram load of No.6 shot will kill most birds.Dressed To Kill
Game shots can allow themselves little fashion statements in their clothing and the only thing that is not considered de rigeur is anything camouflage. The normal British shooting outfit is varied and makes good sense; it is also layered. Breeks or plus fours are shortened long trousers in tweed, corduroy or moleskin and should be worn with long socks and waterproof boots. A tattersall shirt or any non-bright, quiet reserved shirt will do; a tie is frankly required for tradition and a shooting jacket or sports coat is a necessity. A shooting hat is a good idea for the winter sun in Taupo but baseball caps are not appreciated --- they are considered slightly disrespectful! The overall effect should be of somewhat earthy muted colours, unless of course you don't mind scaring the birds over to your neighbouring guns!