The Dove season opens here 2 September (In Louisiana). I have several shotguns that I have done well with ever since I was 7 years old. What you want is light and fast, because Doves can be the fastest game bird that flies.
That equates to a 20 gage in all practicality. Mine of course is a vintage Browning A-5 light Twenty. I also plan to use my 410 double should the birds be in close, but you never really know. A 12 gage is just fine if the range is long, so I may take 3 shotguns depending on the situation. Should I do this or you, for safety make sure to completely check all your shells if you switch from a 20 to a 12 as this could be a hazard should a 20 get stuck in a 12 barrel.
As far as what number shot to use its simple for lead shot 9, 8, 7 1/2 and sometimes 6 work well. But safety dictates two rules. Don’t use 6 or 4 shot in a crowded field, and don’t shoot low birds. If using non toxic shot 7s are the deal.
Chokes can be from Full to Improved Cylinder depending on what the birds are doing, so I take a few.
There is no such thing as the perfect lead on a Dove, they can go from 20 to 60 MPH and they probably won’t tell you. The worst thing I ever did was shoot a round of skeet before a hunt, contrary to popular belief they aren’t that fast. The trick is learn how to pick yours shots.
I could get into a lot more but I lend myself to questions and that’s fine too. So in a couple of days I’m going out to miss a few doves, maybe I will get the limit and maybe not but I’m gonna have fun, I hope you do too…Pass it on.