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Feb 7th, 2025
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 Shot Shells
#227579
10/19/07 02:46 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,570
Marcstar
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,570 |
Lots of people in the other thread are talking about stocking up on shells for the upcoming season. What will everyone be shooting this year?
For Duck: I got a flat of 3" Rio #2 steel shot shells...in addition I'll be shooting my reloads got some good 2 3/4" loads I've made up with #3 shot...also have some 3.5" loads I'll make with either 3 or 2 shot. I'm only going to shoot steel at ducks.
Geese...well I'm going to be shooting my 3.5" steel BB reloads as well as some BB and BBB Winchester HV and Kent Fast steel I have left over from last year. Also got a box of Federal Black Cloud 3.5" BBs I'll give a go with as well as a couple boxes of hevi shot. Will also probably get a few boxes of Hevi Steel Bs to try out as well.
Dear Lord please bullwhip me for saying this but I agree, Marcstar is in the lead. Please nobody use this as a quote!!!
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Marcstar]
#227580
10/19/07 02:54 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 424
bigfoot35
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 424 |
I like the Winchester Hi-Velocity loads, good price and fast at 1550 fps. I use 3" #3s on big ducks like mallards and will use 2 3/4" #6s on wood ducks and teal. Will probably buy some BB if I have the opportunity to shoot some geese. Have never tried any of the Hevi-Shot varieties, mostly in timber and shots are close.
Geaux Tigers!!!!
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Marcstar]
#227581
10/19/07 02:56 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,550
kyotee1
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,550 |
Ducks - Steel # 6s in 2 3/4"
Geese - depends upon whether I'm pass shooting or over decoys and how close the birds are...
On full fog - Straight #2 Steel - 2 3/4"
Most other times 3" BB, BBB or T's
I have yet to use anything other than Steel Shot...just can't afford the others.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: kyotee1]
#227582
10/19/07 03:40 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 457
meandthewife
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 457 |
I going with my Winchester X-pert in 3in #3 and I also have a box of Black cloud to try might have to save those for the big hunt up at Cory's.
 Youth is great but the wisdom that comes with age is also very good.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: meandthewife]
#227583
10/19/07 06:06 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 413
bobcatt
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 413 |
3" steel #2 for duck, 3&1/2 steel T for geese. just can't seem to spend the dough for black cloud/hevi until i know for sure it would be worth it for geese. might also try BB or BBB for geese, i have been reading some people think more pellets makes it more effective than T.
__________
-bobby
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: bobcatt]
#227584
10/19/07 06:34 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 26
dukhunter
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 26 |
I like to use 3" #3 kent faststeel also rem. nitro mag. Did buy a box of black cloud in#2 3" will see how they do.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: dukhunter]
#227585
10/19/07 07:38 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 305
HTDUCK
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 305 |
Couple a years back I walked into Wal-Mart and walked out with 40 boxes of 3in Expert 4s for $1.75 a box. Geese,10 ga 2s and BBs,BBBs. Also have various Hevishot loads in 10 and 12 ga that I picked up when Wallyworld finally marked them down to $11.00 a box 
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: HTDUCK]
#227586
10/19/07 08:52 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,694
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,694 |
My favorite and if I could only have one load for all around in anything for ducks it would be #3 steel. I got a Mec reloader yesterday and already ordered 50# of #3 steel. But I am also wanting to try some new things including hevi loads for no other reason than I want to play with the new reloader. Reading the various reloading books to get a better understanding of the options, I am fascinated by the mechanics of it all. I will be wearing out my pattern board at the lease this year.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Sniper John]
#227587
10/19/07 10:31 PM
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11,146
Greg
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11,146 |
Call me crazy, but I spent the extra several years ago on some "Hevi-Shot" and fell in love. It is like hitting them with a hammer. Never seen so many birds fall that quickly and b/c it's heavier than lead, you don't have to drop down 2 sizes... you can actually go up one. I hunt with 4's or 6's and just slay them. 
