Getting into duck hunting and wondering what y’all have found the best shell to be. I’ve had the best luck with Kent and Rio. The only problem is that I haven’t been able to find any Rio steel shot where I live in SA. With that said any other thoughts and opinions on the best shell?

Cabela's in Buda should have your Rio shells.

That is good for standard steel shot. If you want to hammer the ducks like we did in the lead shot days use heavy shot. #6 drops them like #4 lead did bac in the day. Main problem with it is $ but I find I shoot fewer shells for a liit. Of course if you have a good place and ducks are decoying well about any of it works well

Moving to the waterfowl section where it will be seen by more duck hunters for their input

Rogerssportinggoods.com usually has some of the best prices on Rio shells.

Kent #3 has worked for me.

Kent #4, 1 1/8 load. I’ll also buy federal blue equivalent shot/load.

I've always like the Winchester supremes and magnum loads. I think the supremes are just high velocity now. 3" #2, 3s and 4s.

Personally I would never shoot big ducks with any load less than 1 1/4oz, I really prefer the Winchester magnums in 1 3/8oz later in the season.

I think the shot oz is more important than the brand or name of shell you shoot.

#4, 3 inch mag, 20 ga for my Citori. Shot many a duck with that set up.

As long as the pellet size is right for the size bird, it doesn’t matter what the make is. It’s all steel.

I mostly shoot 2 3/4 inch #3’s. Kent, federal or rio. My guns don’t seem to care what brand I shoot. They all pattern good for me and kill ducks so I just buy whatever brand happens to be on the shelf when I go in the store.

Checking on the Cabelas website they claim to no longer carry Blue Steel, but I’m with you I remember seeing some in there a while back.

cheap monarch 3" #2/4's last few years. Usually 3" #2 fiocchi. whatever is cheap for ducks. This year splurged for geese and went with some hevi shot

A smaller load is less pellets, but more gunpowder/speed/FPS. That’s the trade off. I prefer more speed, less likely to find pellets in the meat, and more likely pellets go all the way thru the meat/breast bone and thru the internal organs for a better kill.

Remington Hypersonic, 2 or 4's depending on duck size and length of shot.

I order these in #3's from Rogers

I'm going to have to check that out.

You must hate your gun and shoulder, good lord

90% of the ducks in Texas can be cleanly killed with a 2 3/4" #3 load. proper choke and "some" calling ability

2 3/4", 1oz, #3s @ 1600fps hand loads. In 12ga.

I prefer to shoot the 10% that cannot be shot by you.

Any day you want to put that theory to test let me know

One day you'll learn the difference between hunting and shooting

My son's 8 grade science project hypothesis was that more expensive shells will pattern better than less expensive. Although his sample was smaller than a normal scientific sample, at least in his shotgun heavy shot out patterned all the others, including heavy steel at 30 yards

He won first place in the area science fair for that and I've bought heavy shot exclusively for this season.

You do seem to know it all.

Actually I will shoot whatever is in my bag. I knew someone would bite!

Federal blue box 12 ga 3” 1-1/4 oz #2 with Carlson mod ext choke.
Works for me

Hevi Metal #2 or 3, 1&1/4 oz 12 gauge. Pretty good stuff, if you don’t try to make hero shots or get frustrated
by birds that won’t quite come in, and sky blast. IC early and Modified later in season with Beretta A400.

Thanks for all the input I’ll try and use this info as the season starts.