Idaho, If you must use just one load for the situation you describe, the 2 3/4 #4's with modified choke in Heavy Shot, Bismuth or Matrix would be ok. You'll find that the geese are hammered dead as a stone at 40-50 yards, however, many of the ducks you shoot will take some time to die and will bleed heavily. This is because the pattern is not optimal but shockiing power is more than adequate for ducks at that range. You will be striking the ducks with a pellet or two, but not the 3 or 4 a #6 would hit with. Unfortunately, the #6's will kill the geese beautifully, but only to 30-35 yards.


Heavy Shot kills just as well as Bismuth or Matirx, but if you eat what you kill, there's a hugh difference when you bite on a pellet. Do this, take a pellet of each of these three substances and place them on steel; I do it on my shop vice. Tap the pellets firmly with a hammer. You'll find the Heavy shot doesn't even dent where the other two crush easily. A whole lot less dentist bills for cracked teeth.

Good shooting.