High Pheasants: Chokes, Cartridges and Technique that Actually Work

A pheasant that turns into a speck above the guns cannot be flattered into the bag. It needs pattern density where it matters and pellet energy to match. Good shooting helps, of course, yet the right combination of choke and cartridge is what gives your swing a fair chance.

This is where careful selection beats myth. Tall talk on the peg about “full choke and 50 grams of number 3” rarely leaves birds any deader, but it does leave more bruised shoulders and battered actions. The goal is tidy, repeatable performance, not theatrics.

Below is a practical guide drawn from the bench, the pattern plate and days on steep ground. It keeps faith with fine guns, old and new, while giving you setups that hold together when the birds do their best to get out of town.

What makes a pheasant “high”

“High” is often misread. Height is not simply vertical distance. A driven bird at 45 metres, quartering across a valley with a tailwind, is far harder to kill cleanly than one higher but hanging head to wind.

Key variables:

• True range, not guesswork from the peg
• Bird attitude in the air and presentation angle
• Wind strength and direction
• Your own position and background, which affects sight picture
• Gun fit, mount and how consistently you can move the barrels

A cartridge and choke that pattern well at 35 metres might crumble at 50. Your setup must carry both pellet energy and pattern evenness to the real range of the birds you face.

Pattern and energy: the baseline that matters

Two numbers guide cartridge and choke choice for tall birds:

• Sufficient pellet energy at impact to penetrate and break bone
• Enough pellets in the right place to put several strikes in the vital area

Rules that keep you honest:

• Aim for five to seven strikes in the high-value area of a pheasant at the ranges you intend to shoot
• Seek around 120 to 140 strikes in a 30 inch circle at that same distance if you like a figure to work with
• Choose pellet sizes that carry energy to the range, then use choke to hold patterns together

Approximate pellet counts in a 12 bore:

• Lead No. 6: about 270 pellets in 32 g
• Lead No. 5: about 220 pellets in 32 g
• Lead No. 4: about 170 pellets in 32 g
• Steel pellets are lighter for a given size, so you will tend to step up one or two sizes to keep energy comparable at distance

Velocity is not everything. Fast cartridges can blow patterns with tight chokes, and in cold air the gain in speed does not always translate to better performance on game. Consistency beats headline speeds.

Choke choices that actually work past 40 metres

High birds reward sensible choke. Too open and you run out of pattern. Too tight and you can get stringy, uneven clusters that miss the centre of the bird. Many continental barrels are a touch more open than their marks suggest, and some older English guns are the opposite. Always measure, never assume.

A practical framework for 12 bore on tall birds with lead or bismuth:

• Over and under: first barrel 1/2 or 5/8, second barrel 3/4. If birds are truly distant, move to 7/8 in the second barrel but pattern check first.
• Side by side: a balanced setup like 1/2 and 3/4 patterns well for many guns. Very light guns often prefer 3/8 and 5/8 to keep recoil in line with mount quality.

For high performance steel:

• Stay at 1/2 choke or less. Steel patterns tightly for a given constriction, and CIP guidance and common sense both point to moderation.
• If you need more reach, go up a pellet size rather than cranking the choke tighter.

If you like quick translations:

• Cylinder: 0
• Skeet: 1/8
• Improved Cylinder: 1/4
• Light Modified: 3/8
• Modified: 1/2
• Improved Modified: 5/8
• Three Quarter: 3/4
• Heavy Full: 7/8 to Full

Names vary by maker. The real figure is the measured constriction in millimetres relative to the bore. That is what actually patterns.

Cartridges for tall birds: lead, bismuth and steel

Here is where pellet size, payload and wad choice come together. Estates and local law set the limits on shot material. Denmark has been lead free for decades. Many British shoots now specify non-lead on the day. Set up for what you will actually be allowed to use.

