Big Honker shot size

[206]

Big Honker shot size.

What's your favorite? 

Got to know a guy last year in the bar that shoots with a guide in EWA and said they shoot 2's over field decoys.  I said, "You shootin old school lead?".

Big geese have the will to survive like an elk.  Elk run after being shot till they drop dead and honkers will fly till they drop dead.

T's get it done for me.  BBs and BBBs still don't have the knock down power out of my gun as T's.

The word "close" means you will knock'em down when you pull the trigger.  I guess close can be considered Range.  Why limit yourself with all the variables that go with the 5 seconds to shoot?

What do you prefer for shot size to knock down honkers?

[Odell]

I kill geese regularly over water with 3" 3's. if they are over the decoys duck loads can be very deadly.

If I'm going strictly for geese in a field I will shoot 3.5 inch BBs

[Kola16]

Never shot a goose, but if I did...I would use the seasoned shot 

[whackemstackem]

BBB. Its what works for me for decoys. Plus I like the larger shot as its easier to find or blows right through.

[steeleywhopper]

Kent Fasteel  3inch #1's have done the trick for me.

[carpsniperg2]

Kent 3.5 BBB if I am shooting longer shots. If in the deeks 3.5 2's

[Devinshoe]

3.5" BBB's try them! you will never go back!

[Stilly bay]

I have killed plenty of honkers over decoys and at longer ranges with #2's. they all got knocked down if I did my part.

I would only use T shot if I was planning on doing some sky scraping AND I knew it patterned well out of my gun. a lot of times your larger shot sizes throw horrible patterns if you don't have the right choke combo and you really can't afford a crappy pattern when your using shot the size of T.

personally I have never felt the need for anything larger than BB.

[Devinshoe]

Use lead!!  That will knock them dead every time! jk jk

[chester]

bb hevi metal or bc for long days. up close over decoys kent bb or #1.

[lokidog]

Used to use 2 3/4" #2's back in the WI marshes.  Out here I've used 2's and BB's.  I would probably use 1's but have never found them on a regular basis.

[h2ofowlr]

I just shoot BB's typically.  If their over the decoy's #2's or larger.  I still have 2 cases of 10 gauge F shot sitting in my office.  That used to be a hell of a goose load!

[crow killer]

Always have killed my geese with duck load, number 4 Winchester experts, have killed them at least 20 yards with them

[HuntinCrazy]

 

I kill geese regularly over water with 3" 3's. if they are over the decoys duck loads can be very deadly.

If I'm going strictly for geese in a field I will shoot 3.5 inch BBs

[dawei851]

Kent Fasteel  3inch #1's have done the trick for me.

Me too, albeit in a 20ga & <40yds.

[singleshot12]

#2 heavy shot, patterns good and breaks wings

[blacktailcody]

Kent 3 1/2 Mags. I don't know what shot size.

[Tealer]

I have been using 3" 2s and 4s when they are feet down 4s are plenty.

[206]

There's a lot of opinions on this.  I'm shooting the old ten gauge double that I've shot for 30 years and still believe T's (since the change to steel) are the bomb.  If I miss it's always my fault not the gun.  The full choke is bulging a little at the end but it keeps on getting it done.

Feet down is preferred, but growing up in the field with the old decoy shells the rule was if you "think" you can knockem down.... "take em".  This still applies because you can never count on them doing one more swing to come in feet down.  Seen that too many times.

[Tealer]

Guys that think they need T's scare me. If you can't kill them with BB's you probably shouldn't shoot.

[Kola16]

Guys that think they need T's scare me. If you can't kill them with BB's you probably shouldn't shoot.

I don't think anyone said that they need T's. Just prefer them 

[C-Money]

I have killed geese with 3 1/2" 10ga and 12ga loads. After all these years, guess my fovorite goose load is 3'' 1 3/8 oz BBs in a Fedral or Remington moderatly priced steel load.

[Elkrunner]

I always put in a 2 followed up by BB's

[pianoman9701]

BB, BBB, or T. Black Cloud knocks'em down for a reasonable price.

[WSU]

I haven't killed a ton, but 3" 1 1/4 ounce BBB seems to work well.  2s and the like kill them just fine when they are in the decoys, but we all know that your second or third shot is not the same as your first.  Birds flare, vitals aren't as exposed, etc.  BBB kills them in the decoys just as well (or better) than 2s and work better when the birds aren't cupped up at 25 yards.

[quackattack90]

3" or 3.5" #2's is all I use for geese.

[johnnyaustin44]

2's outta my ten gauge and BBB outta the 12. Sure you CAN kill them with small loads by why risk hitting them.and not bringing them down 

[206]

2's outta my ten gauge and BBB outta the 12. Sure you CAN kill them with small loads by why risk hitting them.and not bringing them down 

That's a $chitpod in your avatar.  Never seen anything like that!

Time for the game...........................

[gadwall]

BBs and BBBs still don't have the knock down power out of my gun as T's.


Hey 206, us 509'ers have learned to shoot well enough to kill the big geese with 2's and BB's.

Seriously, I like BB's best out of a full choke in my Browning BPS.

[206]

206 shot lots of 2's at 509 geese back in the days of lead.

Glad to hear T's scare people.  They are one load where I can still feel the kick like the good old days.  My gun's rubber butt pad is so old the rubber is disintegrating and I think I'll replace it with a hard plastic one so it will kick better!

 

[Stilly bay]

206 shot lots of 2's at 509 geese back in the days of lead.

Glad to hear T's scare people.  They are one load where I can still feel the kick like the good old days.  My gun's rubber butt pad is so old the rubber is disintegrating and I think I'll replace it with a hard plastic one so it will kick better!

T's kick harder huh? 

[passhooter]

My buddy and I shoot Hevi-Metal 3 inch #2 at geese all the time. Yesterday, I dropped a big honker at 45 yards with it. We never have problems killing the big birds with Hevi-Metal, we are also good shots.

[martin1]

ive killed just as many geese with 3" 3s and 4s as i have 3 1/2" bbb what ever is in my gun at the time the opportunity arises. if im just hunting geese  i like bbb

[LittleHunter]

The best waterfowl shell out there are 3in #3 to me. Killed plenty of geese with them but if im going out just to target geese i will use 3in #1 are money if you have the right choke tube.

[fethrduster]

Claymore mines work really well if you let them land.

[JJD]

Lot's of things involved, Shotgun ga, choke, distance, type of shot and shooter competency are all variables.
I shoot 12ga, improved mod choke, BB in winchester supreme steel at 40 yds or less.  Never been part of the "when there's lead in the air there's hope" crowd.   
Tried some Heavy steel, but got some bad shells and won't go back again.

[xdog]

It's all very relative to how you are hunting, range, choke and weather.  In general I prefer 2's or if I think they are going to be rangy I will chamber BB's.  Again everything is so variable that I can tell you that I have killed quite a few and likely more big geese stone dead with 3's, 4's and 6's then with shot sizes larger than BBB. 

 

[shotgunner]

Nothing is more effective than HeviShot at dumping the honkers. I usually shoot Hevi-Metal, but when I have the opportunity to shoot HeviShot, I go with #4 and crush the honkers even at ranges near fifty yards. This is the best shot I have ever used.