Speed or volume for waterfowl
 

As I prepare to order some steel for the upcoming season I see options when it comes to purchasing steel shot. Specifically, one option is to order 3" steel with 1 1/4 oz of shot with velocity of 1450 fps, while the same manufacturer offers a 3" steel load in 1 1/8oz with a velocity of 1550 fps. So, which is better the lesser steel shot with higher velocity or more shot with less velocity? Thanks in advance for the advice!!

This has been asked here about a year ago. I would rather have a denser shot pattern than the small amount of additional sped you are talking about considering most ducks don't exceed 60 mph and none of them approach the speed of the shot in either shell you are asking about. 1450 fps equals 988 and change mph and 1550 equals 1,056 and change mph. We are talking about shooting down ducks here, not jet fighters, 78 mph really is not going to make a difference between the two shells. As long as you do your part and shoot them where they eat and not where they crap you will kill them. I use 2 3/4 inch Bismuth shells ever since they hit the market. I never really saw the need to use 3 or 3 1/2 inch shells for waterfowl since I do not shoot at them in the stratosphere, I shoot over decoys.

Yes - I prefer the 12 ga. 3" - 1 1/4oz loads for ducks.
Pick the smallest steel shots size that will go all way thru the duck.

I don't like "finding" any steel shot in my duck meat!

Stay away from the hyper-fast loads out there. Shot payloads faster than 1550fps are hard on guns. Any benefit from the speed is not worth any increased cost.


Get some practice in, and you can kill ducks efficiently with 1450fps loads all season long.

I love that Oldtimr philosophy of shooting them where they eat and not where they crap, LOL!

[QUOTE=Oldtimr; I would rather have a denser shot pattern.........[/QUOTE]

+1

I always want a "dense" shot pattern !

That's at the range where they fold-up when you hit'em - right !?!~?

:guiness:

When in doubt get some of both and see how they pattern. Stock up on the one your gun shoots best with the choke you use.

IMO, you need to look at other variables. Speed is important but also the energy your shot can impart at various distances is TERRIBLY important. I have completely gone away from STEEL and settled on using Hevishot Duck. The shells are more expensive but I simply use fewer shells to kill roughly the same number of ducks. The Hevishot simply does the job with ONE shell as opposed to 2 or 3 that I used to need using STEEL.

I 100% agree with 'footballtime'.


Hevi Shot - 5 shot will kill them dead .


.

I have become a big of Hevishot Duck 3" 4's.......I have not
seen a shot that I could not make with those shells