Ideal Speed?
 

Just curious what everyones thoughts are on the speed of their ammo of choice. I have been shooting loads at about 1500 FPS (Heavy Metal) this season and I am not too concerned with speed to be honest. I was on a field goose hunt last monday though and was in a pit blind with some buddies that like using the fastest stuff they can get and others that simply don't care about all the hype of these speed loads. One buddy was shooting Spectra Shot, which were pretty cool and caught my eye. I think I would like to try these out this summer and going into next season. It has colored pellets to accurately see who killed what bird if the argument ever comes up...which in our cases ALWAYS comes up when arguing over who shot the Banded bird haha. These loads are offered in 3" #2's at 1400FPS and they will also be making and releasing a Goose load at 3 1/2" BB's this summer. Just curious how many people are all about the speed hype and what is the most preferred velocity ammo. Thanks!!!

Speed is not all that important. It doesn't matter if you are shooting 1500 fps or 1300 fps, if you swing with the bird, get in front and shoot when you pass the bill and keep the gun moving even after the shot, you will hit the bird. Lets say the birds you are hunting fly at 65 mph and you are using shotshells that produce a payload at 1500 fps, that equates to the payload moving at 1,022.7 mph and if your payload is moving at 1300 fps it equates to 886.4 mph. If your duck is moving @65mph you could use slower payloads and still kill the duck. It is more about the shooter and his skill than the fps of your shotshells. When you are shooting behind a bird, it is almost always because you stop the gun.

yea thats what I was thinking also, thanks! I am the same way with my bow also...never care about speed and always shoot a heavier arrow that packs more kinetic energy and momentum so I never get caught up on all the speed hype...like you said and if you do things right and the way they are suppose to be done and stick to basics...you'll kill'em! With that said I'm not going to be concerned with the speed of them and think I am gunna keep an eye out for this Spectra Shot and see how it patterns and shoots. If no good, I have no problems sticking with Heavy Metal cause I know that stuff is great.

Good luck, as we say on my stretch of the river, "shoot em where they eat, not where they crap" and you will put birds in the boat.

Great, and agreed with you completely. It totally depends upon the timing and trapping strategy.

To me, the Hevimetal shells you reference are the ticket. You
get the HEVISHOT and steel at a good price point. I shoot birds
at various ranges and simply have few if any cripples with the
Hevimetal shells

If a shooter is having trouble hitting targets with 1550fps loads; the problem is more likely with the shooter's form than the speed of the ammo.

"It is more about the shooter and his skill than the fps of your shotshells. When you are shooting behind a bird, it is almost always because you stop the gun. "shoot em where they eat, not where they crap" and you will put birds in the boat."

Truer words were never spoken!

I was on a field goose hunt last monday though and was in a pit blind with some buddies that like using the fastest stuff they can get and others that simply don't care about all the hype of these speed loads.
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It depends about what you are trying to achieve. More speed=more kinetic energy if the shot size/ weight is the same. Speed also lessens the lead and impact of the wind.

So, it really depends about your needs and hunting styles.