Waterfowl Shot Sizes

[Stomper]

Wanna save the salmon population (and many other species)?
Buy your own sub, sail and torpedo all the illegal fishing factories that are out in the Pacific and Atlantic.

Never happen... the Biden family are heavily invested, and Hunter Biden actually captains one of the factory ships.

 

[Grizzly_A]

I've been hunting Westside and Eastside at Sauvies. It's from a blind, with a few decoys, definitely not a huge spread. I don't contribute much more than my shotgun, good looks, and shooting skillz. . Like I said, I am just starting out. Maybe I'm there for Pintail insurance.

I was hunting Mudhen and the ducks were spooking early and weren't close enough for us to feel confident in shooting, but watched a few other guys shooting them way far & high and they were going down. (not cleanly, as the dude and dog had to go searching and shoot a few more times before retrieving it)

Then I saw the differences between steel, coated steel, old-bismuth, new bismuth, copper plated bismuth, HeviShot, Tungsten, etc. I was just wondering what folks shot and sizes, and distances they were shooting at.

My wife has a duck chili recipe from her former life (pre-Grizz) that the kids have been asking about, hence getting started duck hunting.

 

[EPS]

I try to get them with in 25 yards 40 yards is a long shot .
I have sky busted a few times and got lucky .
But then like you said the chase is on and usually have to shoot it again on the ground.
I have been using heavy shot mostly.
Like I said but it is also expensive but.
It works .
I also use Remington Hypersonic.#2 this stuff is fast 1700fps it comes in different shot sizes.
And it says if you use bb shot not to use it in a full choke and it has more of a kick.
Also comes in 3 inch and 3 1/2 Inch.
Winchester blind side works good also I have only used it a few times though.
Just might have to buy a few different kinds and figure out the best for your gun and choke set up .

 

[EPS]

Shop Hypersonic Steel And More | Remington

Shop & find Hypersonic Steel and more here at Remington. Shop today!

www.remington.com

 

[dplev4]

For 12 gauge: Hevi-Shot 3" 2 Shot. For Geese and Ducks.

Bismuth is fine and so is Kent Fasteel. I don't mind spending the outrageous cost on Hevi-Shot since it's worked for me.

We shot geese at 35 yds and a little farther. Everyone limited the week before Christmas.

 

[trunner]

I shoot 12 gauge HeviShot 3 inch, #3, 1 ¼ oz. for puddle ducks, and the same but #2 shot for divers. I keep my shots under 40 yards and try for more like 30 yards. Good killing power at that range without wasting too much meat.

For those who don't like to eat duck, you can always grind the meat (food processor works great) and add it to a meatloaf. Had me a roast Widgeon tonight - delicious!

Good shooting, and have fun out there!

 

[bbbass]

I was hunting Mudhen and the ducks were spooking early and weren't close enough for us to feel confident in shooting, but watched a few other guys shooting them way far & high and they were going down. (not cleanly, as the dude and dog had to go searching and shoot a few more times before retrieving it)

I HATE skybusters!!! Any low % shots that injure waterfowl or bring it down w/o killing and which also result in a lost bird, IMO are extremely unethical. Slob hunters.

I used to pack in 3 dozen decoys and my buddies in the blind did the same... so we had some really nice spreads of decoys. And retrievers, which cut down tremendously on the number of ducks lost. I like a hardy dog that is able to withstand the flapping an injured duck can do. My buddies Labs or Chesapeakes were great, one had a Wirehair, but my smallish Shorthair ok but not great. (a live goose would have kicked his small butt.... I had one of those small pure liver colored Shorthairs that would fetch up a jumped duck or a pheasant downed in the creek, but shivering in the blind or pushing thru reeds was not his thing)

That was back in the daze of lead shot. We used 1 1/4oz of #4 lead and kept our shots under 40-45yds. I had an O/U with full/mod so I could select the mod barrel for 25yd shots. But we'd tromp to the blind in the early morning dark, set decoys for an hour, wait for daylight, see some flocks coming in from far off... then just before they'd get to us, some jerks in the next blind or two over would start wailing away at them while they were still 80yds, or more, up in the sky. Dumbazzes! Jerks! Slobs! Bumpuses!!!

