boat swatter loads.

baltz526 · 11-27-2008, 11:20 AM

i'm thinking fast light loads for the 70yd divers with only the head above water. did a search here and got limited return. i have a load that i'm going to try to put together. looking in my book, i find a 1 1/16 oz load at 1650fps. i'm trying to decide what steel pellets to order. #3 - #4 - #6. i'm leaning to the #3's but pattern density is the key to a swatter load at long yardage. will a #6 steel pellet penatrate a duck head at 70yds? i have my doubts

baltz526 · 11-27-2008, 11:39 AM

there are about 165 #3's or 330 #6's in 1 1/16 oz. a large difference

MarshBum · 11-27-2008, 11:48 AM

Personally, I like the smaller shot for the density. Just my $0.02, but that's what I "try" to run. Doesn't always happen that way though... sometimes I forget the swatters

Geoff

riverraider · 11-27-2008, 11:55 AM

#6 steel wont penetrate at that range. Your right though, density is important at that range. I know its alot more money, but I'd look for a hevi-shot type pellet at 1550fps in a size 4 or maybe 5. At that range these will be moving alot faster than steel even if steel starts out faster (it also slows faster)
#5 hevi-shot will kill a turkey at 60 yards, it'll do the same to a diver duck.
I don't reload, so I don't know the logistics of reloading with these non-toxic types of shot, but thats the only thing I can think of that will reach that far and still give the high shot count to give the pattern density you are wanting.

baltz526 · 11-27-2008, 12:04 PM

the premium shot are NOT an option. maybe for bill gates or warren buffet

adobe wall · 11-27-2008, 01:27 PM

I tried using smaller shot for cripples and have never had great luck with it. At 70 yards a head only target is darn tough....

I did improve the recovery rate a fair amount by aiming below the bird by a foot or so depending on range and skipping the shot into the bird. That does help get the pattern a bit more dense.

regards, aw

Dr Strangelove · 11-27-2008, 01:38 PM

Let's see... 70 yards and Hevi's not an option. The only pellet with marginally enough energy at that range in steel will be BB, and you need optimally 1.5oz of them for the pattern density to clip a duck's head. I'd load up 3.5" hulls with that, refer to the Book for the grains of Steel Powder and correct wad, and put them out of the barrel through a Patternmaster extended range tube. You'll want to aim at the water just in front of the bird. Don't be surprised if it "zombies up" later in the dead pile after it recovers from its concussion.

baltz526 · 11-27-2008, 01:54 PM

the last escapee had 11 3" 1 1/8 oz loads of steel BB's shot at him. so BB is not a good swatter pellet. in my limited experience

Headhunter · 11-27-2008, 02:07 PM

For swatters I try and use up my 3 1/2 inch BB goose loads that are starting to get a bit of rust on them. For swatters it works better than my standard 3 inch #2 duck loads and the 3 1/2's don't go to waste

zike · 11-27-2008, 02:28 PM

Here's a thought, don't be lazy untie the boat and get closer. It worked years ago, when I hunted divers. I'm sure it will work today. Its better then letting the cripples get away. I wonder what the CO would say about your lack effort to try and put cripples in the boat. I know that our local CO had a talk with some guys, hunting big water without a boat. The divers were sailing to the middle of the river and the dog wouldn't go after them.

Old Guys Rule · 11-27-2008, 02:29 PM

I use the cheap 2 3/4 in 1 oz #6 steel at 1450 fps upland loads. Cripples on the water die with head shots so pellet density is the issue. Retained energy calculations are based on going through the body, the head takes less energy. I find best results with #6. If the cripple is out 70 yds then fire the boat up and get closer to finish it off....

baltz526 · 11-27-2008, 03:57 PM

tell the duck to stay still. chasing divers with the boat is what we are discussing. you can not shoot from a moving boat. so here is the game, you run the boat up on the bird, shut off engine, wait for all forward progress to stop, shoot duck when it pops up. the issue is, the pesky bird can swim 70yds under water from the last point you see him. it becomes a scene from key stone cops or your favorite cartoon. gets more interesting with a little chop on the water. so yes get closer, please

steelheadslayer · 11-27-2008, 05:00 PM

I've had this discussion with Federal agents and even state agents over here. If you're chasing a cripple and using the boat to bring them to hand then you can chase them down and dispatch them. It seems to be a common sense issue. What the intent of the law is to prevent using the boat to motor swiftly into a resting flock and then shooting them before they leave the water.

I've done this numerous times in front of fairly public areas and have never been ticketed or even contacted after doing so.

I try and prevent ever coming to this method so now, if their head is still up, I'm shooting until it's dead if they're close enough.

baltz526 · 11-27-2008, 05:37 PM

if i can read it in an ORS i'll do it. i find it hard to order #6 steel shot, even planning to use the excess for upland shells

spurcrazy · 11-27-2008, 05:42 PM

Hevi Shot swat loads

Personally I would want to shoot the 6's. I carry them with me when duck hunting "just in case" and they are a great swat load.

baltz526 · 11-27-2008, 06:59 PM

i can not bring myself to buy #6 steel, so i'm going to order the #3's and make the load with 165 pellets and use it for both upland along the waterways i hunt for the occasional duck and chuckers. this will be my replacement for the 1 1/4 oz # 6's a great swatter load we can not use any more

Linejerk · 11-28-2008, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baltz526

tell the duck to stay still. chasing divers with the boat is what we are discussing. you can not shoot from a moving boat. so here is the game, you run the boat up on the bird, shut off engine, wait for all forward progress to stop, shoot duck when it pops up. the issue is, the pesky bird can swim 70yds under water from the last point you see him. it becomes a scene from key stone cops or your favorite cartoon. gets more interesting with a little chop on the water. so yes get closer, please

This is very true I chased one the other day for 25 min's

HuntNFishAddict · 11-28-2008, 06:27 PM

Best swatter load I have ever used is 3 1/2" 1 5/8oz of #4 Hevishot. Always have one ready for the guy who doesn't kill his bluebill DRT ( Dead Right There). Unbelievable payload and pattern even after they have dove and come up 40-50 yds away.

zike · 11-28-2008, 06:53 PM

Here's a thought, instead of shutting off the motor and waiting til the forward motion is stopped. I run up, stick the motor in reverse to stop the travel and shut it off. With the other CO's I didn't shut off the motor. I'm not so sure about the new one. I don't get many crips so its not an issue. If you run pass where you last saw the bird by 20 or 30 yards, it will only be a 40 or 50 yard shot.