I am sure this has been addressed before, but I am looking for some input on what everyone uses. 3'' or 3.5'' shells, or maybe even less? Anyone notice a particular shell with a better pattern running with the 870 wingmaster? Which choke do you prefer? A good place to buy ammo? Thank you in advance for your help.

BUT, I use 3" #2's modified choke in my Benelli Nova. Just have to try several brands to see what patterns best for your gun. Best of luck!

Id say that's the best all around combo. Most guys I know that really get into working out patterns and stuff end up with 3 inch number 2s through a modified choke.

I shoot an 870 super mag with a skeet choke improved cylender is ok too. black cloud 3" 3 or 4's will Knock em" on thier @*$. however kents are good too but you get what you pay for with the winchester experts.

3.5 inch #2's with a Kick's full choke. Seems to be working well recently.

2.75 hand rolled

If I was buying factory it would be 2.75 or 3.

Heck...I have been using Kent 3" #4's, and they have no problems killing. Knocked down a few today, including a bonus goose.

Biggest thing to know is when using steel you MUST pattern shells out of YOUR gun to check what works best. There is not a silver bullet that works out of every gun using every choke. Yes you will need to spend some time at a pattern board, or use the miss,cripple,kill method in the field to decide. Every single gun/choke is different. Find what works for you and your gun. Good luck! BTW under most circumstances you never need 3.5" shells for ducks. You will use 2.75" or 3.0" 99% of the time.

Go get some 3.5" "T" and shoot'em in the face.

Ignore the rajun cajun.

All shells will kill ducks. Just have to be hit in the right spot. Pattern your gun with every load you can get your hands on and then select the best one. Its pretty simple actually. There is no "best" combo. Everybody is different.

What face???

try them all, pattern the gun

That's the deal exactly, every gun is different even by brand and model. You can go purchase two identical 870's and more than likely both of them are going to pattern different with the exact same set up. I learned all this in the past few years watching my son shoot competitive trap and skeet and setting up shotguns for competition. Lead isn't so bad, especially in the smaller sizes 7.5 and 8 shot, but steel in pretty much any size for duck or goose from BBB to 4's can be pretty ornery to get right. I am currently shooting 2 shot Black Cloud in 3 inch and pretty much anything in 2 don't work real well with my set up, my gun works best with 4's in the BC, ran out of 4's and couldn't find any. When I shoot 2's I get a pattern that looks like cold fronts on a weather map with huge gaps in between. When I'm shooting 4's I'm getting a fairly uniform pattern. The difference is rather obvious when you get in the field. With the 4's I can kill ducks easily out to 40+ yards with the 2's I'm having trouble knocking them down at 20 yards. My set up: 28" factory Remchoke barrel with a BCREM12MOD Trulock Black Cloud choke tube. I've tested with the factory choke tube, and a Briley IC tube, as well as the BC tube I am using and with the following ammo, Remington Nitro, Federal Hyshok Steel, all in #2 shot 1-1/4 oz, 3 inch. I have pictures also of each of these test.
One other thing, before you test be sure to clean your barrel, it can make a huge difference. I use Hoppes #9 gun solvent on a swab, I let it soak and then attach my ram rod and brass barrel brush to a drill and work it from one end to the other for about 3 to 5 minutes. If your shotgun is very old you may be surprised at what you get out of it. After the brush, swap it out until you get nothing.

#4 or 6, more pellets on the bird and does less damage to the meat.

And IC, shoot'm close.

Today was the first day I went out with only 2 3/4" #6's and i was impressed and I haven't ever really been impressed with 2's or 4's, had less cripples and saved some money

I fell in love with the 6's in teal season but the first gadwall I shot with them had 3 pellets left in its breast. I didn't feel a broke or chipped tooth was worth it so I switched to 4's. Then I patterned the 6's, 4's and 3's and the 6's and 3's patterned the best out of my gun. Now I am just running through the 4's I have loaded but in the future I'll go 6's and 3's.

Just do some testing and if you stick with the 6's (they are great loads I can't argue that) but pay attention to all those holes and make sure there aren't any pellets still in the meat.

870 express with I/C choke 2.75 winchester #6 WILL kill them dead at 45 yards and 6.29 a box at academy

Thanks for all the info everyone. Has anyone tried www.natchezss.com? Any reviews on their ammo?

havent ordered ammo from them but have ordered other stuff. good company to deal with.