Brittany Chukarman
Well-known member
I'll be doing more duck hunting this Fall. Decoying and some jump shooting. I know nothing about steel loads. What shoudl I be using? Loads that kill without overdoing it.
School me on steel shot
- Thread starter Brittany Chukarman
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Frenchy
Well-known member
I use 3" #4's the majority of the time. maybe #2's if I think I will be doing some pass shooting. But as far as brand, I've been going the cheap route and shooting Rio's. I've killed plenty of ducks and geese with them, and haven't noticed any real downsides.
MThuntr
Well-known member
I don't see any reason to go with premium ammo. I've had a lot of success with 3" #2 or #3 steel Remington Nitro, Federal Bluebox, or Kent Fasteel.
Jmnhunter
Active member
also on the 3" #4's and switch to #3's later in the season; federal speek shok or winchester xperts for me
I have been using Federal Black Cloud and Winchester Blind Side. I use #3s for early season woodies and teal and #2s for later season mallards and the occasional woodie. If I had to pick one, I would pick #2s as you can thump a goose with those as well. I used to use the cheaper versions and have seen a noticeable difference in performance, but the cheaper versions will kill ducks too. Just not quite as effectively. More ducks are dead when they hit the ground with Black Cloud and Blind Side in my experience. YMMV.
MinnesotaHunter
Well-known member
In general, I agree in that for the majority of my hunting career I have stuck with the basics (most of the time Kent Fasteel). However, since its introduction I almost exclusively shoot Federal Blackcloud specifically for the flitecontrol wad. I have patterned my shotgun with a bunch of loads/chokes and I get better patterns at greater distance with the flitecontrols for waterfowl, pheasants (on Waterfowl Production Areas), and turkeys.
If I was going to be doing some high volume shooting on decoying birds I would still shoot Kents, or something similar, but hunting pressured birds on public water/land it is worth it to me to have a little more range to capitalize on the opportunities I get.
If I was going to be doing some high volume shooting on decoying birds I would still shoot Kents, or something similar, but hunting pressured birds on public water/land it is worth it to me to have a little more range to capitalize on the opportunities I get.
MinnesotaHunter
Well-known member
How did you do on Woodies this year? We have been hammering on them between Brainerd and Walker....
Jmnhunter
Active member
opener in longville had some decent numbers of woodies; havent been out since though
MinnesotaHunter
Well-known member
There were still plenty of birds around last weekend...hoping the mild weather keeps them around for one more...
so-so. But we usually get a ton of them about this time. Our resident woodie hunting is only okay. It is those northern ducks that come down that can be out of this world. Reminds me I should go scout a bit!
Remember the snowstorm last year on Oct 11? Unbelievable hunting for woodies. Man was that fun!
Remember the snowstorm last year on Oct 11? Unbelievable hunting for woodies. Man was that fun!
Frenchy
Well-known member
I would agree with the above that the more expensive shells may have a better knock down power, but for the price......I'll shoot a few more shells to get that limit. I also believe that ones shooting ability has a greater influence than the type of shot you are throwing out there.
I will on occasion shoot the more expensive Hevi-Shot shells on my one goose trip a year. And I will say, they definitely pack a bigger punch.
I will on occasion shoot the more expensive Hevi-Shot shells on my one goose trip a year. And I will say, they definitely pack a bigger punch.
Nick87
Well-known member
Hard to say without trying a few to see what patterns best. #2 or 3 works best for me for ducks. I'd stay away from Winchester blindside.
D4570
Well-known member
Actually, you should let your shotgun tell you what is "Best"
Put it on Paper and test a few different brands.
Price is not an indicator of "Better" shells in your gun.
I would however get a full choke for better kills, all new chokes will shoot steel even in the full choke, shot density is very important, Never shoot past your effective range, steel slows very fast and the lost energy of it being lighter is crippled birds...
Put it on Paper and test a few different brands.
Price is not an indicator of "Better" shells in your gun.
I would however get a full choke for better kills, all new chokes will shoot steel even in the full choke, shot density is very important, Never shoot past your effective range, steel slows very fast and the lost energy of it being lighter is crippled birds...
Doublecluck
Well-known member
I kill lots of ducks and geese with 3” 3’s, all I shoot at waterfowl other than snow goose season.
OntarioHunter
Well-known member
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Just as important, if not more important, is velocity. "Speed kills" definitely applies to steel shot. I won't shoot anything slower tha 1550 fps. You need to step up a shot size too. I would advise using #2 or #3 shot for ducks and BB for geese.
MMS1919
New member
The Montana Migratory Bird Regulations have a copy of the TOM ROSTER’S 2016 NONTOXIC SHOT LETHALITY TABLE near the last page. I'm sure you can find it by googling too. As others have mentioned, best to verify with personal experience.
Dougfirtree
Well-known member
I use Kent 3" 2's for mallards, black ducks, etc. If I saw 3's around more, I'd probably use them more. I use 4's for wood ducks, teal, etc. if I know that's what I'm getting into. Modified choke usually. And as Ontario points out, velocity is important for steel! It just doesn't kill like lead does, so you really do need to use larger, faster shot and while others might disagree, when I shoot and see the bird fall, I stop shooting at any other birds in the air. I follow that one down and if his head comes up when he hits the water, I shoot again. I hate losing crippled birds!
Dougfirtree
Well-known member
I used to hunt for woodies sometimes in that area. Lived in Hackensack. Cool area!
MT_Chad
Well-known member
For ducks I usually shoot cheap stuff in #2. I use hevi metal or black cloud in BBB on geese.
Just a reminder that steel generally patterns tighter than lead shot of the same size, and for the same weight of shot there will be more pellets than same weight of lead. (I'm told that skeet shooters use this factoid and choose to shoot steel, to increase pellet numbers, at relatively short distances)
The tightest "standard" choke that I will use with steel is a modified, which will shoot like a full using lead. One time I discovered that I had my turkey choke (extra extra full) with a plan to ambush geese coming off their roost. I walked back to the car to get the proper choke as I didn't want my barrel to explode in my face.
The tightest "standard" choke that I will use with steel is a modified, which will shoot like a full using lead. One time I discovered that I had my turkey choke (extra extra full) with a plan to ambush geese coming off their roost. I walked back to the car to get the proper choke as I didn't want my barrel to explode in my face.
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