204Ruger

Just as the title states, I'd like to know what you're favorite crow load is. I've been using Remington Game Load 2 3/4" #6 shot but im completely open to new opinions. Just so everyone knows..im using an 870 Express Mag 12 Gauge. If there is a better load out there, I would definitely want to know about it! I know it's kinda random and everyone right now is probably thinking about turkeys, but I trust you guys more then me. Overall I want a hard hitting (2 3/4" though...i knowww 3" would hit harder but I don't want the added recoil. Sorry, but I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to recoil ), and long range shot that will stay together on the way out. Lets hear those opinons! I want everyones in here!

In early season, I use either a 3 1/4, 1 1/8 oz load of 6, 71/2, or maybe 8's. As season wears on and they get shot more, I load a 3 3/4, 1 1/4oz load of 6 or 7 1/2's. With my modified Comp-n-choke, I can kill them out past 50 yds (clarify that, the gun can, sometimes the shooter can't). I like shooting the heavier loads and not limiting the range and killing power of my shotgun. I really like hunting crows with my Browning o/u, but like the added firepower (no plug, legal here in Ga) of my Stoeger 2000.

Soo out of those three shots ( 6, 7 1/2, 8 ), which one would you pick IF you had to have just one?

7 1/2 kills them just fine

Keith in Ga wrote:7 1/2 kills them just fine

Alright! Sounds like i have a new load to try!

I use a 20ga loaded with handloads. I have both 7 1/2's here for crows & 8's for dove. I grabbed the 8's one day by mistake & was impressed with the crow smoking abilities of them.

www.crowbusters.com is THE definitive source for all things crowbusting.

Racr-350 I shoot the same shotgun as yourself and use #6 shot early in the season backed up with a #5 shot shell using 3-inch shells I load myself. Now once the season wears on I switch to #5's and back that up with a #4 shot. The Remington 870 is the only gun on the market that will in fact pattern #4 shot for use on birds without a lot of work to the gun. Now that was told to me by a bunch of Good Ole Boys from Arkansas called Ballistic Specialists........they also have a shotgun team that competes nation wide.

My favorite crow load is a single 32gr V-max in .204!!!

My dad started us boys out with 2 3/4in 7 1/2 with 1 1/4 oz shot, 3 3/4 drams powder which is a high base load in the good ol 12 ga. I have killed all kinds of birds with this load, inc dove, quail, pheasants, pigeons, (wild variety), ducks, from teal all the way up to honkers and snows.

We patterned different loads at 35 yards, and 7 1/2 high base loads gave the best pattern density, in all 3 of our shotguns. And I do believe, have more than adequat knock down power. 7 1/2's don't break the wings of geese as well as bigger shot does, but with more bb's in the pattern, we found bb's in the head were the killers. For the last 30 yrs or so, since I do all my reloading, my load is 7 1/2's with a load of Herco, and Remington high base wads. For crows, I would not hesitate taking shots at 50yds and even a little farther with my reloads. If your lead is right on, these crows are DRT.

As for the 32gr Vmax. they also work on magpies