 

[cowboykid8]

I have shot about a case of the federal blue box 1.25oz of #2 steel. It has worked very well for me all year. I have a couple ducks I thought should have died quicker so I gave the Hevi Bismuth a shot, the pellets are not round or coated in copper, like a lot of the BOSS shotshells, They were good to 40 yards, but after that the pattern opened up dramatically, as evident from attempting to finish off cripples on the water. Switched back to my steel 2s and have continued to enjoy them. I might give BOSS a chance next year, but a close to $1 a round it hurts the soul and pocketbook if you aren't even putting pellets on the bird. Tungsten is great stuff, but I haven't found it for much less than $3 a shell.

 

[MxOverkill]

Good day,

Just getting started with Waterfowl, been out 3 times and shot 1 duck We all have 12ga, the guys I went with shoot 3" and 3.5" BlackCloud loads in BB and #1.

I am just using the Federal Blue Box Steel.

Having done research and looking into Steel vs Bismuth, I came across BOSS shot shells. They really seem to like smaller shot.

What size shot do you like shooting and why? Do you shoot steel or Bismuth?

I don't expect that I will be doing much hunting other than Sauvies, so any suggestions should keep that in mind.

You may want to try some waterfowl forums for more current, relevant advice.

 

[DeanMk]

Good day,

Just getting started with Waterfowl, been out 3 times and shot 1 duck We all have 12ga, the guys I went with shoot 3" and 3.5" BlackCloud loads in BB and #1.

I am just using the Federal Blue Box Steel.

Having done research and looking into Steel vs Bismuth, I came across BOSS shot shells. They really seem to like smaller shot.

What size shot do you like shooting and why? Do you shoot steel or Bismuth?

I don't expect that I will be doing much hunting other than Sauvies, so any suggestions should keep that in mind.

Not to muddy up the waters much more, but there's some pretty cool loads to be found with Hevi-Shot, as well.

HEVI-Shot® Industry Leader In Performance Shotshell Ammunition

HEVI-Shot® Industry Leader In Performance Shotshell Ammunition

www.hevishot.com

...however, a blue box of 3" 12 ga. Federals filled with steel BB's works too, but if you can find the equivelent load in a box of "Estate" shot shells for less $$$, keep in mind that they are also loaded by Federal. =)

 

[Grizzly_A]

I thought Estate was all lead. I didn't know they had steel as well.

 

[Grizzly_A]

You may want to try some waterfowl forums for more current, relevant advice.

I could but I'd rather start here. There's plenty of opinions across the nation and I value local knowledge.

 

[EPS]

I thought Estate was all lead. I didn't know they had steel as well.

I have a bunch of Estate bb shot steal.
It came with the Escort shotgun I bought.
It is what it is.
Kinda the same a winchester x cheap steal shot but it goes bang.

 

[DeanMk]

I thought Estate was all lead. I didn't know they had steel as well.

Here ya go --> https://www.estatecartridge.com/html/steel.htm

 

[DeanMk]

I try to get them with in 25 yards 40 yards is a long shot .
I have sky busted a few times and got lucky .
But then like you said the chase is on and usually have to shoot it again on the ground.
I have been using heavy shot mostly.
Like I said but it is also expensive but.
It works .
I also use Remington Hypersonic.#2 this stuff is fast 1700fps it comes in different shot sizes.
And it says if you use bb shot not to use it in a full choke and it has more of a kick.
Also comes in 3 inch and 3 1/2 Inch.
Winchester blind side works good also I have only used it a few times though.
Just might have to buy a few different kinds and figure out the best for your gun and choke set up .

So if you wait for the birds to come in close, what choke are you using (usually)?

 

[Grizzly_A]

I'm using an improved cylinder, it's what came on my shotgun when I bought it.

 

[DeanMk]

...waitaminute...Grizzly_A and EPS are the same person?....can we do that?

 

[EPS]

So if you wait for the birds to come in close, what choke are you using (usually)?

I usually start off with a full choke because I have no idea how it's going to be.
But if birds start to decoy really good I change to a mid range choke.
I always have both chokes with me.

 

[EPS]

...waitaminute...Grizzly_A and EPS are the same person?....can we do that?

Nope there is no way in hell I would put PORTLAND below my name.

 

[DeanMk]

I usually start off with a full choke because I have no idea how it's going to be.
But if birds start to decoy really good I change to a mid range choke.
I always have both chokes with me.

Makes sense.
Thanks for your time,