Lead game loads for height:

• 34 to 36 g gives a good balance of pellet count and pattern integrity
• No. 5 or No. 4 carry better at 45 to 55 metres than No. 6
• Fibre wad is often required on estate grounds and is usually kinder to older barrels
• Avoid very hard-kicking magnums in light vintage guns

Bismuth on tall birds:

• 32 to 34 g works for most 12 bores
• Go one size up from your lead choice to hold energy at range, so No. 4 or No. 3 is sensible for really high birds
• Suitable for older guns and fine chokes, with far fewer restrictions than steel
• Modern bismuth is much improved over early versions and patterns nicely with traditional chokes

Steel under CIP rules:

• Only use High Performance steel in guns with the fleur de lis mark and chambers matched to the case length
• Standard steel loads are fine for modest ranges but are often stretched on truly high pheasants
• 32 to 34 g High Performance steel with No. 3 or No. 2 pellets gives you reach without the need for tight choke
• Keep to 1/2 choke or less, and pattern test before the season

Velocity:

• A genuine 1350 to 1450 feet per second at the muzzle is entirely adequate for high birds
• Ultra fast loads punish the shooter and can pull patterns apart with heavy constrictions

Chamber length and proof:

• Do not put 70 mm magnums in a 65 mm chamber. It is poor for the gun and poor for you
• Check proof status before choosing steel. The mark tells the truth where hearsay does not

A practical table you can use

These are working setups that print good plates for many guns. They are a starting point, not a law. Always test with your own barrels.

True range to bird	Lead setup	Bismuth setup	Steel setup
35 to 40 m	32 g No. 5, 3/8 then 1/2 choke	32 g No. 4, 3/8 then 1/2 choke	32 g HP No. 4, 1/4 then 1/2 choke
40 to 45 m	34 g No. 5, 1/2 then 3/4 choke	34 g No. 4, 1/2 then 3/4 choke	32–34 g HP No. 3, 1/4 then 1/2 choke
45 to 50 m	36 g No. 4, 5/8 then 3/4 choke	34 g No. 3, 5/8 then 3/4 choke	34 g HP No. 2, 1/4 then 1/2 choke
50 m plus with ideal presentation	36 g No. 4, 3/4 then 7/8 choke after pattern test	34 g No. 3, 3/4 then 7/8 after pattern test	34 g HP No. 2, 1/4 then 1/2 choke and accept limits

Notes:

• Fibre wads are assumed for lead and bismuth. If plastic is permitted, you may gain a touch of pattern density
• Steel chokes do not go tighter than 1/2. If you need more reach, step up pellet size within pressure limits
• If you shoot a 20 bore, reduce payload by 2 g and keep pellet size similar. Pattern early

Technique that turns the kit into clean kills

Even the best cartridge and choke will not save poor timing. High birds reward a method that is calm and deliberate.

• Pick one bird. Greed on the peg ruins scores on tall drives.
• Set your feet before the bird arrives. Hips and shoulders dictate the quality of the swing.
• Start with a hold point where you can see the bird clearly and mount into the target, not up under your cheek with a barrel in the sky.
• Use a method you trust. Maintained lead gives a steady picture on line and angle. Pull away suits birds that appear to hang. Choose one and stick to it.
• Keep the muzzle moving through the shot. Stopping the barrels makes people snatch for daylight and miss behind.
• Do not rush the first barrel on a truly high bird. Let the line settle, then commit.

If recoil unsettles your mount, lighten the load or add a well fitted pad. A bruised shoulder makes for bad decisions mid drive.

Common mistakes that cost birds at height

• Over choking. Full choke on a gun that does not like it can give a hole where the bird lives.
• Too small a pellet. No. 6 on a windy day at 50 metres is unkind to game.
• Belief in raw speed. Very fast loads can pattern thinly and punish your rhythm.
• Poor mount from thick clothing. Adjust stock length with a seasonal pad or spacer rather than fighting collars and coats.
• Ignoring wind. Quartering birds with a tailwind need smart footwork and firmer lead.

Each of these has a simple fix. Pattern the gun, choose the right pellet size, match recoil to your stock fit and keep your feet alive.

Pattern testing made simple

The pattern plate is the most honest judge you will meet.

