What size of a load do you use, no, not that one

[blindpig]

I go duck hunting about once a year.  I have been shooting a 12-gauge semi-auto. I use BB, 1's, 2's, and 4's.  What is your favorite and why?

[yelp]

3" 4's or 3" 3's if I can find them...I also shoot 3 1/2" 2, 4 BB's when hunting the River.

[wrangler]

jump shoot with 3" 4's or 6's and outa the blinds i'll use 2's.

[blindpig]

Thanks guys that helps a bunch.  I had much success with the four's.

[Ray]

For Ducks I use #4. For geese I like #2.

[Antlershed]

Ducks, #3 or #4 shot. Geese, Anywhere from BBB to #2 depending on the situation

[Gobble Gobble]

It looks like a lot of you are shooting 12 gage chambered in 3" & 3 1/2". What is good for those (like ME) who shoot 2 3/4"? My wife is shooting a 20 Gage in 2 3/4 or 3"? I've been shooting #2 & 3 shot and my wife #4 (all we can find in 20 gage).

[road.kill]

I like #2 shot for big ducks. If i was targetting teal or something smaller i would probably reconsider to a #4

[Yummy and Tasty Animal]

I've been using #2 Federal Speed Shok or whatever lately, but when I run outta those I'm gonna try some #3.

[ridgefire]

i can only shoot 2 3/4" out of my old wingmaster and i was using #4 shot but switched to #2 and my kills to wounded went way up

[road.kill]

i can only shoot 2 3/4" out of my old wingmaster and i was using #4 shot but switched to #2 and my kills to wounded went way up

Meaning now you are getting more clean kills with the #2, or now you are getting more cripples with the #2 ?

[blindpig]

Thanks for all the replies, its very helpful to get different ideas and opinions.  Thanks again, and have a great hunting season this year.

[ridgefire]

im getting alot more kills with the #2 

[bobcat]

For ducks, #2 and #3's, for geese BB's and T's.  (steel shot)

[Gobble Gobble]

Any of you ever have a brain fart? Well, I had one this weekend and it would explain why I couldn't down any birds.

I have been shooting my fathers old Winchester model 59 (made 1959) 12 gage, it's a nice piece chambered in 2 3/4" with wood stock & hand guard, detailed engraving and a lightweight steel lined fiberglass barrel. It has two chokes with it a Modified (Mod) and an Improved Modified (I Mod).

This is where I have the brain fart, after cleaning it last I had removed the choke and when I went to go put the choke back in I couldn't remember which one I had in the Mod or the I Mod. Me thinking Improved Modified is better than Modified I put that one in.

Well, me and the Misses went out Saturday and I $h!t you not I shot a bird it landed on the water and then stood up on the water and flapped it's wings like it was drying its self after a bath. Then it just swam away slowly and dove as if nothing had just happened. I had a couple other birds that didn't even bat an eye lash either.

Pissed with my in ability to hit a bird I was complaining over a beer to dad about it and he asked what choke I had used and I told him the I Mod. He laughed and said it has a wide shot group meant for birds like quail that are small, that I should have been using the Mod choke. Apparently I Mod is the same as improved cylinder and the Mod is the same as Full. Needless to I was laughed too but still wasn't happy coming home birdless. I wont be making that mistake next weekend.

[bobcat]

Improved Modified is not the same as Improved Cylinder, it is right between Modified and Full. It very well could have been too tight for steel shot and threw ragged patterns. No way to know without actually going out and patterning the gun with the different chokes on paper. I have patterned my shotguns and the Improved Cylinder choke tube usually provides close to full choke patterns with steel shot.

[Curly]

It looks like a lot of you are shooting 12 gage chambered in 3" & 3 1/2". What is good for those (like ME) who shoot 2 3/4"? My wife is shooting a 20 Gage in 2 3/4 or 3"? I've been shooting #2 & 3 shot and my wife #4 (all we can find in 20 gage).

When I used to hunt ducks a lot (20 yrs ago).......I used 2 3/4" shells and usually I'd mostly use #2's but a lot of times I'd use #1's when I couldn't get the ducks to come right in.  And a lot of times I'd put the 1's in for the 3rd shot.  1's work great for mallards.

I used #3's occasionally and they were fine, especially for teal and widgeon and close mallards.  I never used #4's.......but back then we didn't have the extra high velocity ammo that is available today.  You can get away with a little smaller size shot if you get the super high velocity steel......like 1500 fps.

[M_59]

Gobble, To the best of my knowledge the only chokes available for the M59 were the full, modified, and Improved Cylinder. I am quite sure that is the one you have in and would be the only one I would use with steel and then nothing larger than #2's. 

[Gobble Gobble]

Thanks all. I have patterned the two chokes for Turkey using differant shot sizes but not for waterfowl (just never thought about it). I should go out and do it. I hunt Turkey now with my bow.

[h2ofowlr]

I try to duck hunt several times a week.  I have pretty much stuck to shooting Kent Fast Steel, 3" BB's.  It's a good all around shot, so you don't have to change loads if geese come in etc.  If your an accurate shooting in the 40 yard rang and not a sky buster BB's make a large enough hole the criple loss is minimal.  I used to shoot 3", 2's when the bird were consistenly under 20 yards.  Nice full pattern with a modified choke.  Minimal cripples. 
A good thing to do is grab a few different loads and chokes and see which ones pattern the best with the least amount of holes in your pattern.  Then stick with that load all season if possible.  You will become a consistent shooter as you get used to shooting a specific load and shot size.  Varying shell speeds won't be a handicap.