Comments on: What steel shot size for ducks should I use? http://acrylicduckcalls.com/shell-shot-size-and-duck-loads/what-steel-shot-size-for-ducks-should-i-use/124 A site dedicated to the great sport of duck hunting Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:55:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: John http://acrylicduckcalls.com/shell-shot-size-and-duck-loads/what-steel-shot-size-for-ducks-should-i-use/124/comment-page-1#comment-4291 John Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:08:51 +0000 http://acrylicduckcalls.com/?p=124#comment-4291 20 gauge I would go a bit larger in shot as a general rule due to less payload, but 2's are likely still a good choice. Perhaps 1's or BB's. 20 gauge I would go a bit larger in shot as a general rule due to less payload, but 2′s are likely still a good choice. Perhaps 1′s or BB’s.

]]> By: sam http://acrylicduckcalls.com/shell-shot-size-and-duck-loads/what-steel-shot-size-for-ducks-should-i-use/124/comment-page-1#comment-4268 sam Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:53:19 +0000 http://acrylicduckcalls.com/?p=124#comment-4268 and how about for a 20 gauge and how about for a 20 gauge

]]> By: John http://acrylicduckcalls.com/shell-shot-size-and-duck-loads/what-steel-shot-size-for-ducks-should-i-use/124/comment-page-1#comment-4265 John Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:38:32 +0000 http://acrylicduckcalls.com/?p=124#comment-4265 I would stick with 2's personally. I am a big fan of Winchester Expert shells for their price point, but really it depends on how your gun matches up with the load. I would stick with 2′s personally. I am a big fan of Winchester Expert shells for their price point, but really it depends on how your gun matches up with the load.

]]> By: sam http://acrylicduckcalls.com/shell-shot-size-and-duck-loads/what-steel-shot-size-for-ducks-should-i-use/124/comment-page-1#comment-4234 sam Fri, 05 Nov 2010 17:35:34 +0000 http://acrylicduckcalls.com/?p=124#comment-4234 what shot size is best for cans and bluebills and what brand what shot size is best for cans and bluebills and what brand

]]> By: Clint http://acrylicduckcalls.com/shell-shot-size-and-duck-loads/what-steel-shot-size-for-ducks-should-i-use/124/comment-page-1#comment-4197 Clint Sun, 31 Oct 2010 17:32:11 +0000 http://acrylicduckcalls.com/?p=124#comment-4197 I recently switched from #4 high velocity steel to #2. After hunting alongside a friend that used #2 while I had #4s it was clear he had superior loads. The moment I truth that I realized #4 doesnt cut it was when a low flying duck cruised by a foot over the water. I shot him and watched my 4's splash a circle around him and he didnt miss a beat. A second later my friend did the same with his 2's and dropped him on the spot. After the switch I have had better kill rates (even with the smaller duck). I recently switched from #4 high velocity steel to #2. After hunting alongside a friend that used #2 while I had #4s it was clear he had superior loads. The moment I truth that I realized #4 doesnt cut it was when a low flying duck cruised by a foot over the water. I shot him and watched my 4′s splash a circle around him and he didnt miss a beat. A second later my friend did the same with his 2′s and dropped him on the spot. After the switch I have had better kill rates (even with the smaller duck).

]]> By: John http://acrylicduckcalls.com/shell-shot-size-and-duck-loads/what-steel-shot-size-for-ducks-should-i-use/124/comment-page-1#comment-3916 John Fri, 10 Sep 2010 03:21:34 +0000 http://acrylicduckcalls.com/?p=124#comment-3916 I used to reload quite a bit, but with the super fast cheap steel that is available these days I have gone by the wayside and bought exclusively factory shells. As for the #2's being overkill for teal, you are right, but up here they don't have a special teal season so it seems I am always mixing my teal with woodies and mallards. I wouldn't want to be tangling mallards with #4's. Just me I guess. I used to reload quite a bit, but with the super fast cheap steel that is available these days I have gone by the wayside and bought exclusively factory shells.

As for the #2′s being overkill for teal, you are right, but up here they don’t have a special teal season so it seems I am always mixing my teal with woodies and mallards. I wouldn’t want to be tangling mallards with #4′s. Just me I guess.

