Shot Size?

[RustyOlRanger4x4]

Im going on my first duck hunt this year and I have a couple of questions. What shot size should I use? Im going to mississippi and ill be hunting flooded timber so I wont be trying to make any 500yd shots or anything my guess would all be 50yds. and under. Ill be shooting a Mossberg 500 and from what I read in another post I should use a mod. choke or Mid range choke. I plan on shooting mallards, wood duck, pintail and similar size ducks. And since this is my first duck hunt is there anything else I should know? Thanks, sean

[Rebel Hog]

Rusty, lake Tallequin close to you is great.


Waterfowl (steel shot)
[ul][*]Geese - BBB, BB, 1[*]Ducks (over decoys) - 2, 3, 4[*]Ducks (pass shooting) - BB, 1, 2[/ul]
Waterfowl (tungsten alloy shot)
[ul][*]Geese - BB, 2[*]Ducks (over decoys) - 4, 5, 6[*]Ducks (pass shooting) - 2, 4[/ul]
One last note: it is a very good idea to pattern your shotgun with whatever load you have selected before you go hunting. I know it is a lot of trouble, but shooting a few test patterns can prevent a lot of grief. Few shotguns shoot all shot sizes equally well, and sometimes going up or down just a single shot size can make a dramatic difference in pattern distribution. Ignorance is not bliss; know before you go.

[goose huntr22]

I use BB for geese and #4 for ducks

[PikeTipper]

If you are hunting flooded timber then you probably won't have too many passing shots and most should (hopefully) be decoying shots. I would start out with 2 shot and if the birds are decoying close then maybe drop down to 4.

[Ruddyduck]

Maybe you can get together with a few of your friends to differ costs and see what patterns best of of your shotgun/choke combination. Pattern different loads and go with what gives your the best pattern.
Take into account your shooting abilities. Are you going with steel or another non tox shot. In steel I'd stick with 2's &3's if they pattern well a good choice for good pattern density and hitting power use the one that patterns best. In other non tox you could got to 4's or even 6's again take into account you abilities..
My personal preference is steel 3's with mod chokes in both barrels and I keep shots to nder 45 yards no matter what. They work on both ducks and geese if you respect your limitations. Hitting birds in the body is not my idea of good shooting hence my use of tight chokes.

[Md25]

#4 xpert steel winchesters not to expensive.

[Carpmaster]

I always try to use #3 for ducks, but sometimes anything fro a BBB to a 4 gets popped in the chamber.

[Broadhead Billy]

I've never hunted flooded timber but I heard its hard to shoot ducks in it because they seem to drop straight down. Anyways, all we do is decoy hunt up here in South Dakota, and we use 1's. Sometimes in the late season we will shoot BB.

[Rebel Dog]

#2's

[no bite]

Fasteel # 3- 2 3/4" Fantastic hot load.