shot size for coastal ducks ?

[HammondSeaRanger]

can anyone give me advice on what size shot to buy for coastal ducks ?

I know I have to have steel shot ... should I be looking @ 3" magnums or ?

thanks for helping a newbie to the sport !

[Lured In]

Like so many other things, it depends.

Personally I shoot high velocity (1450-1550fps) 3" #2's. This load works great on 90% of my hunts. The others are when the teal are in thick and I like a HV 3" #4. If you have the chace to shoot geese over the same spread and have "big ducks" (mallards, etc), a HV 3" #1 is a versatile load that will kill geese and you don't have to switch shells when the ducks come in or vice versa. Good luck.

[Flatfish]

1400 FPS is a nice number to stay close to. 2s and 3s are the best choices. 2 3/4" or 3" will work equally fine until ranges get long( and I can't shoot that far, so I shoot the stubby shells and save my money). 1s have done well for me, especially at close range( improved cyl), but I seem to gut shoot too many birds with them at longer range.

if they were inside of 35 yards, you aint got nobody to blame for the miss with 2s and 3s. Past that, you will want to pattern the gun with each load. And practice and incredible amount. I feel most folks have little business shooting past that range anyways.

Sorry if it seems harsh, but the ratio of cripples to kills seems to invert at this range. o I am a bit down on long bomb shots.

Mark and the dog.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

The only thing I use for ducks is #2s,teal,mallards,whatever its #2s. If geese are around,I keep a few rounds of BBB in my jacket.

[Dr Strangelove]

My choices:

Ducks: Winchester HV 1550fps #1-2 3" Steel or Kent Fasteel same load.

Geese: 3.5" high veloc (>1400fps) BBB-BB; again Kent or Winchester my fav choices.

If you can afford Rem Hevishot or Kent Tungsten Matrix then use the #1-2 on geese (3") and #4-6 on ducks (2.75").

Use the larger sizes later in the season when your shots are longer and plumage thickest.

[ 09-29-2003, 03:40 PM: Message edited by: Dr Strangelove ]

[Dr Strangelove]

Deal of the Season! Today at GI Joes:
$14.99 Hevishot #4 HV waterfowl 3" box 20ga x2 = $30
- $5 off purchase >$25 (bought 2 boxes) coupon
- $5 rebate on two boxes
________________________________
$10/box. $1/round. :smile:

For duck or pheasant with mod choke, that's 20 magazine loads with 1st two shots steel/third round kill for cost control.

[ 09-29-2003, 01:06 PM: Message edited by: Dr Strangelove ]

[Killertraylor]

I use Heavyshot now in #4's, but for the last 10 years I used steel BB's exclusively on ducks - 2 3/4 inch high velocity and killed ducks just like I did with lead. I tried going to 2's and 1's and always went back to BB's - steel is so light you really need the bigger size pellets to put some shocking power into them.

[nitrobass]

Years ago I switched to shooting nothing but 3inch BB's for ducks. I'd be hunting divers on Siltcoos lake and those ducks sometimes have 1/4inch of fat on them. The BB's punched right through, also the pellet holes are big enough to really clean out all the feathers. I'm not really brand specific for that load.

For decoying geese I like a magnum BB load(HV are great for this) backed by two BBB loads.

Lots of times I'll talk with someone in the marsh and they go on and on and on about velocity, powder, shot size and different load characteristics. Sometimes I think we make things harder than they need to be. Get the birds to commit and there's a bunch of loads that will take them cleanly if you hit them square.

[Special K]

anything more than 3" #2s is overkill if you are shooting at reasonable distances and are concerned about not crippling birds. I shoot a lot of Remington Nitro steel #3...a good all-around size with decent velociy.

[Dr Strangelove]

IMHO I must respectfully disagree on Rem Nitro Steel #3 standard veloc (<1300fps) loads. In early season 2 yrs ago I used an leftover box of them on deked ducks at under 30yds. 6/7 birds were crippled and were very extended difficult often under water/deep reed retrieves. The duck that didn't dive on impact needed a neck wrenching to put out of misery. I'll never use standard velocity steel again.

[ 09-29-2003, 02:16 PM: Message edited by: Dr Strangelove ]

[Wreckless]

I agree with the Doctor, use the "slow" shells you have left for "swatters" except you'll have a FAR fewer cripples with FAST shells. 1400+ 2 & BBs out of a pattern master choke for me.

Actually.... handloaded, 1 1/4 oz, 1330fps buffered lead #4s would be my REAL choice :grin:

[Critr Gitr]

SPEED KILLS !!!!!!!

For steel I have to say #2s at 1500-1550 fps is the ticket. Fasteel, Win Hi-Vel ... I have reloaded steel for years and two things are essential # of pellets on target and speed (KE = .5*m*(v^2)). Steel looses its KE at distance due to density being less than lead. High speed makes up for it at reasonable distance. The lead and newer high density alloys need to run slower due to shot set back pressure (1300fps) but their pellet density is heavier than lead [they pack a punch] but with a longer shot string. Smaller pellets tend to penetrate better due to cross-sectional surface area and an increase in pellet count. Read "The Status of Steel" by ballistic products.

I'd love to shoot Hevi-Shot but have found a good $$ compromise in the newer high velocity shell loads .. (NOTHING less than 1500fps).

Now Winchester has a 1550fps Expert load (1 3/8 oz in 3 1/2" for around 109 case - $30 rebate = about $75 case - shipping [3" laods are cheaper)) - used these in #2s on Sept geese and a lot of "dead in the air" shots at 40-50yds. At these prices I may put my reloader in storage.

:smile:

Last year I had a bunch of BB's to use up before the end of the season. Every duck I shot with a full choke and BB's was stone cold DEAD. This year all I am buying is BB's.

[Bait Bucket]

I would use #4 hevi-shot.

[fishncliff]

I am a big fan of BB or #2, as close to 1400fps as u can afford.I have far fewer cripples and easier retrieves. just my .02.

[HammondSeaRanger]

damn,

alot of information to digest. I figured a box of shells was a box of shells ... :shocked:

ok so it looks like 1400 - 1500 fps #2 in a 3" shell.

brand name or does it matter .. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

i am out on the coast in clatsop co. anyone out here know of a LOCAL deal on shells ??

BP :grin:

[Lured In]

Blue pig...quite honestly everyone has their favorite and it matters less what the brand is than how you feel about its performance. Confidence is everything. If you don't believe in your shells, find a new one. (after all we gunners never make mistakes, it must be the shells. [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] )

Here is a list of steel shell manufacturer's that can be ordered through at least Cabela's and Mack's Prairie Wings, if not dozen's of other internet sites.

1. Winchester Xpert or Drylock High Velocity
2. Remington Nitro Mag or Express
3. Kent Fasteel
4. Federal Classic High Velocity

I believe that Fiocci even has a HV load out now.

Some guns prefer to eat certain manufacturers shells over others. Mine likes Winchester and sometimes Remington. My Benelli seems to have problems with some Federal shells, but those have been few and far between.
:grin: