Ammo of Choice?
 

Just curious what everybody uses for duck loads.

I lost quite a few ducks last year from steel shot. Dead ducks that didn't realize they were dead until they were well over 200 yards away.

Do you think some of the other metals that are being used would change this?

I am thinking about trying out some of the stuff from Bismuth, Federal's High Density loads and Remington's Wingmaster HD cartridges. It's a lot more expensive than steel, but I just can't stand the feeling of shooting a duck; seeing feathers fly; watching the duck fly about 200-500 yards away; keel over and fall straight down. I'm wondering of the composition of steel and how hard it is combined with the velocity it is traveling with results in not providing enough damage to drop the bird on the spot.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks,

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

I have used Winchester Expert 3" steel in BB for snow geese and have had excellent luck with them, dropping geese out to 50 yards. Also have bagged 2 Canadas with these shells.

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

I dont really get all into the battle of the best ammo, I just buy the size shot that I need for what im hunting, geese is usually BB or T, mallards #2, and teal and woodies #4, the cheaper stuff works just as well if you aim right and shoot well.

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

Thats what I do


Cory

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

i don't get it? how can you loose birds like that?
i guess since it has never happened to me it's... odd.

waterfowl is my favorite. i really don't like the idea of steel but, since that's what i can afford....
every bird i have ever hit was dead or pretty darn close to dead.(mallard size birds)

Kent Steel has been my best loads. i love 'em. but Federal and then Remington are close second and third placers.
let me know how the bis-tung-alloys-matrix work out.

after thought:
what's the range your shooting at?
pass shoot or over decoys?

les

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

Most of my shots last year were not necessarily passing shots but they were not the easiest shots in the world. I'm actually thinking that rather than focusing my time in effort in finding more expensive metals to shoot, I'll spend my time and money practicing more this summer as well as improving the way I set up my decoys and blind. The hope is that I'll be able to set up in a manner that provides more birds coming at me rather than from left to right or right to left; and practicing more, well, nothing need more be said on that I suppose.

Thanks for the feedback.

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

I would pattern your load,choke, and gun combo to see what kind of patterns you are getting.

I've found that with steel loads, increased velocity has made a huge difference for me. I've had good results with Winchester loads that are 3" of 1 1/8oz of #2 (#4 first few weeks) at 1,550fps. Patterns have been very good and cripples have gone way down. I like the same load in 3 1/2"with BB's for geese and late season ducks.

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

I reload my own shells and I reload #2 steel for both ducks and geese!

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

kent; then federal, but i really don't care... i'll kill them w/ anything!

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

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!

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

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!

never lost a bird due to over flight after kill they all felll just some in briar patches[:'(]that i couldnt get to

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

Cheapest stuff i can find the winchester expert hi volocity they work good if your not trying to shoot 80 + yards I have killed ducks and geese no prob at 45 or 50 yards just wate till close enough

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

You might get a golden bb at 45-50 yards once in a while,, but if your consistantly shooting at 45-50 yards your doing alot more crippling oreducatingthan killing. Steel shot does not have theenergy too kill consistantly at those ranges!

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

For ducks: 3" #3 Federals or any fast loads

For Geese 3.5" Hevi B is the best I have used....

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

I shoot Winchester Drylok 3" #4's. Here in South Carolina we shoot alot of woodies in the swamps causing shells to get wet. Dryloks hold up like a champ. Expensive but worth it.

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Gotta cast my vote for the 1625 fps 3.5 Kent load. Used it last year for the first time and was impressed especially how well it kills cripples.

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

kent #2!

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

Well you're on your way to become a waterfowler when you said you want to improve on spead , blind etc. A good suggestion that should be heeded is the one to pattern what a particular load is doing in your gun.choke combination.
Shooting a few weeks before the season doesn't cut it in my book. One should shoot year round skeet and sporting and always low gun. Perfect your shooting , learn how to place decoys properly andtheconcealment need for where you hunt and you'll find 40 yards will become the longest shoot you'll be taking. Then you can shoot 1 1/4 oz stuff doing 1350 -1375 and hammering birds instead of your cheek and shoulder or needing an auto to hunt.

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

kent but we still got some junk winchesters we gotta use up

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Are edge of are decoys were 45 yards away and i killed a buch at the edge swampthing

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

I am going to try hevi shot this year. I would check out their website I think its http://www.hevishot.com

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

I tried hevi shot last year. Found it not to be too different from steel, except it goes farther.

If I had my choice, I would probably shoot bismuth as it has seemed to pattern very well with my gun and from what I've seen and heard, it has a lot of similarities to lead. My issue with hevi shot and the others is that yes they are heavier and go further, but they are still very hard metals. Upon impact, all of it behaves very similar to steel. Again, I haven't tried it on game yet, but from what it seems, bismuth will behave more like lead causing more damage as it enters the cavity.

I have chosen to go with Kent's 1 1/4 oz loads of 3 for ducks and 1 for geese (couldn't swallow the cost of bismuth for waterfowl). We'll see how it comes out. I am going to be using the bismuth for upland game as my wife has said she doesn't want me bringing home any game shot with lead shot.

Good luck to all this season...

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

It really depends what type of duck your shooting for us...Hevishot works like a charm though, lots of $$

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

I'd be interested to hear when anyone tries this new Hi-density Extended Range Winchester shot. It's advertised as 55% more dense than std. steel, harder hitting, etc.
http://www.winchester.com/products/newitems/xrwproduct.aspx

I imagine it'll be pricier, too. But if it's that much more effective than steel it might be worth the extra cost. We'll see. First, I need to burn up a couple of boxes of fast steel I've had for a year or so.

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

Remington Sportsmans Hi-Speed #4 1550fps

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

Ducks - Kent/Federal 2 3/4" #4's (Decoys/Timber) 3" #3's (Pass Shooting)
Geese - Kent/Federal 3" #3's (Decoys) or BBB (Pass Shooting)

Loaded the Blind Bag today...

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

ducks - Federal black cloud #2 3.5".

last year shot a woodduck at 80 yards withthis round. Using a benelli super nova full choke. Droped the duck like a ton of bricks. I would not recomened using a full choke because you miss a lot more at short rang, but thats all I had andI couldtake somelong shots. It also might just have been luck, as well.

So if you still would like to shoot ducks at long rang try switching chokes.

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

I don't care who you are and what you are shooting, you are going to cripple and losesome birds. If you are taking far shots, then you are going to lose more birds. Steel shot just doesnot kill well at longer ranges.I shoot Estate 3's in the timber and 3 1/2's in the field. I have been using them since 1995 and they have worked great.

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

Y'all this thread is over 2 years old. ;)

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

Try to get you an assortment of different shells and just pattern your gun and see whatworks for you. I shoot the Black Cloud and I like them but I have a buddy that shoots Kent and some that shoot Winchester. Just gowith what you haveconfidence in and your pocket book can stand.

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

ya what the hell who decided to search for this lol

RE: Ammo of Choice?
 

I have been a big fan of Kent and federal...use a lot of different shot sizes though...T - 1's for geese amd BB - 4's for ducks personally..