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Iso
by AustinC. 05/21/24 05:01 PM
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3” Duck shells
#2958936
11/16/19 11:22 PM
11/16/19 11:22 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,794 Huntsville
JUGHEAD
OP
Booner
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OP
Booner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,794
Huntsville
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Which loads do yall recommend for timber hunting? What about open water hunting for divers? I have a plethora of chokes to try with whatever loads yall like, but I am looking for the best all-around loads. The thing I hated worst about rookie duck hunting was the cripples that got away.
Last edited by JUGHEAD; 11/16/19 11:42 PM.
"The only reason I shoot a 3.5" shell for turkeys is because they don't make a 4" one." - t123winters
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Re: Duck shells
[Re: WarTiger]
#2960143
11/18/19 10:50 AM
11/18/19 10:50 AM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,794 Huntsville
JUGHEAD
OP
Booner
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OP
Booner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,794
Huntsville
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Something nobody has made mention of yet is the actual load size. I am firm believer in slow and heavy over fast and light. My go to factory load is Winchester Drylok 12ga 3” 3 shot 1-3/8oz load. This load has served me extremely well and when I went to Maine and Mass I jumped up to a 3 1/2” 1-9/16oz. Always the heaviest load for the shell length. That is the kind of information I am after. I honestly have not been able to wrap my mind around whether it is better to go slow/heavy or light/fast. Hard to know if the cripples we produced last year were due to not putting enough pattern density on the bird or the simply inferiority of steel shot (which can be lessened with greater velocity obviously). We are set to do some patterning this week which I think will help tremendously, but really curious if folks as a whole are more confident with slow/heavy or light/fast. It sure seems like to me, studying how many pellets are in various payloads, that if you're shooting 4's for instance, you would be better off going with light/fast given there are still plenty of pellets in a lighter payload. Whereas, if you're shooting 1's or 2's, there aren't very many pellets in a light/fast load. I dunno. The main thing I know is that steel SUX! Another factor I think about (I am aerospace engineer so I over analyze everything) is the huge aerodynamic profile of the bigger steel shot, on top of a poor density, and I eventually conclude that those pellets HAVE to bleed off velocity big time relative to a more efficient projectile. That means poor velocity downrange and shooting behind birds (in my mind at least). That is another reason I have been thinking that maybe I wanted to go more toward light/fast. I had made my mind up that I was gonna spring for Remington Hypersonic shells then I read all of the horror stories so I quickly nixed that idea. Still searching for the best overall solution for various situations.
Last edited by JUGHEAD; 11/18/19 12:18 PM.
"The only reason I shoot a 3.5" shell for turkeys is because they don't make a 4" one." - t123winters
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Re: Duck shells
[Re: JUGHEAD]
#2960184
11/18/19 11:35 AM
11/18/19 11:35 AM
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 657 South Baldwin
JayHook2
4 point
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4 point
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 657
South Baldwin
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Speed is what makes steel kill. Slower loads less than 1500 are not reliable killers at ranges 40 yards plus. A killer load that we have shot for about 8 years is Black Cloud 3" 1 1/8 oz. #2 for ducks and BB for geese. Until last year it was called Federal's Snow Goose load. It runs 1650 fps and will flat kill. They are not that expensive either. We buy from Rogers Sporting Goods by the case. Right now they are $179 ($129 after rebate) with a $50/case or $5/box mail in rebate. Their 2 3/4" shell runs at 1550 fps and will flat shoot also and they are $109 after rebate. Now you are talking shooting premium shells at promo cost. No brainer. The only thing better I have personally shot in steel were my reloads that were 2 3/4" load of 1 oz #3 @ 1700 fps. #2 were good but #3 filled the pattern a little better. I would venture and not trying to ruffle any feathers that not many folks suggesting promo steel loads by any company (i.e. you pay less than $10/box locally at WM or Academy or BPS) have ever shot many premium shells. Kent IMHO makes the best lower priced shell available. Heavier is not always better...unless your a down lineman!
Last edited by JayHook2; 11/18/19 11:37 AM.
