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3” Duck shells #2958936
11/16/19 11:22 PM
11/16/19 11:22 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,778
Huntsville
JUGHEAD Offline OP
Booner
JUGHEAD  Offline OP
Booner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,778
Huntsville
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
Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2958954
11/16/19 11:38 PM
11/16/19 11:38 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,538
Spanish Fort
O
ozarktroutbum Offline
10 point
ozarktroutbum  Offline
10 point
O
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,538
Spanish Fort
Mod w/ no. 2's would be the best all around combo for just about any duck hunting

Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2959003
11/17/19 07:03 AM
11/17/19 07:03 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,829
Back on the line
Solo Offline
10 point
Solo  Offline
10 point
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,829
Back on the line
I kill more birds with 2 3/4” Kent #4’s. Unless I’m shooting goose.

Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2959039
11/17/19 07:58 AM
11/17/19 07:58 AM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,184
Lamar
F
Fishduck Offline
6 point
Fishduck  Offline
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F
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,184
Lamar
I shoot 3's with am improved cylinder in the timber and 1's with a modified in the fields. Seem to kill my share.

Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2959135
11/17/19 09:30 AM
11/17/19 09:30 AM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,019
Central AL
O
Overland Offline
6 point
Overland  Offline
6 point
O
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,019
Central AL
I shoot Kent Faststeel shells for ducks.

Alabama Wood Ducks - 20 Gauge /3 inch / #3 or #4 with a i/c chokes OR 12 Gauge / 2&3/4 / #3s or #4s with i/c choke

Big Ducks in timber or field - 12 Gauge / 3 inch / #2 or #3 with a mod choke

Wood duck spots I hunt are usually pretty tight, so shots are about 30 yards max. Heading out to MS, TN or AR I never know what I am going to encounter, so my setup for big ducks usually will work well in different situations for me. Just have to make sure I do my part and make the shot.

Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2959259
11/17/19 11:24 AM
11/17/19 11:24 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 278
Alpine, AL
W
WarTiger Offline
4 point
WarTiger  Offline
4 point
W
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 278
Alpine, AL
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.

Re: Duck shells [Re: WarTiger] #2960143
11/18/19 10:50 AM
11/18/19 10:50 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,778
Huntsville
JUGHEAD Offline OP
Booner
JUGHEAD  Offline OP
Booner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,778
Huntsville
Originally Posted by WarTiger
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
Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2960184
11/18/19 11:35 AM
11/18/19 11:35 AM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 657
South Baldwin
J
JayHook2 Offline
4 point
JayHook2  Offline
4 point
J
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 657
South Baldwin
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.
Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2960199
11/18/19 11:48 AM
11/18/19 11:48 AM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 657
South Baldwin
J
JayHook2 Offline
4 point
JayHook2  Offline
4 point
J
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 657
South Baldwin
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.

Re: Duck shells [Re: JayHook2] #2960221
11/18/19 12:14 PM
11/18/19 12:14 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,778
Huntsville
JUGHEAD Offline OP
Booner
JUGHEAD  Offline OP
Booner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,778
Huntsville
Originally Posted by JayHook2
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
Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2960306
11/18/19 01:57 PM
11/18/19 01:57 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,033
Port St Joe, FL
Moose24 Offline
10 point
Moose24  Offline
10 point
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,033
Port St Joe, FL
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.
Re: Duck shells [Re: Moose24] #2960345
11/18/19 02:40 PM
11/18/19 02:40 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 18,764
colbert county
cartervj Online content
Old Mossy Horns
cartervj  Online Content
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 18,764
colbert county
Originally Posted by Moose24
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
Re: Duck shells [Re: Moose24] #2960355
11/18/19 02:50 PM
11/18/19 02:50 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 657
South Baldwin
J
JayHook2 Offline
4 point
JayHook2  Offline
4 point
J
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 657
South Baldwin
Originally Posted by Moose24
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.

Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2960378
11/18/19 03:20 PM
11/18/19 03:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,019
Central AL
O
Overland Offline
6 point
Overland  Offline
6 point
O
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,019
Central AL
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.
Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2960782
11/18/19 09:53 PM
11/18/19 09:53 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 18,764
colbert county
cartervj Online content
Old Mossy Horns
cartervj  Online Content
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 18,764
colbert county


“Socialism only works in two places: Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they already have it.” ― Ronald Reagan
Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2960874
11/18/19 11:07 PM
11/18/19 11:07 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,355
Chelsea, AL
lefthorn Offline
14 point
lefthorn  Offline
14 point
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,355
Chelsea, AL
I prefer 3s. Work well all around

Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2960945
11/19/19 07:29 AM
11/19/19 07:29 AM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 657
South Baldwin
J
JayHook2 Offline
4 point
JayHook2  Offline
4 point
J
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 657
South Baldwin
Don't remember where to find it but Reloading Specalties use to have a matrix that included Feet per Second, size of pellet, and foot pounds of energy at 10 yard intervals. There is a "magic" number of foot pounds of energy needed for penetration and clean kills.
Of course the bigger the shot the more foot pounds but it also retained its velocity better downrange. #6 steel was almost petered out beyond 30 yards on up to BB which were still lethal "on paper" at 50-55..
If i come across it, I'll try to post it.

Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2960957
11/19/19 07:57 AM
11/19/19 07:57 AM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,561
Tuscaloosa Co.
N
N2TRKYS Offline
Booner
N2TRKYS  Offline
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Posts: 14,561
Tuscaloosa Co.
Just load some up with TSS.


83% of all statistics are made up.

Re: Duck shells [Re: JUGHEAD] #2960974
11/19/19 08:27 AM
11/19/19 08:27 AM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 576
Waverly, Ala
F
Festus Offline
4 point
Festus  Offline
4 point
F
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 576
Waverly, Ala
Ahhhhhhh........th' Killin' Ability of Lead 4's!!!

Re: Duck shells [Re: Festus] #2961055
11/19/19 10:23 AM
11/19/19 10:23 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,778
Huntsville
JUGHEAD Offline OP
Booner
JUGHEAD  Offline OP
Booner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,778
Huntsville
Originally Posted by Festus
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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