Waterfowl shells

[Wetwoodshunter]

I'm halfway through my last case. I need to shoot something different. I am currently shooting Blindside 3" 1 3/8 load #2, I watch birds get pounded and they fly off. Range is 15-40 yards on mallards and Canadian geese. The load seems to work better on the geese.

I am planning on switching to bismoth or a layered shot. I can shoot 3.5" shells but would rather stick with 3". What are you all shooting? I broke down the prices of the shells that I am looking at below with current rebates and sales applied. I also get a little break at BOSS being military/first responder.

[C-Money]

I shoot 2 3/4" or 3" 1 1/4oz steel BB, 2, 3, 4. My favorite is 3" 1 3/8oz BB for everything. I tend to grab Remington or Federal ammo first. But, have had good success shooting Winchester ammo. I use a mid range waterfowl choke, basically a modified choke. Grinds them up. What choke are you using? The loads you are shooting sound good to me!

[MeepDog]

I agree with C Money, those are good shells for the money that youre using. You might want to increase your choke restriction. I like the Improved Modified for waterfowl steel and I usually shoot #2s.

[WSU]

I had bad luck with blindside. We called them the cripplers because everything we shot was crippled.  I’ve had great luck with federal blue box steel and fiochi loads.

[CP]

Rio BlueSteel in #2.  Cheap, deadly. 

[Sneaky]

you need to up your shot size in bismuth. Boss/HEVI #2 is where its at. This is not what they tell you but having gone through cases of #4/5 boss....the #2 crushes them and the others will leave you frustrated when the birds aren't finishing. The even better option is hevi 12 #4/6. You might have sticker shock at first but you will shoot way less shells and chase way less cripples which really helps you have a more awesome hunt in ways you don't realize until you experience it. You can use whatever remaining stock of the shells on your list as first shot when the birds are closest or sell them and put that money towards better ammo. 

[Henrydog]

My kid shoots alot of ducks and geese, as his wallet we have had poor success with Blindsides.  We have conversely had very good luck with Apex, and just cheap old wal mart Federal Steels.  Several years ago we quit using 4's and went to 2's, cripples decreased dramatically.

As someone who has reloaded close to 100k shotshells I believe the biggest issue is the speed of any waterfowl shell.  You look at any box and they are all running 1400-1550fps, Steel is lighter than lead which would increase the chances of flyers.   My theory is this is blowing the pattern apart.  Thus the "I smoked him and he fly off" issue.

[HooknoseHunter]

I have been using 3” Hevishot Hevi-Metal for a few years now and I have noticed better terminal performance than just a standard steel load. I use BB for everything. Wish they made them in 10ga.

[metlhead]

15-40yds- your original load will kill everything that flies. Assuming you are a perfect shot, you have a pattern density issue at the far end of your stated range. 1 3/8oz should be plenty. I'm going to suggest that maybe birds aren't as centered as you may think.

[ducks4days]

Rio BlueSteel in #2.  Cheap, deadly.

 

Every single time i try a different shotshell for a while i end up regretting it and buying another case of 3” #2 Rio.

[duckmen1]

Blind side is the worst performing shells I have ever seen in over 20 years on the water. Having hunted waterfowl a lot and with a lot of people. If I was on a trip and something happened and I went to the store and all they had was blindside I would rather just go sight seeing and end the hunt that stuff is so bad. I would never buy a box again. Horrible terminal performance, patterns are a hit or miss due to construction of shot. But hardly ever had birds die. And for reference with those who think its the shooter having hunted my last seasons with a 410 and shooting over 150 birds with ducks and geese and only loosing one cripple with the sub guage I can say it wasn't the shooter or the 5 shooters that used blindside. It was just plain garbage shells. Kent faststeel did well for standard steel loads. Hevi metal did even better.  Used black cloud for a few years with good success too.

[JBG]

I just bought a 28 gauge and cant wait to start hand loading TSS duplexed #4 steel / #9 TSS.  I've shot a similar load out of a 20 gauge and was shocked at how well it performed.  Bismuth is great but you have to shoot a real tight choke, like extra full to maximize its potential.  And if you shoot a benelli the BOSS will require a new hammer spring.

[GWP]

I shot steel one time and switched to premium non tox after watching steel literally bounce off of the bird and watching it fly away unaffected.
With the cost of everything else to get there and back, plus generally low bird limits, shotshell cost is a very small part of the equation. Particularly when there are times you may only get a shot or two.
My faves are HeviShot, then Tungsten Matrix, then Bismuth, depending on the shotgun and type of bird.

[boneaddict]

I shot steel one time and switched to premium non tox after watching steel literally bounce off of the bird and watching it fly away unaffected.
With the cost of everything else to get there and back, plus generally low bird limits, shotshell cost is a very small part of the equation. Particularly when there are times you may only get a shot or two.
My faves are HeviShot, then Tungsten Matrix, then Bismuth, depending on the shotgun and type of bird.

SAME!!! With the exception of favorites, Tungsten, Bismuth and Hevi in that order, though I would grab any without hesitation.   

[duckmen1]

I just bought a 28 gauge and cant wait to start hand loading TSS duplexed #4 steel / #9 TSS.  I've shot a similar load out of a 20 gauge and was shocked at how well it performed.  Bismuth is great but you have to shoot a real tight choke, like extra full to maximize its potential.  And if you shoot a benelli the BOSS will require a new hammer spring.

TSS is next level and is completely insane how much more lethal it is. I run 410 with 9 shot tss for geese and mind blowing results come from it.