Yeaaa!!! Dove seaon!!!
I loves me some dove shootin'. Dove eatin', too. And the coolest part is, my 8 year old daughter loves to eat them, too. 2-3 more years, and she'll be heading into the field with me.
Anyhoo, as to loads:
I like a 1 1/8 oz, ~1200 fps 12 gauge load, #7.5 shot. I've tried #8s, and they just don't kill birds as well. I had to twist way too many, even with 2 or 3 chest and side hits. Heck, I had to twist one that I'd hit in the head! The bigger shot gives a much better DBI (Dead Before Impact) percentage. I like the mid-velocity load because my gun and I both shoot it well, it kicks very lightly, and kills birds dead. I'm not really convinced that more velocity is as big an advantage with a shotgun as it is with rifles and pistols. I haven't researched that, though, it's just a field impression.
I don't shoot cheap promo loads at anything, game or clay, unless I have to. Been there, done that, and I hit noticeably better with a quality handload or premium factory shells. Cheap shotshells suck.
Dad shoots a maximum velocity 1 1/4 oz #7.5 load (WSF powder), but he's 6" taller than me, and outweighs me by at least 80 pounds.
I pretty much stick with IC choke, but we usually hunt in a gully between several farms that's only about 60 - 80 yards wide. Birds beyond the midpoint are for the guys on the other side.
Doves seem hard to kill for such a small bird, and they are definitely tough to hit. Sure are fun, though!!
--Shannon