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what load do you prefer? #5929816 09/15/15 06:32 PM
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StephensCnty308 Offline OP
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What load do you normally shoot with?

Besides when shooting geese how often do you find yourself grabbing for a 3 1/2 load?

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5929845 09/15/15 06:53 PM
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I normally shoot 3 1/2" #2-4 for duck and geese. Sometimes I throw in some BB's if I'm feeling froggy.

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5929850 09/15/15 06:55 PM
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2-3/4" 1-1/4 oz of #4 or #6 bismuth/hevi shot shooting around 1300 fps through a full choke

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5929853 09/15/15 06:57 PM
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whatever is cheapest on the shelf from 6-3 shot 2 3/4 or 3inch.. no matter

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5929856 09/15/15 06:58 PM
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if I was to pick one that i could find every time is the cheaper Winchester in 3inch 3s 4s fine also

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5929866 09/15/15 07:05 PM
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3" #3 or #4. I have shot Kent Fasteel for the last several years. Gonna give Hevi-metal a shot this year. I never shoot 3.5" shells at ducks.


"God made man, but Samuel Colt made them equal."
Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5929942 09/15/15 07:58 PM
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3 inch #4 for ducks
3.5 inch #2 for decoying geese
3.5 inch BB for non decoying geese

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5929955 09/15/15 08:08 PM
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2 3/4" #7.5 for dove
3" #6 for teal
3" #3 for ducks
3.5" BB for geese

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5930028 09/15/15 08:49 PM
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Had a conversation with a fellow work partner who Always loves to use 3.5
I figured besides geese/turkey why go with a 3.5

Just curious what everyone normally used.

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5930094 09/15/15 09:35 PM
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I typically use 3" #2s for ducks. I prefer 1 1/4oz of shot over the 1 1/8 fast movers.

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5930111 09/15/15 09:41 PM
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Only time I've ever used 3.5 inch shells was for cranes and probably didn't need them then.

Last edited by BradyBuck; 09/15/15 09:41 PM.

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Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5930131 09/15/15 09:57 PM
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2.75 #4s for Teal
3in #2s for Ducks and close Geese


Originally Posted By: Fooshman
I'll take a Black Female every time.

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5930141 09/15/15 10:04 PM
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3" #3 or #4 for ducks out of a imp or LM choke. Never understood the need for 3.5" for ducks. Not much of a goose hunter but I would foresee no issue using 3" for them as well.

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5930258 09/15/15 11:12 PM
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2.75" #6 1 1/8 for duck. Killed 150-200 a year with them pass shooting mainly.
3" #4 1 1/4oz for those windier days
3" #2 1 3/4 for geese occasionally a hot 3.5" home load too

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5930278 09/15/15 11:27 PM
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3 inch highspeed loads (1550-1560fps) for me, usually 1 1/8 ounce, have not shot 3 1/2's for ducks in 10 years.
With steel, speed kills.

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5930339 09/15/15 11:51 PM
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I shoot Kent 3 1/2" #2's because they don't make a 4" #2


Be the same Man on Monday that you are on Sunday
Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5930456 09/16/15 12:39 AM
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3" #3 for ducks
3 1/2" #BB for geese

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5930496 09/16/15 12:57 AM
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This question gets asked a lot on this board. I used to chase the trends (Black Cloud) or buy what ever was cheapest ( Winchester Expert); it was according to how my budget was doing at the time. After spending some time with folks that compete at different types of clays sports and learning how to set up a shotgun to pattern at its best, I've come to the conclusion its more of pattern the shells you like as well as other brands you may be interested in and go from there.........shoot the ones that do the best for a particular gun. Also before you do the test make sure you have the barrel completely clean, because slag build up from lead and plastic can completely change the carecteristics of a shotgun. I swab my barrels withe Hoppes Number 9 real heavy and let them soak then I come back with the wire brush on the ram rod hooked up to my drill for a couple of minutes or so and then ram a few pieces of barrel patch cloth to clean it out. You might be surprised what you get out of your barrel doing this.......


Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5930812 09/16/15 03:55 AM
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2 3/4 rio or kent nr 3 or 4 for decoying ducks
3 inch heavy metal nr 3 for higher ducks
3 inch heavy metal BB for decoying or high geese
3 1/2 Inch nr 2 or 4 heavy shot for cranes

All with patternmaster duck and long goose choke

Last edited by beaversnipe; 09/16/15 03:57 AM.

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Originally Posted by bill oxner
Loved my 4 inches. Well needed.

Originally Posted by bill oxner
Hate Russians. Love happy endings. I saw snot fly. cheers


Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5930828 09/16/15 04:04 AM
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I like the 3" Rios in a 4 or 5 for ducks, preferably #5

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5931405 09/16/15 04:01 PM
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fwiw, I've had FTF issues with cheaper brands such as Herters and Monarch. I get shells in bulk so the issues may have been isolated to specific batches. Rio's, Winchester, and Federal are my preference.

Winchester 2.75" #6 steel for decoying teal
Rio Bluesteel 3" #2-#4 steel for decoying ducks and geese
Winchester 3.5" #2 steel for cranes and pass shooting geese

Regarding "Hevi-shot" or any of the other magic shotgun shells, they are a waste of money. Spend enough time hunting with folks using magic bullets, you'll notice there's no quantitative difference in the number of birds killed compared to hunters using plain steel shells.

A solid foundation in shooting skills, patterning your shotgun, knowing the POI on POA, using the appropriate choke, are extremely important. Needless to say, anyone who's served in the military in combat arms and/or spent considerable time properly training with firearms knows that practice makes perfect. Magic bullets or not.


Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5931526 09/16/15 05:19 PM
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Dove loads.. cheapest I can find in 8 shot. The monarchs have worked pretty good for me

My favorite duck loads are the cheap 2 3/4" remingtons in 4shot. Also use the 3" Winchester Xperts in 4.. more for coastal ducks.

Heard a lot about Kent Fasteel so figured I'd give em a try. Great first shot at a redhead at 40 yards. Kent shell jams in the barrel, brass breaks off where the ejector grabbed it. Not a minute later the first time I've ever had a group of pintails decoy feet down at the coast.. had the barrel off trying to force the jammed shell out with a long stick. Never again!

If money's not a problem the Black Clouds do a pretty good job!

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5932047 09/16/15 11:27 PM
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I shoot whatever 3" 1.25 oz 4 shot I can find for the cheapest price for all ducks. Have used Kent, Winchester and Federal the last three seasons. Preferred the Kents but not enough to pay more for them. Shot limits both days last weekend for teal with 4's. I use the same for big ducks and don't have any complaints.

3" 1.25 oz 1 shot for geese. On rare occasion will shoot 3.5" BB but haven't had the need the last few years.

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: StephensCnty308] #5932627 09/17/15 05:14 AM
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Ive Been shooting 2 3/4 inch 3's and 4's for 3 seasons. Killed ducks just as dead as 3 or 3.5". Used to shoot only 3's because I felt like I had to from what everyone else told me. Negative. I noticed no difference in amount of dead ducks. And I save a buck or two per box.

Re: what load do you prefer? [Re: TTUhunter4] #5933047 09/17/15 03:35 PM
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Originally Posted By: TTUhunter4
3" #3 or #4. I have shot Kent Fasteel for the last several years. Gonna give Hevi-metal a shot this year. I never shoot 3.5" shells at ducks.


+1

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