Swatter loads

[Bill W]

What do you use to swat cripples on the water and how well does your load work?   I haven't found anything that works good enough for me.  I've tried the standard duck loads and today bought a box of #6 shot.  I figured what I'm trying to do is hit the head and/or neck and pellet count might be the key.   I do know the standard #2's and #3's of my regular duck loads aren't cutting it for swatter loads.

Or.... is the key going to a tighter choke.  I'm currently using Imp Cyl and Modified.  After today it will either be an aftermarket Light Modified or Improved Modified as I'll be shooting a different gun.

[h2ofowlr]

For a swatter load for picking up cripples, a tight dense pattern is ideal.  I typically use a pass shooting choke in my shotgun, so and Improved Modified essentially.  If close, I pattern their head so I don't blow up the breasts.  I had purchased #6, 3" steel for this sole purpose.  I carry 3-4 rounds in my top pocket for instance where I do this or a quick follow up shot with what's in the gun.

If your getting a lot of cripples, it would be a good idea to hit a skeet range or sporting clays.  You may not be following through on your shots, shooting behind the bird or take to far of pokes at them with the open chokes.  Tightening the choke may be a good option, so you get more pellets on target.  Greater shots on target, increases your kill ratio.  Wider choke may make for easier hits on birds, but more practice, will make you a more effective shot.  Given that you are shooting birds within appropriate yardage.

[Bill W]

some of the people I hunt with have problems with cripples.  As to me I feel that towards the end of the day I start "riding" the birds and that leads to not shooting giving enough lead.

I shot weekly for three months at our local skeet range but wanted info on swatter loads.  Over the years I've found 2's and 3's to be lacking for swatters.

[h2ofowlr]

some of the people I hunt with have problems with cripples.  As to me I feel that towards the end of the day I start "riding" the birds and that leads to not shooting giving enough lead.

I shot weekly for three months at our local skeet range but wanted info on swatter loads.  Over the years I've found 2's and 3's to be lacking for swatters.

I agree that 2's and 3's can be lacking pellets on target and even worse as a bird pushes out.  Another thing I see many shooters do is put the bead on the bird and pull the trigger when trying to swat it.  Most guns are at 80/20 or 70/30 split or close to it.  Meaning 70% of your shot hits at or above mark and 30% near or bellow mark.  I always tell shooter to aim bellow or under the bird when in the water and you will have more pellets on target.  In many cases you will ricochet shot off the surface into the bird as well vs. over shooting the bird.  This seems to help kill the wounded birds with more frequency.  Lead is always a challenge with some shooters and is where some of the faster shells come into play as it will shorten the lead required besides more consistent knock down.

[AWS]

I usually don't have to deal with swatting cripples, thats what the dog is for.  He's getting old and sometimes he's too crippled up to go, I keep a 870 turkey gun in the boat and if I have to paddle out after a cripple I use that with upland steel 5's or standard steel  4's.  My usual waterfowl gun is an old hammer sxs shooting  ITX/Bismuth handloads so I don't want to swat cripples with $1.00+/shot rounds.

[vandeman17]

I don't switch loads when shooting a cripple. Like H20 said, I just aim a little under their chest/head and let them have it. That seems to do the trick

[metlhead]

If you were going to use smaller shot for a more dense pattern for tough to kill cripples, why wouldn't you just use that shell in the first place to bring them down, when they are more susceptible?

[AWS]

With flying birds you need penetration into the body to reach vitals and to break wings.  With swatter loads most of the vitals are below the water and not reachable.  Head and neck hits are what put cripples in the bag, dense patterns are more effective that than penetration.

[metlhead]

The head and neck are just as exposed in flight. What seems the difference if you hit that on the water or in the air?

[syoungs]

Shooting a still ducks head region is alot easiest then a flying one. You need the power bigger shot carries while in flight.

[metlhead]

Their head is only six inches from the body. Are you saying that aiming at one does not include the other in a typical shot pattern?

[huntingfool7]

Their head is only six inches from the body. Are you saying that aiming at one does not include the other in a typical shot pattern?

Most cripples are not shot in the face.  If they were, they wouldn't be cripples.  Most misses/marginal hits are behind the target.  Marginal, crippling hits with undersized shot will not put birds in your hand.

[metlhead]

Now that does make sense. Thank you

[metlhead]

My curiosity for some answers on the original question comes from the fact that I use heavy loads of steel 6's for all of my duck shooting until the late season divers. Knocks em stone dead as long as I do my part, and they are always cheaper at the store because nobody seems to want them.

[hdshot]

If not your 3rd shot experience over time will let you know when to hit them again while the bird is falling, don't pick out another bird before you feel good about the shot especially over big water.  Different swings downward but will become a better shooter and hunter.  Don't worry about swatter loads specific because by the time you get squared away the bird could swim out of range in a short time or get up and fly.  Also decoy and pass up those long and low percentage pass shots.