Table of Contents
140″) & HEVI-Shot #4 (. 130”) the best all-around performance for taking ducks; steel #2 & HEVI-Shot #4 (. 130”) the best all-around performance for taking ring-necked pheasants; & steel 7’s (.
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 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.
Can you 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 barrels of such guns can’t take the pounding dished out by the harder-than-lead steel pellets. Shotguns of modern manufacture can handle steel shot.
Is #5 shot good for ducks?
In gelatin testing, No. 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.
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 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.
How many pellets are in a #4 steel shot?
For example, a 1-1/4 ounce of number 4 lead has 169 pellets. Number 3 steel at 1-1/8 ounces has 178 pellets.
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.
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.
Does steel shot produce a larger pattern?
As a rule of thumb, steel shot often patterns more tightly than lead. Use one degree more open choke for steel than you would for lead. However, this is just a guideline, and tends to be much truer of larger pellets (2 and larger) rather than smaller ones. The only way to know for sure is to pattern your gun.
Why use steel shot for ducks?
Steel shot replaced lead shot throughout the United States in 1991 to prevent waterfowl from dying from lead poisoning after ingesting spent shot pellets. Steel is non-toxic, but also lighter and harder than lead, which makes it perform differently. That difference frustrates hunters.
Is steel shot better than lead shot?
Steel is harder than lead shot. Birds may bleed more freely because the steel penetrates better without clogging the wound channels with feather balls. Steel shot spreads less and has denser shot patterns, resulting in less margin for error in gun handling and trigger timing.
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 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.
What choke is best for duck hunting?
For ducks and geese that are close, improved cylinder or even skeet constriction choke work well. If the birds are farther out, a modified choke tube is better.
Can you use 4 shot for ducks?
Choke and Load Recommendations Improved cylinder and 3 or 4 shot are a good combination for wood ducks in close quarters or even mallards in the timber. These loads allow you to either increase your range by choosing larger shot, or to increase pattern density without sacrificing energy.
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.
