Black Cloud/Hevi-Metal

[ducksdogsdownriggers]

I have no doubt this topic has been broached many times before, just curious of what you guys think.  Without getting too into details, my personal experience has been that Hevi-Metal patterns much better out of both of my guns, but BC really seems to drop birds well on long shots.  Anyone have a Carlson BC choke tube and shoot both BC and HM?   

[chester]

The bc shells worked well for me. not enough to make me want to keep buying them though. But the Hevi-metal just seems to throw a better pattern out of my gun and knocks birds stone dead. Its all im using for geese this year.

[CP]

Black Cloud seems to work better than most steel shells.  They definitely leave a bloodier corpse behind. The Flitestopper edges cut bloody holes into the flesh and pellets that would normally just nick the bird will cut gashes in the skin.  I wouldn’t recommend it if plan on mounting the bird but they do seem to kill better than standard round shot.

I can’t comment on Hevi-metal, I’ve never used it.

[carpsniperg2]

I don't have the same choke tube, i use a browning inv+ and its a full steel. I have shot both types. Right now i am finishing off my first box of BC. I like the stuff, but have not seen a big difference. Between my fast steel and the BC stuff. I can buy 2 boxes of the fast steel for the same money as 1 box of Black cloud. I have shot the hevi-metal as well and like it. I might be going back to it for my goose hunting.

[270Shooter]

I think blackcloud only really makes much difference at 35 yards + because of the tight pattern it throws. I think when the ducks are close you are better off with regular steel. I normally go with 2 kent 3" 3's and a blackcloud snowgoose 3" 2 last for decoy hunting.

Have some hevi metal, but only shot a few becuase its a box of BB and I dont shoot to many ducks with them.

[h2ofowlr]

I shoot both.  I would use the BC choke or a more open choke while shooting the BC for best results.  I have a Patternmaster BC choke for one of my BSBEII and a carlson BC choke for my other one.  It has worked well.  The Hevi-Metal like mentioned patterns good and carries very well.  You still can use the various aftermarket chokes for those.  Most birds have been stone dead.
I just picked up a kicks BC choke for my 10 gauge.  I haven't taken it out to try it yet.

[MP123]

BC works pretty well but really makes a mess on closer shots.  Great for killing birds but if you want to mount or eat them not so great.  It really tears them up.

Hevi-Metal seems to leave unusually clean wound channels and does a nice job of knocking them down too.

Frankly, I'm not sure either is really worth the extra $$ over plain old Kent Faststeel but it's always fun to try something new!

[jordano]

I have a Nova and I just use the regular modified choke and both the Hevi-Metal and Black Cloud Snow Goose 2's have been amazing for me! I have no complaints with either.. drop birds dead at 40+ yards...

[General Disarray]

I'd rather buy cheap shells and spend the extra money on quality decoys or gas to scout.  They're all just promoting sky busting with this crap they're putting on the market now. 

Get em close and you can kill them with any cheap steel shotgun shell out there. 

[chester]

Your right G.D. but I like the hevi metal for those 35-40 yard going away from the decoy shots. and it usually doesnt end up with me running them down acrossed a field. dont really think its necessary for ducks.

[thomasmx]

I hear more clicking with I pull the trigger with BC....not just me but also with the 2 other people I regularly hunt with. I hear the winchester shells work good?

[CP]

I can buy 2 boxes of the fast steel for the same money as 1 box of Black cloud.

Where are you buying your shells?   The cheapest I can find is on Rodgers web site.  For 3 ½” 12g Kent is only about 30% cheaper. 

Hevi-Metal = 219.99/case
BC = 214.99/case
Kent = 184.99/case

[addicted]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,2822.msg27721/topicseen.html#msg27721

i did a little snooping and posted my results a couple years back. above link.

I jumped a mallard that popped up about 25 yards away and started to fly directly away from me. I got a shot off by time it was about 4-5 feet off the water. this was with BC 3" #2's i beleive. the duck was dead before it hit the water. upon cleaning the bird ifound that the pellets had gone straight through the breast plate from behind and passed right through. They killed him good. I later decided that improving my accuracy was just as deadly and set myself to doing so and shot more winchester high velocity. Every once and awhile though...... i would put a black cloud in for my 3rd shot and a few times, it didnt let em get away. 

[CountryslickR]

Thats what ive been doing! BC for the third shot! Seems to be workin...atleast the times that I need the third shot..

[addicted]

just remember to practice this while your shooting BC. Every time you pull the trigger make an effort to think "1$" and every time you shoot a cheaper round think "40 cents" and see which makes you happier at the end of the day. no replacement for practice lol.

Thats what ive been doing! BC for the third shot! Seems to be workin...atleast the times that I need the third shot..

Yup, its not a horrible practice do do something like this or put in a bigger shot for a goose surprise as long as you have patterned everything and know where it hits.

one time a couple years back with coyotemadness some geese were coming in so i popped in a 3.5 incher real quick. We ended up not shooting and i forgot all about it. a while later a pair of blue bills came in and i took a shot taking em both. about 10 seconds later i realised my shoulder didnt feel right  when we got the ducks, one had its feet ripped off and the other had its bill ripped off. 3.5 inch bb was a little much for em. lol

[CP]

Interesting article on Hevi-metal.  The author recommends a wad stripping choke as without one some of the pellets stick in the wad.

http://www.wildfowlmag.com/tips_strategies/WF_testing_0909/

[addicted]

oh yeah. and dont use a wad stripping choke with the BC. those will grab and i'd guess they would make the shell tumble before the shot has a chance to separate 

[CountryslickR]

Ive heard that as well...I shoot the Kicks Vortex full..seems to do the trick..

[WDFW-SUX]

The Remington HD is the best "hevi" shot made its way way more dense than lead as compared to the Fiocchi tundra and the envirometal Hevi that are less dense that lead...

The pellets  in the Remington HD are round un like hevi.

If any of you guys shoot optima II choked guns the factory IC is really really good...  

I have some extreme choke llc chokes and they are super super good IMO.


Any of the new choke manufacturers that use a longer parallel section are going to give excellent EVEN patterns.  Optima II, Extreme choke llc comp N choke... there are a ton more but those are the best Ive seen

[chester]

I will agree the remington hd work great. i shot a few last year and had no complaint except the price. Hevi metal i can find on sale at bi mart and i pick up 3-4 boxes for $18 bucks a piece. i have yet to find the remingtons for under $27 and those are only 10 round boxes. its just too pricey to use regularly. but im cheap too. i shoot the hevi metals for geese and the rest of the time im shooting winchesters or kents.

[ducksdogsdownriggers]

Interesting article on Hevi-metal.  The author recommends a wad stripping choke as without one some of the pellets stick in the wad.

http://www.wildfowlmag.com/tips_strategies/WF_testing_0909/

Thanks for the link.  Good info.  I appreciate everyone's insight.

[sparkey579]

I prefer heavy metal,  ducks are dead when they hit the ground. Twice last weekend with black cloud I had feathers falling all over and watched the birds fly off.

[singleshot12]

I agree heavy metal rules, black cloud is good but not as consistant(pattern wise)   Gotta start loading heavy metal, anybody do that?