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Author Topic: 20 gauge duck load?  (Read 7200 times)

Offline 270Shooter

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20 gauge duck load?
« on: October 10, 2008, 08:14:46 PM »
I'm thinking of using my 20 gauge for ducks this season. But i can't decide which load to use. I have a box of Kent Fasteels 3inchers with 7/8 oz. of 2 shot in them at about 1550 fps. Is 2 shot too much for ducks?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks :)

Offline quacker whacker

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Re: 20 gauge duck load?
« Reply #1 on: October 10, 2008, 08:53:59 PM »
little bit different situation, but i use 12 ga. 3.5 inch 2 shot for duck and they work very well for me. 

Offline addicted

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Re: 20 gauge duck load?
« Reply #2 on: October 10, 2008, 09:20:07 PM »
2's arent  bad. some people like to used twos cuz they can go for ducks or geese.
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It sounds like it's time to get a new gun.

Offline Curly

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Re: 20 gauge duck load?
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2008, 09:42:17 PM »
You won't get very many pellets in a 7/8 oz load of 2's, but it should work.  I like 2's in a 12 ga load for decoying ducks.  I also like 1's for the 12ga if the ducks are going to be a little farther out there.
 
For 20ga, I think 3's or 4's might be a little better since you'll have more pellets in your pattern; but since you already have the 2's.......give them a try and see how they work.
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Offline General Disarray

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Re: 20 gauge duck load?
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2008, 10:30:45 PM »
Definitely go with 3's or 4's if you know how to decoy the birds in close.  Bi-Mart in Yakima had a bunch of Kent Fasteel 20ga 4's on sale in Sept but somebody must've bought all they had since they were so cheap!!! :dunno:

If you don't want to spend a fortun on them, check Griggs Dept store in Pasco.  I found some Estate 3" 1oz 3's there for $11/box. They also had the lighter, faster loads a little cheaper but I'm always for more pellets.
hey, where's Professor Chaos? Anyone seen him?

This post will be deleted in 5, 4, 3, 2....

Offline BBob

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Re: 20 gauge duck load?
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2008, 02:34:45 PM »
I prefer 1 oz of 3's in Federal as first choice. I also use 7/8 oz Kent 2's and only use the 20 over decoys.   Bill

Offline Intruder

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Re: 20 gauge duck load?
« Reply #6 on: October 15, 2008, 01:12:00 PM »
When mechanical decoys were legal I used to shoot my 20 a lot.  I'd shoot steel in my O/U w/ skeet (3" 4s) and imp cyl (3" 3s) tubes in it.  Great out to about 25- 30 yards.  I remember hunting a small pond and limiting on 3 consecutive trips and never taking a shot over 20 yards.

You might try 3" Heavy Shot.....

Offline wadu1

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Re: 20 gauge duck load?
« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2008, 07:27:39 AM »
 :hello:
I shoot my Twenty all the time on decoying ducks on fresh water. I use both the Kent Fast Steel 3" #2 and Remington Nitro-Steel 3" 1oz #2. Salt Water ducks I use a 12 ga with Kent Fast Steel #2 for the first two shots and the third is a BB. If the birds are decoying in close I hand load 28ga with 5/8 oz of #4 Heavy shot (if I can find it) and the same with .410.
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Offline Professor Chaos

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Re: 20 gauge duck load?
« Reply #8 on: October 16, 2008, 08:38:47 AM »
what are the chances you'd handload a few non-tox 28ga loads for someone else?   :dunno: For a fair price of course.
I love shooting my 28 but have yet to find a reasonable way to do it for waterfowl.
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Offline Thenewguy

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Re: 20 gauge duck load?
« Reply #9 on: October 16, 2008, 08:56:44 AM »
All i know is a 20 gauge is OK versus ducks. more of a quail gun imp use smaller sized shot at least

Offline KwackWacker

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Re: 20 gauge duck load?
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2008, 03:16:39 PM »
That's what I used when I was shooting a A-5 20 for the kwackers......2's are definatley not too big, especially w/ a 20 gauge. #4's are my favorite though.

Offline abe henderson

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Re: 20 gauge duck load?
« Reply #11 on: October 27, 2008, 05:20:58 PM »
I'd love to try a 20 gauge for waterfowl, probably will in a couple years.  I'd use 3" 4s faststeel.  I shoot 2 3/4" 4s in my 12 and it knocks the piss outta the ducks and pheasies (a lot of times I can jump shoot while pheasant hunting).  Good luck.

Abe

 


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