Try some Kent Fasteel 3" #2's 11/8 oz loads at 1560 fps. Swing through the bird as soon as you get infront of the beak,,, pull the trigger!

My main duckhunt partner and I have hunted fowltogether for 20 years, we hunt very well together we dont even consider shooting at 40-50 yards,, steel just doesnt cut it at those ranges. old days when lead was legal let fly,, just not like that anymore! Get them into 25 yards and open up! Between us we probably kill 200+ ducks a year. And yes we probably make a half dozen or so 2-500+ yard retrieves every year,, sometimes its un-aviodable,, but it is your obligation to go after those birds!

Straight in shots are not the easiest shot too make for ALOT of people!!! its hard too determine how much if any lead required. Im right handed from right too left is easiest for me, left too right is difficult for me. straight in is also a very good shot for me.

I openned some federal shells last year too compare the innards too Fasteel,, Federal pellets were manufactured horribly(thin layer of steel spun into a pellet,, Fasteel is a solid metal bar folded over too form a pellet). You get what you pay for in waterfowl ammo!