Table of Contents
SPECIES IDEAL RANGE SHOT SIZE Small Ducks 15-40 yds 4, 5, 6 Large Ducks 10-40 yds BB,1, 2, 3 Geese 10-45 yds T, BBB, BB.
Is 2 or 4 shot better for duck hunting?
4 shot sizes for ducks. The general rule of thumb is to go two shot sizes smaller (meaning pellets are bigger) for waterfowl.
Is 2 or 3 shot better for ducks?
Choke and Load Recommendations Size 2 shot is a versatile load for situations in which you might encounter geese as well as ducks; otherwise 3 shot is a good all-purpose duck pellet. At ranges inside 40 yards, BB, 1, or 2 shot are good for geese; 2 or 3 shot works well on ducks.
What shot to shoot ducks?
Ideally, you want 60 or more pellets in a 30-inch circle at the range you expect to be shooting geese, and these pellets need to be large ones that carry more energy. When it comes to ducks, a good rule of thumb is 85 to 135 pellets in a 30-inch circle.
Is 6 shot good for ducks?
The #6 steel with an open choke will work GREAT if you dont push then past 30-35 yards. The CONSEP study found #6 steel “lethal on all ducks to 35 yards” and you need 85-90 pellets in the 30″ circle to kill mallard size ducks. Both of my “target” loads of #6 shot meet this requirement.
Is 2 shot too big for ducks?
Common shot sizes used for waterfowl (from smallest to largest) are No. 4, 3, 2, 1, BB, BBB and T shot. Naturally, smaller shot sizes are best suited for ducks, while the larger shot is better for geese and swans.
Is 5 shot good for ducks?
5 steel shot pellets showed weaker penetration and made small wound channels at 35 yards, but the load still proved effective on decoying ducks. Ballistics data indicated that at about 35 yards, this load loses effective killing power on ducks. At 30 yards, a No.
What is 12 gauge BB shot?
BB Shot: 12-Gauge Ammo Shot Patterns 18 inches. It is an effective hunting load. It is primarily used for geese and large ducks. Shotgun shells loaded with BB are popular for larger game at greater distances.
Is 7 shot good for ducks?
410 — well, people are shooting turkeys at 40 yards, so you should be able to kill ducks fairly easily with 9 or 7 shot,” Compton said. If your gun patterns it well, you can expect to stretch ranges out to 45 yards.
Which shot is bigger BB or BBB?
01” bigger than #1 shot. BB shot is . BBB shot is . 19 inches.
Do you have to use steel shot for ducks?
With the advent of the 1991-92 season, steel shot will be required for goose and duck hunting throughout the nation. The switch to steel is being made because spent lead pellets accidentally ingested kill millions of waterfowl annually. Sometimes steel shot shells were unavailable.
What’s the best shotgun shell for duck hunting?
HEVI-Shot HEVI-METAL This is duck-killing ammo. The HEVI-Shot brand is popular for all waterfowl and for a good reason. It patterns well for most hunters and is relatively easy to find. The most lethal combination is the three-inch shell with a one and a quarter ounce load and BB size shot.
How many shells should I take duck hunting?
The gun must be “plugged” so that it cannot hold more than three shells. As many as you want but the law requires your shotgun not hold more than three shells including the one in the chamber.
Is 8 shot good for ducks?
If your questioning the lethality of #8 shot (or even #9) I can assure you it is quite effective on ducks. I shot it quite a bit back in the old days with great results.
Is 4 shot good for mallard ducks?
6 versus No. 4 lead shot, shouldn’t the steel debate pit a load of No. 4’s against No. Yet some duck hunters swear by BB or even BBB shot, despite the fact larger steel shot affords lower pattern densities, i.e. fewer pellets downrange, and can prove finicky on the pattern board.
Is 2 shot good for wood ducks?
For 35-40 yard jump shots or much closer shooting over decoys I thought they worked great. So to answer your question, yes, #2 is way bigger than necessary and will require a smaller pattern to maintain sufficient density. I always wanted the widest pattern possible for Woodies screaming down the wooded creekbeds.
Is a 16 gauge good for duck hunting?
The Remington 15/16 Kill as well as any 3″ 20 factory load. I’ve stoned a few 40 yard pheasants with the steel 4’s recently, all dead in the air. Same results on all ducks inside of 40 yards. The patterns are a bit thin for my taste with the 2’s only having 117 pellets.
Where do you aim to shoot a duck?
Aim slightly below the bird, raise the gun up into its flight path, and pull the trigger when the gun barrel blots out the bird. Or, if the duck is descending to land, aim at its feet and shoot. By the time the shot charge gets on target, the duck will have dropped into the middle of the pattern.
What size shot should I use for turkey hunting?
Many hunters favor size 6 shot. If your gun does not pattern tightly, using 6 makes sense out to 35, maybe 40 yards. I patterned both lead 6s and heavy-shot 6s to see what really was taking place. Out to 40 yards, the 6s really threw a great pattern, providing many vital head and neck hits.
