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Best Swatter Load #7560479 07/20/19 01:20 AM
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2flyfish4 Online Content OP
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what do yall use to finish off cripples? I'm thinking of picking up a box of bismuth #6 for the occasion.


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Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: 2flyfish4] #7560539 07/20/19 03:16 AM
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Teal Steel

Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: 2flyfish4] #7560557 07/20/19 03:55 AM
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6 or 7 steel in the 12, 3 steel in the 10

Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: 2flyfish4] #7560617 07/20/19 01:05 PM
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whatever i'm already loaded with and shooting. If your pattern has too many holes to finish off cripples, need to experiment with different choke, barrel, shell combos

Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: 2flyfish4] #7560695 07/20/19 03:44 PM
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Is there anyone who actually changes out loads to water swat a cripple? If I can water swat them when they first land in the decoys I can use the same load to water swat them when they are crippled...

Last edited by BradyBuck; 07/20/19 03:44 PM.

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Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: 2flyfish4] #7560723 07/20/19 04:35 PM
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Same with me Bradybuck most of the time, but there are times I am shooting some expensive shells like bismuth or tungsten. Then yes, I might slip in a cheap steel load. I have wasted some expensive shells before trying to take out a duck's head when that is all that is showing as it trys to swim off. I usually have some #7 steel with me anyway in case I want to follow up a duck hunt with some Snipe hunting.

Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: Charlie817] #7560738 07/20/19 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Charlie817
Teal Steel



That's what I have been using.

You can also get some of the non-toxic dove loads in no. 6 that is a tad cheaper but I think the Teal Steel is pretty economial


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Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: 2flyfish4] #7560901 07/20/19 10:03 PM
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I got a few boxes of Federal #6 on sale a few years ago. I keep 4 in a special pocket and use them very effectively to swat cripples.

Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: 2flyfish4] #7561286 07/21/19 04:25 PM
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Well I guess I should have clarified I'm looking for a load to finish off those cripples that get out there at 45-50 even 60 yards. Which is why I was leaning towards bismuth.


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Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: 2flyfish4] #7561324 07/21/19 05:41 PM
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Can you finish them off with a 22?


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Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: Cast] #7561366 07/21/19 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Cast
Can you finish them off with a 22?

No!


There is time, and you must take it, to lay your hand on your dog's head as you walk past him lying on the floor or on his settle, time to talk with him, to remember with him, time to please him, time you can't buy back once he's gone" GBE
Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: 2flyfish4] #7561460 07/21/19 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by 2flyfish4
Well I guess I should have clarified I'm looking for a load to finish off those cripples that get out there at 45-50 even 60 yards. Which is why I was leaning towards bismuth.


60 yards is a fer piece.

Something like Hevi-Shot 6s or HW13 #6 handloads are about the only thing that’s going to give you both the pattern density and the energy/penetration to finish off a duck at 60 yards that’s sitting on the water.


Thought for the day: Ducks were almost hunted to extinction long before camo was invented.
Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: Windrider] #7561652 07/22/19 03:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Windrider
Originally Posted by 2flyfish4
Well I guess I should have clarified I'm looking for a load to finish off those cripples that get out there at 45-50 even 60 yards. Which is why I was leaning towards bismuth.


60 yards is a fer piece.

Something like Hevi-Shot 6s or HW13 #6 handloads are about the only thing that’s going to give you both the pattern density and the energy/penetration to finish off a duck at 60 yards that’s sitting on the water.




Cripples at 60 yards are what a good dog is for..


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Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: 2flyfish4] #7561766 07/22/19 12:18 PM
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If you’re having to shoot cripples at 60 yds you’ve done something wrong.

Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: BradyBuck] #7561986 07/22/19 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by BradyBuck
Originally Posted by Windrider
Originally Posted by 2flyfish4
Well I guess I should have clarified I'm looking for a load to finish off those cripples that get out there at 45-50 even 60 yards. Which is why I was leaning towards bismuth.


60 yards is a fer piece.

Something like Hevi-Shot 6s or HW13 #6 handloads are about the only thing that’s going to give you both the pattern density and the energy/penetration to finish off a duck at 60 yards that’s sitting on the water.




Cripples at 60 yards are what a good dog is for..

Bingo


Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: 2flyfish4] #7562999 07/23/19 10:56 PM
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I use #6 or 7 steel dove loads, usually the Winchester Xperts.
Work good through a decent choke out to about 35 yds.


Re: Best Swatter Load [Re: woodduckhunter] #7564205 07/25/19 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by woodduckhunter
whatever i'm already loaded with and shooting. If your pattern has too many holes to finish off cripples, need to experiment with different choke, barrel, shell combos


This^^^. I used to pack swatter loads as well, but ever since I switched to a Patternmater choke I've never had to worry about it.

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