]]> By: Jack http://acrylicduckcalls.com/shell-shot-size-and-duck-loads/what-steel-shot-size-for-ducks-should-i-use/124/comment-page-1#comment-3909 Jack Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:18:11 +0000 http://acrylicduckcalls.com/?p=124#comment-3909 I couldn't agree more. I reload, which gives me a lot of room experiment. I have worked up all kinds of loads and killed tons of birds with them. However, I have come to the conclusion that a fast (over 1500 fps) load of straight #2's is definitely the most effective load for mallards. Buy a good aftermarket choke to keep your pattern tight. I'm not a skybuster by any means, but when I've already shot one or two over the dekes and they are getting farther away, I can take a third bird with confidence. Also if someone wounds one I can reach out and finish the job. I don't recommend #2's for teal. It has been my experience that the pattern can get thin very quickly. You just don't need that much energy to kill a teal compared to a mallard. #4's seem to be best for teal in my experience. I couldn’t agree more. I reload, which gives me a lot of room experiment. I have worked up all kinds of loads and killed tons of birds with them. However, I have come to the conclusion that a fast (over 1500 fps) load of straight #2′s is definitely the most effective load for mallards. Buy a good aftermarket choke to keep your pattern tight. I’m not a skybuster by any means, but when I’ve already shot one or two over the dekes and they are getting farther away, I can take a third bird with confidence. Also if someone wounds one I can reach out and finish the job. I don’t recommend #2′s for teal. It has been my experience that the pattern can get thin very quickly. You just don’t need that much energy to kill a teal compared to a mallard. #4′s seem to be best for teal in my experience.

]]> By: John http://acrylicduckcalls.com/shell-shot-size-and-duck-loads/what-steel-shot-size-for-ducks-should-i-use/124/comment-page-1#comment-3816 John Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:59:16 +0000 http://acrylicduckcalls.com/?p=124#comment-3816 Nick, I hear you about the more pellets part, but the cost is so prohibitive with these non-toxic alternatives that I shy away quite a bit. The other thing is that over the years I have asked every guide I have ever used what type of shot they use and they all tell me the same thing: The cheapest they can find! Their theory is to get the birds in close for high quality shots and hammer them. The fact is that today's steel at close ranges (<35 yards) is quite effective and there is no need to go with the more expensive hevi-shot/bismuth/tungsten matrix etc. Thanks for the post! Nick,

I hear you about the more pellets part, but the cost is so prohibitive with these non-toxic alternatives that I shy away quite a bit. The other thing is that over the years I have asked every guide I have ever used what type of shot they use and they all tell me the same thing: The cheapest they can find! Their theory is to get the birds in close for high quality shots and hammer them. The fact is that today’s steel at close ranges (<35 yards) is quite effective and there is no need to go with the more expensive hevi-shot/bismuth/tungsten matrix etc.

Thanks for the post!

]]> By: Nick Kirby http://acrylicduckcalls.com/shell-shot-size-and-duck-loads/what-steel-shot-size-for-ducks-should-i-use/124/comment-page-1#comment-3813 Nick Kirby Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:36:18 +0000 http://acrylicduckcalls.com/?p=124#comment-3813 I have grown up shooting Kent fasteel #2 3 inch for just about all the ducks I hunt. I have now started to shoot hevi-shot #4 and even #6 for teal and wood ducks. I have found that I get more pellets in every shot and therefore I get more pellets in the bird per shot. The only painful part is how much hevi-shot costs... I figure with all of the money that I have put into my boat, blind, decoys, gun, calls, waders, etc; I might as well go ahead and spend the extra money for more consistent clean kills with the more expensive shot. I have grown up shooting Kent fasteel #2 3 inch for just about all the ducks I hunt. I have now started to shoot hevi-shot #4 and even #6 for teal and wood ducks. I have found that I get more pellets in every shot and therefore I get more pellets in the bird per shot. The only painful part is how much hevi-shot costs… I figure with all of the money that I have put into my boat, blind, decoys, gun, calls, waders, etc; I might as well go ahead and spend the extra money for more consistent clean kills with the more expensive shot.

]]> By: John http://acrylicduckcalls.com/shell-shot-size-and-duck-loads/what-steel-shot-size-for-ducks-should-i-use/124/comment-page-1#comment-2565 John Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:47:51 +0000 http://acrylicduckcalls.com/?p=124#comment-2565 Brett, I would tend to agree. I used to shoot 4 shot quite a bit and even went as small as 6 shot when targeting teal early season, but neither seem to have enough knockdown affect when it comes to steel shot. 2 shot has been a great load for my duck hunting since I switched some years back. Thanks for the comment! Brett,

I would tend to agree. I used to shoot 4 shot quite a bit and even went as small as 6 shot when targeting teal early season, but neither seem to have enough knockdown affect when it comes to steel shot. 2 shot has been a great load for my duck hunting since I switched some years back. Thanks for the comment!

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