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Greg]
#227588
10/19/07 10:45 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,833
wal1809
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,833 |
I am going to shoot the same thing I always shoot. Winchester xpert 3" #4 shot. No problems in the past knocking the birds stone dead. It is funny I got in a discussion with a fella I thought was fairly intelligent. He said those were the worst shells he has ever used. I denied and he laughed. I still kill em just as dead. Now I did shoot some 3.5 mag Hevi last year at a goose at 75 maybe 80 yards to see what it would do. My brother was more shocked than I was when I killed it stone dead. When I say dead I mean dead, it fell like a cinder block hit it.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Greg]
#227589
10/19/07 11:33 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,694
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,694 |
I tested some 2 3/4 inch 7 1/2 Hevi on Teal this year. Overkill for what was needed, but it was my first waterfowl hunt of the year so pulled out the special stuff. I was impressed enough that one of my first reloads to test will be a light fast #6 Hevi Load to try over decoys for big ducks. Not to replace my #3 Steel, but just to tinker. Kinda like a special occasion round if it patterns well.
Last year I spent some time patterning 10GA Steel T and BB up against a #2 Hevi type Load at different yardages. I was not impressed with the patterns in my gun using the steel, but was with the #2 and it was destroying my board. So I tried those #2 loads on I think three of four Geese I killed last year. Though I don't have much Goose hunting experience to go by on the performance in the field, it worked well for me. As seldom as I hunt Geese, I see no reason for me not to stick with the same or similar load this year. I just wish that Hevi shot were not so expensive. I paid $130 for 11 pounds of #6 after shipping and that is a good deal right now. In comparison I paid $99 after shipping for 50 pounds of #3 steel.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Sniper John]
#227590
10/19/07 11:56 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24,251
TreeBass
Old Weller
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Old Weller
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24,251 |
I'm really new to the steel shot stuff, so I've been going off what my buddies are using..#4s in either 2 3/4 and 3in currently experimenting with the rem and drylock...seems to work, but gotta work on my shooting skills.
Now, for geese, I have zero clue as to what to shoot. or if I'll even have the chance to cap a couple big birds
![[Linked Image]](https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/userpics/2022/03/full-3050-341110-boat_sig_2022.png)
My success in life is measured by the number of hunting
and fishing stories that my kids can share with others...Like the THF on Facebook - www.facebook.com/texashuntingforum
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TreeBass]
#227591
10/20/07 12:21 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,694
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,694 |
I lost faith in the #4 Steel when I used it in the first years Steel was required, but it is a whole different shell now with the higher velocities offered. A friend gave me some 2 3/4 #4 drylock steel last year. I tried them on some ducks in Kansas and they did just fine. I would think one might want to stick to the higher velocity loads when choosing between the current #4s offerings.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Sniper John]
#227592
10/20/07 01:05 AM
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11,146
Greg
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11,146 |
You said it... they are expensive, but the way I look at it is that I only get out to duck hunt maybe 2 or 3 times a year... in the scheme of things, what's another $20-30 bucks to do something I enjoy. I too am very impressed with the knock down power and the patterns they throw. 
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Greg]
#227593
10/20/07 01:24 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 571
bownut
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 571 |
Went through half a case of 3" 3's kent in Canada, but will be switching to 3.5" 1's for most of my texas hunting. Will be shooting some black cloud bb's for the third shot if needed.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: bownut]
#227594
10/20/07 02:03 AM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 107
ElVenado
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 107 |
Black cloud RULES! Try it it really works!
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Sniper John]
#227595
10/20/07 02:26 AM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24,251
TreeBass
Old Weller
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Old Weller
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24,251 |
Quote:
I lost faith in the #4 Steel when I used it in the first years Steel was required, but it is a whole different shell now with the higher velocities offered. A friend gave me some 2 3/4 #4 drylock steel last year. I tried them on some ducks in Kansas and they did just fine. I would think one might want to stick to the higher velocity loads when choosing between the current #4s offerings.
So, are you telling me I need to change brands?? 
My success in life is measured by the number of hunting
and fishing stories that my kids can share with others...Like the THF on Facebook - www.facebook.com/texashuntingforum
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: bownut]
#227596
10/20/07 02:30 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,694
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,694 |
Quote:
Went through half a case of 3" 3's kent in Canada, but will be switching to 3.5" 1's for most of my texas hunting. Will be shooting some black cloud bb's for the third shot if needed.
Bownut,
Why switching to 1's from the 3's. I bought a case of 1's two years ago because I found a good price and 2's and 3's were sold out, but I bet I have only shot one box out of it.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TreeBass]
#227597
10/20/07 02:31 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,414
R.G.C.
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,414 |
I have a case of 3" #2 black clouds sitting there just saying shoot me. May see how they do on some dove tomorrow night  just for testing reasons.  what yall think about that?
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: TreeBass]
#227598
10/20/07 03:16 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,694
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,694 |
Quote:
So, are you telling me I need to change brands??
