Are we trying to cure a problem that isn't?

[AWS]

Every year I see bigger more powerful shot shells hitting the store shelves, Blackcloud, Blindside, Faststeel etc.  Do we need them, are they doing what they claim or are we trying to make up for skill and experience with technology like we have with inline MZLs and compound bows.

When I was first required to use steel in the late 1970's we used 1 oz of slow 4's and they worked as well as the 7.5 and 5 lead we were using for ducks.  Over the years I've fallen into the bigger is better trap, slowly moving to 1 3/8oz of 2's and then to faster and faster loads .  Funny for all the advances in ammo I found myself shooting more shells for the same number of birds and having more cripples to swat on the water.  I attributed to advancing age and lack of practice( used to shoot competitive International Skeet until I had cataract surgery).

A couple years ago I decided to take some old guns out hunting just for fun.  They were 2.5" chambered hammer guns using very light loaded shells around 13/16 oz of soft nontoxic shells at 1200 fps.  Surprise I was killing more birds and using less ammo.
This season I added a 20ga SxS and am finding that 7/8oz steel 4's are doing great.

I think that the whole reason for having a great season is that I'm setting up for better shoots and passing on marginal birds and hope that they will work back to the decoys.  I hunt public lands and try very hard to hunt areas that others don't hunt and hunt a lot of different places so the ducks don't quit using the areas.

The past two hunts have produced 6 ducks and 2 geese with 10 shells from one of my 2.5" hammer shotguns using less than a dz decoys, and I'm having fun.

[Bob33]

"Bigger, Faster, Stronger, Louder"

"Bigger is better. It's not complicated."

Magnumania. It sells better, not necessarily kills better.

[Heredoggydoggy]

It's like the government does--if something doesn't work, throw more money at it!  In your case, if you can't hit the ducks, throw more shot at them! 

[Bill W]

I know that 40 years ago I favored the heaviest loads I could use for ducks.  Then my shooting got better and I learned the issue wasn't the payload but getting the target in the center of the pattern.   Today I choose 1 ounce loads going 1200 fps and if the target/duck/quail is in the pattern I hit it.  If it's not I miss.

Unless it's turkeys I don't really see the need for 3 1/2 inch 12 gauge ammo.

[snowshoes22]

This has been on my mind lately also. Back when I first started hunting waterfowl we shot 2 3/4" #4's for ducks and geese. The geese folded up just fine.

[h2ofowlr]

First off we started using lead in the late 80's.  Speed up to a certain speed is needed for ducks.  If your 10-15 yards a 1oz at 1,200 fps is probably fine if they are 25-45 yards your pushing birds and wounding them.  The steel peters out a lot sooner than the lead does or did.

[270Shooter]

I like the fast 3" steel shells at about 1550 fps. I'm  shooting them for pheasants too. And where I hunt for ducks you are usually just trying to traffic them so real close shooting Is not very normal. I have shot a lot of ducks at 45-55 yards because I can and sometimes it's all the ducks give you.

[BigGoonTuna]

i've been using  2.75" 1 1/8oz #2 steel loads this year, as i got a great deal on some cases.  i've found that they kill as well as the higher velocity stuff i've shot in the past, as long as i can hit them.  that's the kicker right there...i miss just as many passing ducks as i did with more expensive shells.

[AWS]

h20watrfowler

I'm originally from MN and there we went steel in the 1970's(76 or 77) until Federal brought out steel loads for other than 12ga in 83 we could use lead in sub gauges and MZL.  We just switched to steel no problem.

Maybe I should change my handle to "Luddite"

[Bill W]

First off we started using lead in the late 80's.  Speed up to a certain speed is needed for ducks.  If your 10-15 yards a 1oz at 1,200 fps is probably fine if they are 25-45 yards your pushing birds and wounding them.  The steel peters out a lot sooner than the lead does or did.

If 1200 fps steel only worked out to 15 yards the ammo manufactures wouldn't get many sold.  It works out to 35-40 yards and depending on a person's style of hunting/decoying may prove satisfactory. Tom Roster's studies do indicate speed kills but the target needs to be in the pattern first.

My opinion is only on ducks.   I wholeheartedly agree with "speed" for geese.