• Start at 40 metres. Use a laser measure or marked tape from the muzzle to the plate for accuracy.
• Shoot from a proper mount, not a rest. Your real mount affects point of impact.
• Fire three shots per combination to even out random spread.
• Count strikes in a 30 inch circle and look for evenness, not just raw numbers. You want no voids where a bird can glide through untouched.
• Repeat at 50 metres if you plan to shoot at that range. Many combinations look acceptable at 40 and fall apart at 50.
• Record everything in a notebook. Include temperature and wind. It helps more than memory.

We keep a full suite of bore and choke measuring tools at the bench. The difference between a nominal 1/2 and a real 0.45 mm constriction is often the difference between a full game bag and an afternoon of mystery misses.

Respecting vintage and fine guns

High pheasant days and fine British sidelocks belong together, but only with respect for proof and pressure.

• Many older guns have 65 mm chambers. Choose 65 mm cases where possible, or low pressure 67 mm loads approved by the maker.
• Keep payloads sensible. A 30 to 32 g bismuth load in No. 4 or 5 does fine work from a light side by side on a tall drive, provided your choke and pattern agree.
• Avoid High Performance steel in any gun without the fleur de lis proof. Standard steel can be an option in some nitro proofed guns with open chokes, but pattern and wear need to be considered.
• Recoil and stock head strain matter. We see cracked heads from heavy modern loads in delicate actions all too often.

At Game & Gun we specialise in sidelocks and fine vintage guns. We measure before we recommend, and we can fabricate parts, tighten actions and regulate ejectors so that your gun is not only safe but a pleasure to shoot at tall birds.

Side by side vs over and under for steep ground

The type of gun changes the picture slightly.

Side by side:

• Often lighter with more lively muzzles, which helps on quick quartering birds
• Recoil can feel sharper with heavy loads in a light frame
• Traditional game stock shapes can benefit from a seasonal pad for extra clothing

Over and under:

• Usually more weight between the hands, which smooths the long swing on a straight driven bird
• Tends to absorb recoil better with 34 to 36 g loads
• Many modern barrels pattern tight with modest choke, so test before you assume you need three quarter or more

Neither is right or wrong. The best choice is the one that sits in your hands like an old friend.

A word on footwear, clothing and steadiness

High birds demand a stable platform. Slipping on a muddy bank turns any choke into a liability.

• Wear boots that hold firm on steep ground. Good ankle support and a grippy sole let you plant and swing with confidence.
• Keep clothing simple around the stock. Bulky scarves and loose collars upset the mount.
• Shooting vests or coats with a smooth shoulder panel help the gun return to the same place drive after drive.

Our retail floor carries footwear for rough ground and shooting vests and coats that work with, not against, your gun mount. It is the quiet detail that keeps focus on the bird.

Troubleshooting on the day

If you are missing high birds and can only change a few things between drives:

• Move a quarter size up in choke on the second barrel if your pattern is clearly too open
• If you are hitting but birds are flying on, go up one pellet size in the same cartridge make
• If recoil is throwing your head off the stock, step down a few grams in payload and trust a tighter choke to maintain pattern
• Change your hold point to see the bird earlier and simplify your swing

Small tweaks beat wholesale changes mid day. Save the big decisions for the pattern plate and a quiet bench.

Where we can help

Game & Gun is a working gunsmith’s shop with a test rig, pattern frames and all the small tools that turn guesswork into fact. We measure bore and choke, cut and crown, rectify ribs, tighten actions and fit trigger units so that your gun works as a unit. If you shoot fine London guns, we are comfortable fabricating springs, pins and levers in house to original patterns, and we blue and regulate to a standard that respects the maker’s intent.

Bring the gun you actually take to the field. We will put your preferred cartridges on paper at 40 and 50 metres, record the result and set up chokes that print evenly. If your estate requires non-lead, we will pattern bismuth and steel combinations that meet proof and still put high birds on the grass.

Good cartridges and sensible choke choices are not an indulgence. They are a kindness to game and a gift to your shooting. When the birds are on the tops of the beeches and the wind is in their tails, that kindness shows.