shot size for ducks

[goody31]

I use #3's early season and #1's late season for puddle ducks.  I use #1's and BB for seaducks.

[wafisherman]

I use #3's early season and #1's late season for puddle ducks.  I use #1's and BB for seaducks.

So I found I have a box of 1s and another of 4s.  Guess they will both work.  So for more distance and perhaps geese, I should use the 1s, and for birds coming in close to the decoys, the 4s would be good.   Is that the right way to look at this?

[scottcrb]

You could look at it that way, but when I hunt I never know if im gonna get a duck at 15 yardsor a goose at 30. I try and pick.one that will work for all my hunting situations, unless I'm going on a special goose only or sea duck hunt where I have a good ideas on my range and species.bb 1,2,3's are all pretty versatile.

[wadu1]

Well this is easy for me on gun with 3' #4 or 5s for decoying ducks, and a gun with 3 or 3 1/2 #2 for the long shot and a third with 3 1/2 BB's for geese and my gun bearer keeps them loaded I wish. Really 3 or 3 1/2 #2's for most everything, I do carry BB's incase and some 2 3/4 #5 swaterloads (if the boat is not moving).

[lokidog]

I like the #6 for swatters as I have never seen #5s, I have taken down a few birds though with the #6 when they flew near as I was going after a swimmer.   

ATM Green, the best thing is figure out what your maximum range you are comfortable shooting and use a pellet size that has enough killing power at that range.  And, practice, practice, practice.

I would bet that most duck hunters underestimate the distances they are shooting.  If you have access to a range finder, bring it along sometime, I think you will be surprised at how far away a duck actually is that looks like an easy shot.   I like having my rangefinding binos along, especially for the sea ducks. 

[BiggLuke]

Well this is easy for me on gun with 3' #4 or 5s for decoying ducks,...

WOW... a little over-kill don't you think??
3' shotgun shells?
Must be one hell of a recoil.
Is that some sort of bow mounted cannon?   

[LeftCoastLoren]

Haha can you imagine how many #5 pellets could fit in a 3' shell!?!

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[seth30]

I like the #6 for swatters as I have never seen #5s, I have taken down a few birds though with the #6 when they flew near as I was going after a swimmer.   

ATM Green, the best thing is figure out what your maximum range you are comfortable shooting and use a pellet size that has enough killing power at that range.  And, practice, practice, practice.

I would bet that most duck hunters underestimate the distances they are shooting.  If you have access to a range finder, bring it along sometime, I think you will be surprised at how far away a duck actually is that looks like an easy shot.   I like having my rangefinding binos along, especially for the sea ducks. 

  Glad you brought your range finder along

[aaronoto]

3" #2's all day long.

[sakoshooter]

I shot #4 steel for years with decent results but one day sneaking into a spot my dog jumped a big Canada goose. I shot it solid in the back just as it got off the ground. Knocked it right down. Dog retrieved it alive, I bonked it's head. After the hunt I decided to pluck it for an oven baked meal and discovered that not one single pellet penetrated the skin. There was about 50 red welts all over the back side of the goose but no real damage. I switched to #2s right after that. I figured that if they can't penetrate the skin of a goose at 30 yds, they couldn't be doing very well on fully feathered ducks either. Since switching to #2s, I've got no regrets.
I also use Heavy Metal quite often and prefer it over steel.

[Come Get Some]

I am pretty good at judging distance. I have shot competitve archery for 20 years. You would be surpised how far ducks actually are when they are shot. I use 3" #2 shot alot. If you are on the bird they crumble at 50 yds. I started using blind side this year. It is very terminal. the angles carry more kenetic energy upon impact. The birds do not do well when shot with it. I had a 10 year old with me last weekend. He was shooting a Barettta in 3-1/2 " Using Hypersonic #2 shot. He was a little guy but it did not phase him. Not necessary but he made some very nice long shots. He shoots in the upper 90's in trap and usually hits 75 straight.

[duckmen1]

I like to shoot my birds Decoying and if the day goes well it goes 4 shot 3 shot 2 shot. If the birds are hanging out a bit I go 3 shot backed up by two number twos, or two 3s backed up by a two. If I'm jump shooting it depends on the circumstance but love to shoot he I metal 3 1/2 2s if I think those are gonna be longer shots. Changes day to day and by the area I hunt. Have a good variety to choose from before season lets you get choosy with how you feel like loading.
I personally stay away from hypersonic loads due to the fact that my stoeger 2000 factory choke fused to the barrel and couldn't get it out after 1 box of shells. Need to order a new barrel now. They did kick more than other equivalent shells and were much louder too.

[Come Get Some]

They are fast, but not necessary and they are hard on guns

[duckmen1]

Ya I have heard a lot of people screwing up there guns with the hyper sonics. When they first came out I couldn't wait to get them. And they did put birds down quick. But a 230 dollar fix for the gun will keep me from going back.
Gotta fix it though. Thing never jams and is such a good shooter that I gotta get a replacement barrel for the gun for years to come before I can't get it anymore. Most reliable shotgun I've owned.thats why I picked up the stoeger 3500 last year. Love it too.

[sakoshooter]

A good thing to do on shotgun choke threads is to brush a little Anti Seize or Never Seize on the choke threads. Sure makes for easier removal.