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Shot Size
#5537833
01/12/15 07:43 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 216
mattfox
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 216 |
I'm new to duck hunting. What size shot for mallards in the 25-40 yard range?
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5537860
01/12/15 07:54 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 154
RedRaider3933
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 154 |
Unless I am shooting teal I almost exclusively use 3 inch #2's.
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5537895
01/12/15 08:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 226
Moto382
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 226 |
3inch 2's for me all season
Samatis Baits Pro Staff
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5537898
01/12/15 08:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 13,409
jdk1985
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 13,409 |
I shoot a lot of #2s and I like them... a lot. Does not mean other's won't work.
Instagram @justinkingwoodworking
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: Moto382]
#5537908
01/12/15 08:07 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,177
sallysue
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,177 |
3inch 2's for me all season
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5537948
01/12/15 08:25 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,465
ndhunter
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,465 |
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5538032
01/12/15 09:00 PM
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 178
schmellba99
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 178 |
2-3/4" #4's or #2's mostly.
3" if it is a bluebird day or I'm apt to shoot some geese.
This is for steel shot. If you are shooting biszmuth or heavi shot, you can go up a size.
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5538110
01/12/15 09:37 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 351
southern_fowler
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 351 |
Hevi metal 4's or 6's for ducks and 2's for decoying geese
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5538361
01/12/15 11:32 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,409
Guy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,409 |
I shoot #4 w IC choke all season, it kills birds fine with in 45 yards. Anything bigger will just unnecessarily tear up your bird more.
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5538366
01/12/15 11:34 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,862
texasdude28
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,862 |
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5538404
01/12/15 11:45 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 17
droebuck
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 17 |
3", #3, 1 3/8oz for me the extra 1/8oz of shot makes for better kills than the speed.
Even a broke clock is right twice a day.
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5538456
01/13/15 12:07 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830
beaversnipe
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830 |
Buy a patternmastern duck choke
Shoot cheap 2 3/4 nr 4 kent fasteel or 3 inch blue steel rio nr 3 on longer shots or windy days.
Last edited by beaversnipe; 01/13/15 12:08 AM.
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5539159
01/13/15 03:55 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,661
_Scooter_
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,661 |
y'all might hate on me, but when testing loads through my Kick's HF MOD I've been deadly with 1280fps Xpert low brass #6 steel on committed ducks from 15-40yds out. Have not found a single pellet that got through the breast skin as of yet either. And no cripples. Decoy them in, shoot them in the neck and head, and life is good at $6.49/box and absolutely zero recoil out of my shotgun.
Wasn't born in Texas, but I got there as fast as I could.
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5539167
01/13/15 03:58 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,295
Cody Malone
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,295 |
I shoot #2 Kent Fast Steel
HF Whitetail / Exotic / S. African Safaris
Proudly Sponsored by: Horizon Firearms / Swarovski Optiks / Under Armour / Yeti Coolers / Costa Del Mar / Havalon Knives
Malone Outdoors, LLC C/254-722-9031 or E/ maloneoutdoors@yahoo.com
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5539177
01/13/15 04:00 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
Shoot um in the face and it won't matter..
