Duck hunt next year ~ What size SHOT?

[insin]

As the title says what type of shot should I stock up on if I am going mallard hunting when the season reopens. what size shot do you recommend, #8, #7,#6,#$4.....etc? I feel as confused as heck when choosing duck hunting rounds at my local gun shop. Please shed some light on a lost individual?

Plus I would like to stock up early due to future laws that may prohibit me from purchasing ammo online here in California.

Thank you

[portegee]

What type of hunting, pass, jump shooting, blind, also what choke do you plan on shooting.

[Barbarossa]

I use #4 @ 1550 FPS. Winchester Xpert. Modified choke.


I also try to shoot ammo that all has the same FPS for trap and hunting.

I shot some trap with an over under during the duck season. From then out I couldn't hit a thing. The 2 guns just swung way differently.

[Thefeeder]

My favorite for years is Remington 3" mag , #3 steel ,
1 1/8oz......for geese, same with BB shot

[tpuig]

Steel has a bit different performance than lead, so many recommend a size larger than normal. For example, if I used #6 for pheasant (lead), I'd use a #4 for waterfowl. I haven't duck hunted in a while and there are some great loads out there now, but I had good luck with a steel #4.

A lot depends on your situation, distance and choke. Also whether you're shooting a 2 3/4" or bigger shell. But typically a common #4 steel will be fine for mallard.
Hope this helps....

p.s. Watch the Big 5 ads for the sales.

[portegee]

I like to use a mod, or full choke with bb, or #1 shot alot of time we shoot really far distance and #4 steel just doesn't reach as good. As far as brand I've never found any rounds better than kent fasteel. Not too bad on price when you can get it on sale

auto life outdoors has some really good sales also

[BigDogatPlay]

For waterfowl you are stuck with steel, Bismuth or Hevi-Shot so a bit larger pellet size, as suggested above, is most likely a very good rule of thumb. I wouldn't shoot anything smaller than #4, personally.

Choke and shell size are going to be greatly dictated by the type of shooting you expect. This is why guns with choke tubes are so handy. If you are doing pass shooting at distance, then a full or sometimes even an extra full choke is called for. If the birds are coming in to you and you can take closer shots then Modified or Improved Modified is dictated.

[JohnnyC]

Me: #3 with steel
#4 with Hevi-Shot

[empty]

I like #2. A little heavy for Mallards, a little light for goose, but will take care of both. : )

[CA_SHARPSHOOTER]

anything inside 30 yards 3 inch #4's are deadly, anything outside the decoys 30 yard plus 3 1/2 #2's will stone em. that worked for us all last season and we killed over 300 birds

[Mike363]

I had good experience with Federal Blackcloud 3" #3's and Remmington HD #4's 1 3/8 oz. What I've noticed is on blue bird or moderate wind days the Blackcloud is awesome but if you're shooting in heavy wind the shot seems to get blown around and the HD #4's didn't. The Remmington is considerably more expensive but not having to change my hold I thought has been worth it for the occasional blowin and goin days. Hope this helps.

[chris]

i use Fast Steel Kent 3 1/2" #2 1625 FPS. good stuff.

[twopatch]

As you can see everyone shoots something different. You don't need 3.5's for ducks. 3" fast steel are quite deadly. remember SPEED KILLS when it comes to steel shot. I use 3's when its Pheasent season,or when there are a lot of wood ducks around. and 1's or bb's when jump shooting green heads.

[10ga-killa]

#1, #2 or #3's

[NorCal E]

I go with 3in #2's, been shooting'em for years. I tried the 3.5's but cant justify the price difference. For some reason i feel like the fast stuff (1625ish) throws me off. I do throw in my extra 3.5's for geese when i can though. Just my .02