No Bro, I don't even know what the velocities of the current offerings are between brands. Just that when your picking a load to buy, with #4's especially, I would think the offerings with the higher velocities would kill better. Higher velocity equals greater energy of the pellet. Seems it would be more critical of the smaller shot sizes than the larger ones because your relying less on the energy to come from the weight of the pellet. You get a more dense pattern with #4's, but that only helps if you get get good penetration on the bird.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: R.G.C.]
#227599
10/20/07 03:27 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,694
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,694 |
Quote:
I have a case of 3" #2 black clouds sitting there just saying shoot me.
May see how they do on some dove tomorrow night just for testing reasons.
what yall think about that?
Beyond "Poof" range, as many dove size holes there are in a pattern column of #2 steel, you would be surprised how difficult that can be. I have shot many a snipe with #3 steel following a duck hunt. Usually a one pellet kill. 
But if this Black Cloud shoots with the tight pattern and extended range like they claim, it probably would look like a pillow fight.
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Sniper John]
#227600
10/20/07 06:55 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,414
R.G.C.
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,414 |
I will give a report when I get back home tonight. Look out dove there is a cloud in town.  
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: R.G.C.]
#227601
10/20/07 01:45 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,570
Marcstar
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,570 |
Went to Sportsmens last night to pick up that .22 I won and among of few other items got a box of 3.5" Hevi Steel Bs at 1550fps. Plan on using them on geese. Price tag? $35.99! I had a buy $50 get 10 off coupon so that helped.
Why would I spend that much? First some background...they measure shot density by grams per cubic centimeter. The higher the G/cc the higher the dinsity.
So here is the range:
Steel is about 7.8 g/cc
Bismuth is around 9
Lead around 10.5-11 (depending on hardness aks Antimony added)
Hevi shot and the Remington HD stuff is a 12
So this brings me to Hevi Steel...it's a 9. It pretty much performs as good as bismuth but is a lot cheaper. Bismuth is great because it's soft and can be used in older guns...so it has a place. But knowing this about Hevi Steel it makes it a much better value since it comes in boxes of 25 vs boxes of 10 like the other denser than steel shot.
Last edited by Marcstar; 10/20/07 01:54 PM.
Dear Lord please bullwhip me for saying this but I agree, Marcstar is in the lead. Please nobody use this as a quote!!!
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Marcstar]
#227602
10/20/07 01:51 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,570
Marcstar
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,570 |
Oh and there is this newer shot stuff on the market called Tungsten Super Shot. As far as I know you can only get it on their website: www.tungstensupershot.comAnyway it's g/cc is freaken 18! So pretty much that's a bigger jump from Hevi shot to Tungsten Super Shot than it is from Steel to Lead...pretty amazing. They are killing big ducks with 7 and 8 shot in this TSS stuff. The biggest shot size they make is 5 shot that will more than handle a greater canada. This stuff is pretty amazing but also hella expensive at $35.70/ 10 pack. But really that's not any more than Rem HDs or Kent Matrix.
Dear Lord please bullwhip me for saying this but I agree, Marcstar is in the lead. Please nobody use this as a quote!!!
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Re: Shot Shells
[Re: Marcstar]
#227603
10/20/07 02:55 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24,251
TreeBass
Old Weller
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Old Weller
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 24,251 |
Quote:
Went to Sportsmens last night to pick up that .22 I won and among of few other items got a box of 3.5" Hevi Steel Bs at 1550fps. Plan on using them on geese. Price tag? $35.99! I had a buy $50 get 10 off coupon so that helped.
Why would I spend that much? First some background...they measure shot density by grams per cubic centimeter. The higher the G/cc the higher the dinsity.
So here is the range:
Steel is about 7.8 g/cc
Bismuth is around 9
Lead around 10.5-11 (depending on hardness aks Antimony added)
Hevi shot and the Remington HD stuff is a 12
So this brings me to Hevi Steel...it's a 9. It pretty much performs as good as bismuth but is a lot cheaper. Bismuth is great because it's soft and can be used in older guns...so it has a place. But knowing this about Hevi Steel it makes it a much better value since it comes in boxes of 25 vs boxes of 10 like the other denser than steel shot.
Good info Marcstar, now, the million dollar question, what would you recommend for shot size? For ducks and geese in 3"
My success in life is measured by the number of hunting
and fishing stories that my kids can share with others...Like the THF on Facebook - www.facebook.com/texashuntingforum
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