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: _Scooter_]
#5539203
01/13/15 04:12 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830
beaversnipe
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830 |
y'all might hate on me, but when testing loads through my Kick's HF MOD I've been deadly with 1280fps Xpert low brass #6 steel on committed ducks from 15-40yds out. Have not found a single pellet that got through the breast skin as of yet either. And no cripples. Decoy them in, shoot them in the neck and head, and life is good at $6.49/box and absolutely zero recoil out of my shotgun. I did the same with nr 7 last week on decoying ducks within 25 yards. Was deadly and cheap
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: beaversnipe]
#5539250
01/13/15 04:31 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,661
_Scooter_
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,661 |
y'all might hate on me, but when testing loads through my Kick's HF MOD I've been deadly with 1280fps Xpert low brass #6 steel on committed ducks from 15-40yds out. Have not found a single pellet that got through the breast skin as of yet either. And no cripples. Decoy them in, shoot them in the neck and head, and life is good at $6.49/box and absolutely zero recoil out of my shotgun. I did the same with nr 7 last week on decoying ducks within 25 yards. Was deadly and cheap Started out using them because I had found a pod of birds in a narrow river spot that I would only be shooting 20yds max. Took out two fat greenheads and no pellets damaged the good meat. Then, I knocked a Teal stone dead at about 40yds across the tank on Saturday. Belly up. Then went out in the rain Sunday and crushed 5 ducks all between 20-35yds before I ran out of the 12rds I brought with me. I then switched to BlackCloud and crippled a GWT at 35yds that swam across the tank. We did have to finish that teal off. Never buying anything over $10/box again.
Wasn't born in Texas, but I got there as fast as I could.
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5539304
01/13/15 04:48 AM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 594
TOMCAT21
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 594 |
Kent 3" #3 shot through LM choke.
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5539577
01/13/15 01:28 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
wal1809
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788 |
I can't for the life of me answer the my own question about shot size. That question is why in the world would anyone limit their patterns by using anything larger than a #4 pellet. I suffered the "Bigger the pellet, better the hit" ideology 30 years ago when law switched to requiring steel. We didn't have proper technology for steel back then and we tried all we could to figure it out. Now that the technology came into the steel scene, there is plenty of information about steel loads and their killing ability. There is no reason whatsoever to use a pellet larger than 4s for ducks. In fact there is plenty of information produced to sway one from that large of a pellet.
Peter Hathoway Capstick wrote a lot on the subject of multiple pellet killing power. He preached against one big pellet and praised multiple small pellets. His writings sent me in the right direction. If we make a mistake on pellet size, it costs us a duck. If he were to have made the wrong pellet selection it would cost his life. He used small pellets in 12 ga to follow up wounded big cats for clients. In reading his science behind it and adding my own, I am a firm believer. A good pattern with numerous small pellets equals a train wreck on the other end.
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: _Scooter_]
#5539580
01/13/15 01:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
wal1809
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788 |
y'all might hate on me, but when testing loads through my Kick's HF MOD I've been deadly with 1280fps Xpert low brass #6 steel on committed ducks from 15-40yds out. Have not found a single pellet that got through the breast skin as of yet either. And no cripples. Decoy them in, shoot them in the neck and head, and life is good at $6.49/box and absolutely zero recoil out of my shotgun. I aint hating on you at all. This bigger, better, badder, hyper-sonic, blackcloud "Buy this bad arse shell or your a moron" mentality is redonkulous. I wish they would quit pimping out my sport.
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: wal1809]
#5539587
01/13/15 01:37 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830
beaversnipe
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830 |
y'all might hate on me, but when testing loads through my Kick's HF MOD I've been deadly with 1280fps Xpert low brass #6 steel on committed ducks from 15-40yds out. Have not found a single pellet that got through the breast skin as of yet either. And no cripples. Decoy them in, shoot them in the neck and head, and life is good at $6.49/box and absolutely zero recoil out of my shotgun. I aint hating on you at all. This bigger, better, badder, hyper-sonic, blackcloud "Buy this bad arse shell or your a moron" mentality is redonkulous. I wish they would quit pimping out my sport.
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5539596
01/13/15 01:41 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 662
rob valle
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 662 |
Depends on the conditions. I have used 2 3/4" #6's on non-windy days for close shots with no problem. But on windy days when the birds are further out, 3" #2's work good. I usually carry a couple of differnet boxes of shells in my dry box in case the weather suddenly changes.
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Re: Shot Size
[Re: mattfox]
#5539610
01/13/15 01:53 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
wal1809
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788 |
So you are saying wind will blow your pellets off of their course between the time it leaves the muzzle and the 40 yard mark?
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