For the one that like to dog on me because I shoot boss, and then all you other gentleman, have y'all ever looked at the payload? Attached will be a chart of boss' payload info for y'all to look at.
Unfortunately I can't find a chart like this for today's steel loads that include pellet count.

But anyways, a boss 2.75" carries more pellets than most other brands 3"shells, that I can find.
Their 3" shell is equivalent to some, maybe most, other companies 3.5" shells.

My take is that's part of the reason most really like boss.
A boss 2.75" #5 will be superior to almost all other brands 3" #3, and pushing being equivalent, if not superior, to their 3" #2.
Now boss won't make you magically kill birds, you still gotta do your part, but in saying that, I can gather that is why there are less cripples while shooting boss, and the birds get killed deader.

Anybody else have any info or anything else to add to the discussion?

So this year I've shot thru 4 boxes of Boss 2 3/4" #5 and 2 boxes of 3" #5's so far. My wife is shooting the 20g. 3" #5's. But Im not going to include her shooting in this!

My take so far. Ive shot the 2 3/4 #5 very well. Lots of kills and very little cripples. I'd definitely keep shooting these. Very happy with their impact and distance on kills. The 3" is a different story. Both boxes I shot just didnt seem to kill as good as the 2 3/4. Lots more cripples, and several misses that made me scratch my head. Now, it could be that my gun patterns the 2 3/4 better than the 3". Not sure, didnt put them on paper. I dont get into all the science BS behind shells. Some guns shoot some brands and size better than others.
I've always up to this year only used Remington Hypersonic and Kent 3" #3 steel and some #2, and had good performance out of them. No complaints at all.

I'd have to look at our Ranch log's on numbers killed. But its normally 4-10 a hunt with my wife and I. And its normally my shooting, so I can give you a good feedback on them.

All in all. I will definitely keep using Boss 2 3/4 #5's, but will also keep shooting steel. Still have several boxes of steel to go thru. I will never say one is better than the other. Cause I shot them side by side this year and close to the same results except the Boss 3" (Wont buy those again).

KWood, this is some science BS. Lead is 11.35 grams/cubic cm. You lost your credibility with me when you stated Boss is better than lead in a prior post. My guess is you are not old enough to have ever legally hunted waterfowl with lead shot, which is what I grew up on.

Smokey he isn’t old enough or traveled enough to understand lead or even nickel plated lead.

Essentially anything you tell him falls on deaf ears . It’s Almost like he just trying to get post count for his boss discount affiliation

Boss sucks, break a few open and look at them on the inside

Quick research did not go where I thought it would go so nevermind, but I will show what I found. Also the Boss is copper plated. Kent is not. That should make up for the 100 fps difference in speed. It's a wash. Other load comparisons look to be similar.

Kent Bismuth - B123W40- 5 3″ Max 1450 fps 1 3/8 OZ $34.99 (midwayusa) 25rnd

Boss - 12-GA-3-138-5 1-3/8 oz. payload, 1350 fps $31.00 20rnd

speaking of shells........has anyone on here tried Apex Ammuntition? Got several buddies in Arkansas shooting them and my cousin with Echo calls shooting them, and speaking highly about them. Just curious. Think they are out of Mississippi or somehting.

Bismuth is better than steel but no better terminal performance than the other non steel non toxic options. I actually shoot Bismuth from time to time.
It’s real niche in my opinion is an affordable non toxic option to get some nice older fixed choke guns that I used to shoot lead with, back in the field.

I love Rio dove loads!

Yes, TSS is closest Ive found to lead, but I wouldn’t pay a premium for it in a large gauge. 410/28 and sometimes 20. Yes

Havent even looked. Whats a box of 12g. say #3 run?

Just looked.....am I reading right....$40 a box???

Unless you’re going on a once in a lifetime hunt, TSS isn’t worth it in any gauge.

Bismuth choked full kills ducks just fine out of small bore guns.

Not disagreeing but it all comes down to what you paid for it.

Yes but don’t look at quantity.. That's probably per 10

Apex shells are really expensive.

I see both sides. I will comment that #9 TSS shooting Canada geese will turn a 410 into a blast furnace. Although to expensive to be practical, it is amazing stuff.

Whats yalls thoughts about hevi shot?

I've shot it alittle, overall not a big fan of it.

Most are just steel plus different %’s mix of bismuth or tungsten. Their pure loads aren't bad, I picked up a case of x on clearance for $28 in 20ga

I remember a time not that long ago it was hunters on the THF trying to justify that using the cheapest winchester xperts was just as good as any other shell, now its bismuth and $1000 waders being justified

I never said it was better than lead. Nothing will beat lead, besides tungsten, but boss is very identical to lead.
Brandon that owns boss does days and days of research trying to come up with the best, most cost effective shell for hunting ducks.
Below is a picture that is proof that boss is almost identical to lead.

People got tired of trash shells and replacing waders annually

That was me. I've likely killed more ducks than kwood has seen with winchester I bought hungover on the way to the hunt for the nearest walmart.

You forgot the Remmy 870

the 870 gets no love these days....its all about the super black eagle and new fake A5