How Much Difference Does Velocity Make?
 

I know that most people use 1550 fps or higher loads for waterfowl and I understand it's for longer shots and possibly less lead. My question is how much will lowering velocity from 1550 to 1400 really affect performance out to 40 yards? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
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Not that much if you put the main pattern where it's supposed to go and have just a tad more lead on the bird because of the speed difference.

.............. and there you have ! :lolabove:

Begg to Differ..

Everyone says Kent FASTSTEEL is useless, but I have found the most luck with their 1550 or 1560 loads, #4's, even for the big mallards and pintails (in California at least)

Tried the hevi-steel, tried the blackcloud...I think that velocity trumps what the actual pellet is made out of. Yah sometimes you will send a bird flying if you start to push 40+ yards, but if your using a full choke, you will have good kill power out of 45 easy.

Pattern and pellet size mean more than velocity, that and knowing how to wing shoot. Shot that moves at the speed of light will not help someone who can't shoot. Shoot em where they eat and not where they crap.

Yep, and the newbie member can beg to differ all he wants to, LOL! PS: Love that last sentence, LOL!

Wind Drift
 

hunter,
Don't have numbers for steel shot, but here's a reference:

Lead #2 shot
at 1,200 FPS
10 MPH crosswind
Drift at 40 yds = 5"
Drift at 60 yds = 11"

LOL - Wish lead was still legal!!!

If you do your part, the bird can't tell the difference! I love that line Oldtimr!

AMEN!!!!!!!!! I remember those days all too well!!!!!!!! Nothing like lead 4's or 5's for ducks and Copper BB's for geese, SLAMMED EM!!!!!

The difference is a matter or calculating it, but I am not that good in math that I could calculate it.

I don't think that at 40 yards the 1550 to 1400 will do that much difference as the critical borderline is further. As the objective is to kill the duck, not make kinetic energy records.