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Re: Duck shells
[Re: JayHook2]
#2960221
11/18/19 12:14 PM
11/18/19 12:14 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,794 Huntsville
JUGHEAD
OP
Booner
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OP
Booner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,794
Huntsville
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Jughead since you are an engineer and analyzing things to the nth degree. The black Cloud has the best wad "Flite Control" in the industry. The petals deploy from the rear rather than the front thus keeping the shot together longer upon deployment. Two different types of pellets in this load and burn the cleanest of any Federal shell I ever shot. I have never been a Federal fan but don't argue with progress. I'm sold brother. I just ordered a case from Rogers, along with some other stuff I have been meaning to order. You confirmed what I have been thinking all along, but I didn't want to end up with a shell that could potentially harm our guns like I have read about the Hypersonics. Just hoping and praying they will pattern good through one of our chokes. I really want to do a better job at not crippling up too many. It really bothers me to shoot an animal and not recover it, regardless of which animal it is.
"The only reason I shoot a 3.5" shell for turkeys is because they don't make a 4" one." - t123winters
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Re: Duck shells
[Re: JUGHEAD]
#2960306
11/18/19 01:57 PM
11/18/19 01:57 PM
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,044 Port St Joe, FL
Moose24
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,044
Port St Joe, FL
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The only sure way to know is to pattern the gun but I have heard( can not confirm) that as light a steel is you can blow a pattern out with too much speed. Be interesting to know if that is true.
The Things You Remember in Life aren't Things at all.
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Re: Duck shells
[Re: Moose24]
#2960345
11/18/19 02:40 PM
11/18/19 02:40 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 19,207 colbert county
cartervj
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 19,207
colbert county
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The only sure way to know is to pattern the gun but I have heard( can not confirm) that as light a steel is you can blow a pattern out with too much speed. Be interesting to know if that is true. It’s true I’ve reloaded duck loads for years now. Talked with guys that have been loading steel shot since the early days. A good all around load for steel shot shooting ducks is gonna be a 1 1/4 to 1 3/8 load running 1450 to 1550. Most guns will pattern this load consistently well enough to 40 yards. You can go extreme from there and get ready to really do some patterning and playing with velocities. I have a load I may revisit this year that runs 1825 FPS in a 1 ounce of number 3s. Never could get 4a out past 30 yards for a decent pattern. The 3 s fall apart past 40 yards. You can google 43X loads he has numerous light fast loads. Ned has some more but he has gone on to the happy hunting grounds in the sky.
“Socialism only works in two places: Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they already have it.” ― Ronald Reagan
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Re: Duck shells
[Re: Moose24]
#2960355
11/18/19 02:50 PM
11/18/19 02:50 PM
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 657 South Baldwin
JayHook2
4 point
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4 point
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 657
South Baldwin
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The only sure way to know is to pattern the gun but I have heard( can not confirm) that as light a steel is you can blow a pattern out with too much speed. Be interesting to know if that is true. Not true...that's kind of like "they said"....whoever "they" are. Absolutely baseless. You just have to choke it correctly. Usually the light loads can be constricted tighter because there is less payload going down the barrel. With my 1 oz. loads I shot a Remington Steel Full screw in. Deadly to 45 yds. Nobody should be shooting further than that anyway to kill cleanly.
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Re: Duck shells
[Re: JUGHEAD]
#2960378
11/18/19 03:20 PM
11/18/19 03:20 PM
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,037 Central AL
Overland
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,037
Central AL
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I think another aspect of reducing cripples is knowing the limitation of your gun, choke and shell selection when it comes to distance. If you are shooting the latest guns, with long range chokes and have the right shell selection, making a 40+ yard kill shot consistently is possible for experienced hunters. Based on MY ability and gun/choke/shell setup, I try to keep my shots at 40 yards and under. Pass shooting wood ducks at tree top level or teal buzzing at 45 might produce a hit for me, but chances are the bird takes a hit and keeps going. 1350 1 oz for my closer shots with a 20 gauge and I try to keep the 12 gauge in the 1 1/4 oz range 1,300 - 1,500.
Last edited by Overland; 11/18/19 03:21 PM.
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Re: Duck shells
[Re: Festus]
#2961055
11/19/19 10:23 AM
11/19/19 10:23 AM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,794 Huntsville
JUGHEAD
OP
Booner
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OP
Booner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,794
Huntsville
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Ahhhhhhh........th' Killin' Ability of Lead 4's!!! I would be content with lead 6's! Did I mention that steel SUX!?!?!
"The only reason I shoot a 3.5" shell for turkeys is because they don't make a 4" one." - t123winters
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