STEEL SHOT VS STEEL SHOT

So many variables…. Shot size, shell length, brand, choke, hunting situation etc…. What do you suppose the best all around combo is?? I use mostly 3.5 deuces now, yet 10 years ago we used 2.75 in number 7 shot early in the season most of the time for Teal and Woodies. Small shot works for small fast birds, I hate losing mallards tho! Hate cripples in general. I had bought a Foils choke and went to 3.5″ in hope to have more one shot kills, and maybe that is wrong??? Big difference there 2.75″ vs 3.5″! IDK whats best, I would love to get some feedback on this. Hear what works for you. The other thing is personally I have always used the cheapest steel I can find. Any one use expensive steel? Maybe pattern compare them or experience results first hand?

I seem to do better with some of the faster loads out there. A buddy gave me a couple boxes of Winchester “Blind Side” last year and was very happy with its performance. I don’t necessarily think it is the shells, it’s how they are coming out of your gun. I will probably be using 3″ 4 shot this weekend. I shoot an o/u and can switch barrels as fast as flipping the safety off. If there are some bigger ducks around my first shot would be a 4 and the second barrel would be a 2. For me speed kills. Really noticed this at the trap range a few years ago. I shot a round with friends and maybe hit 6 or 7. We shot another round and my brother gave me a box of his shells. I hit 23 I think. The shells were a better quality of shell.

I agree “SPEED KILLS”. I also like to use one bigger shot size than I think, just because I really want the one shot kill. I hate crips, so for all ducks I use #2 Kent fasteel, later season ducks and all season geese I use BB shot. I may miss more with a smaller pattern(less shot), but when I hit there is no question, dead bird.

I try to use the faster loads as well. I typically shoot 3.5″ #2 or #1 shot. I mostly use Kent or Winchester and I opt for the shells with speeds of 1500+.

If I am focusing on geese I will bump up to BBs but the same idea….fastest loads I can find.

Fast doesn’t always mean most expensive either which is kinda nice too.

I have not shot these shells, but my buddies in SD are really in love with 3.5″ BBB Black Cloud. This stuff didn’t exist back when I hunted.

It’s nice to know there are some affordable alternatives to the high end stuff out there.

Speed kills!!1 Bah ha! I love it. well, you convinced me already. Goona do that. I suppose if a person connects more it would be cheaper in the end to buy faster shells…. I agree w/ 4 shot prolly being the best all around load. Faster Steel, I like that! Thanks Super Do!

Ha SPEED KILLS, Sorry hadn’t read your post yet..Makes sense. We all hate Crips too. That was my thought on 3.5 deuces. A few yrs ago I cut open a 3″ 4 shot and it had less shot in it than a 3.5″ 2. Why not shoot the faster shell w/ more and bigger shot? The choke helped also. The tight pattern rocks!!!! As you said either miss or Dump em’! I really hadnt given a great thought to speed. I could see where a person wouldn’t shoot behind as many birds and have better penetration also tho…

So, you say you don’t think it is worth the expnsive shells because you can buy 1500 fps + for an affordable price? All you guys mention speed, that says a lot right there. I alwys figure a person would just have to swing a little deeper with slower shot? lol, rational thought anyhow….

Faster means more energy when hitting the target. More energy will cause more damage like broken bones.

Day in and day out I flat out shoot more 3″ #2s than anything. I’ve bought the cheapest cases possible, the fastest loads possible, and switched shot sizes out while calling. The single item that I have identified as integrally important to my shooting is my choke. Years ago I switched to a patternmaster and have never looked back. Having a choke or wad design that does not blow through the pattern is important in my opinion. Having a choke/shell combination with a smaller and tighter pattern means more dead birds, less cripples, and cleaner misses. I will admit that I have not had the opportunity to shoot significant quantities of upper end shells. However, I will say that I have killed many birds with many brands, sizes, and speeds. These days I tend to buy a shell that is moderately cheap, on the faster end of the market, and has good shot shape when I cut them open; Federal it has been lately. I usually don’t buy larger shot just for geese any more, a head full of pellets is a head full of pellets (however, if some one bodies shoots it will matter).

FWIW

As a former hardcore duck hunter, I aways bought the fastest steel loads on the market. 3.0″ #3’s were aways my choice loads. They killed ducks, and geese, as long as they were decoying.

Pass shooting was the only time i would bump up to 3.5″ BB for geese,I never liked the long range pattern that you GET with BBB.

And Kents when they first came out were my choice loads, I will tell you though I do not like the noise of firing the 3.5 Kent loads.

I love DEUCES!!! I like everyone’s response about speed, WACK ‘EM!!!!! but like you say a tight pattern is a major key! Virtually Speed means nothing if pellets dont connect!!!! I love my foils choke in my old bps. If I remember right ??? on average there were 20% more pellets in the zone over standard choke, a considerable amount! My brother and I had compared diff load after diff load. I am going to put a new wad stripper in my new SBE 2 when I pick it up, just Not sure which one yet?

Former hardcore duck hunter???? Something about that just doesn’t sound quite right…. Hope you are still able to throw some 3″ #3 ‘s at em!!!

Quote:

---

Former hardcore duck hunter????

---

I layed the guns down 5 years ago, my old gear is spread out from here to ND. Turned most of it over to the young turks.
I hope they will be enjoying it this weekend.