Black Cloud...Amazing

[addicted]

You guys shooting black cloud - did you need to worry about your choke not working well. I went over to Patternmaster.com and they are recommending a special choke for black cloud. Seeing how it is cheaper than the other chokes it sounds like it could be more than a marketing gimmick. Looking to try out some of this stuff.

yeah specifically the patternmaster chokes have problems with them because of the flight control wad. the wad has little wings on it while the pattern master is trying to grab the wad they kinda counteract eachother.

[andrew_12gauge]

ive never had problems with kents stuff but i despise estate, for some reason my 870 just wont cycle em, im a big fan of winchester Xpert 3" #2's for ducks and 3 1/2" for geese

[Ray]

It seems to me that a few of the major choke mfgrs are suggesting a different choke tube specifically for the black cloud ammo and it does not seem to be just Patternmaster.

I'll pick one up from whomever over the next few weeks if necessary but I was mostly wondering if it really is necessary to use a special choke for the Black Cloud....

I ready on another forum that the brand is not the issue but instead that if choke tube that has ports or wad striping knobs would be a problem..

[Ray]

Went down to Joes. The price of black cloud is double. I will stick to plain old steel. I am a cheapskate. I'll just shoot twice if I miss. It will probably be cheaper that way.

Having said that. The amazing thing about Black Cloud is the price is so high.

[General Disarray]

The amazing thing about Black Cloud is the price is so high.

No, the amazing thing is how many hunters are falling for the hype.  Oh how I wish people would just learn how to hunt ducks instead of trying to find some kind of "snake oil" so they can kill them on a 50 yard swing shot...

Black cloud is just the new Dead Coyote load.

[Ray]

Well if someone says it's all that I am not against trying it. Except when the price is double. I wasn't expecting any 50 yard swing shots... I suppose that I wasn't looking at it from any different perspective than to just try another style of ammo. I pretty much stick with granola federal speed shot. It works good for me.

[The Weazle]

No, the amazing thing is how many hunters are falling for the hype.  Oh how I wish people would just learn how to hunt ducks instead of trying to find some kind of "snake oil" so they can kill them on a 50 yard swing shot...
[/quote]

Just because you try a different type of ammo doesnt mean you dont know how to hunt ducks.  I have been hunting, and killing ducks since I was 10.  That is 22 years now.  Black cloud is only 25 bucks a box, compared to major brands, that is a good deal, and your always going to do better when you have confidence in your gear.

[General Disarray]

If you can't kill ducks with good ol steel shot, then you aren't getting them close enough.  Oh well, spend your $1 per shell.  I think I killed my last limit with some 2-3/4 steel 6's and 4's that I paid $5.97 a box for.  Amazing what happens when you let them finish.... If you really need Black Cloud, Hevi-shot or any other "premium" load to kill birds, try spending that extra money on a range finder and figuring out why you can't kill birds with steel. My guess is it has to do with not knowing your effective range.

If I hunted private ground and didn't have to deal with idiots in every blind around me, i wouldn't give two *censored*s what you guys use.  But when I get my hunt screwed up by guys that spend the extra money to buy a "miracle" shell I get sick of it.  One of the worst things that happened to duck hunting was the development of 3-1/2" 12 ga ammo...

[Ray]

I like 4 or 6 shot on ducks and 2 on geese. As far as everything else goes... to each his own.

I understand the crowding issues but I am not going to start talking to people on here like they are the problem without actually seeing them out hunting and then I probably would still hold on that unless they shot me or somethng. I don't subscribe to the thought that just because someone uses a different ammo they are the problem with waterfowl hunting. Having said that I use granola federal ammo and a 3" shotgun. People have been killing ducks and geese with that sort of setup for a long time.

[boots]

hey Ray can you fill me in on what granola ammo is? I like those federal shells too, seem to kill the birds pretty good. i was going to try black cloud this season, but i didnt know they were 25 per box...maybe ill rethink that

[Ray]

it's just a term for cheap federal ammo. I usually buy the lowest cost on the shelf at the local store which is federal brand and this is usually it in 3 inch... It's cheaper in 2 3/4 inch.. http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=73286

[SilkWWU]

I don't know why there is hostility over this new ammo, really at $25.00 a box versus $19.00 for Kent, it's not that big of a difference.  Plus, shooting 3.5 inch shells, why wouldn't you shoot them if you had them available?  Are you such an elitist duck hunter that your only shots are 15 yards from the blind.  If you are that good of a caller where you and your partner can shoot your limits then that's fine.  But on public land where the birds are hearing multiple blind/decoy setups, sometimes all you can home for is some passing shots, and the extra firepower is nice.

I'm far from an expert duck hunter, but I am telling you there is night and day difference with Black Cloud.

[Ray]

I don't use kent. I simply can't justify the prices myself. Steel works fine for me

[boots]

i like kents, got some for 11 a box earlier today actually. i thought that was around the standard going rate? looks like i should actually go and pickup more of it if its 19 bucks now !!! 

[UltraMag]

Black cloud seems spendy,
although i should try one box to see if it's all it claims.
My last hunt, i smoked a limit with handloaded 1oz of #4's
at 1650fps in a 2 3/4",early season worked great.
But i do shoot some 3.5"'ers as well, i get bored easily shootin the same ammo all the time,i'm usually shooting something different every time i go.I only shoot high density (non steel) loads for the occasional pass shot on greater canadas, and that's only if i have time to switch out ammo, nuthin but steel for ducks.
P.S.
If you have to get all your birds to finish within 25yds, it doesn't mean your a great duck hunter, it means your a crappy shot.