Blackcloud?

[Idahocougar]

I'm sure this question has been beaten to death in the past but here I go anyways.

I'm going to be buying a case of blackcloud 3" 12 guage ammo but can't decide what I'm going to get. They have the new hi-velocity ammo with 1 1/8 oz of shot that is traveling 1635 fps OR the standard ammo with 1 1/4oz of shot traveling 1450 fps? I want to hear what a few of you think? Is speed or extra shot more important?

My second question is would you recommened #2 or #4 shot? I've always shot 4 in the past but hear guys say that #2 travels a bit farther.

Thanks for any feedback in advance.

[h2ofowlr]

The 1635 I believe is there snow goose loads.  I gave it a good go and purchased a BC choke for my SBEII and it seemed to do what the other loads were doing that I was shooting.  I killed the birds just like the less expensive stuff.  I tried to reach out there and see what it could do and it worked, but like any other shot, if you don't know your leads you will miss unless you get lucky.  If you want to spend $17 - $25 a box knock yourself out.  As long as the Kent's or Winchesters are killing them, I don't mind saving the money and buying other items.  When I try the different loads I usually buy a case at a time.

[Wtrfowlr62]

the 1600 stuff is the snow goose loads never used it thought was thinking of trying it when i hunt geese. i use the reg stuff i love it.

[270Shooter]

Never actually patterned the snow goose loads but i have a few of the 2's left, sometimes i wonder if they just pattern like hell. I knocked a few ducks down way out there when i was using it as my 3rd shell, and other times i would miss easy 40 yard shots with them, I don't know. They are pretty load though 

[bigcans]

I like what H2O says about leads. We sure need to learn this. I knocked down 2 honkers with 1 shot last season up in Lynden, using Win. Supreme 12 ga 3 in 1450 fps 1 1/4 BB. One goose was 13 lbs. they were my 2nd and 3rd honker and only had 1 before that all these years. These geese were right around 35 40  yds out or maybe further because when the both hit the water they were out there. My lead was perfect that time.  I won't buy the major league stuff. too expensive. If we shoot well, we'll knock 'em down. That is what our labs are for

[bagmNtagm]

i use the #4's 3 inch 12. gauge and i really like them, i use a modified choke and i have hit birds 50yd's plus and the opening day i hit a cackling goose around 55-60 yards away it really puts the hurtin on em but i would agree with the earlier post that winchester and kent are both very good shells i would probably go with #3 with the winchester and kent for ducks and BB's for geese..

[Skagit_Hunter]

Save your money, Buy Expert steel and let them get in range...period....55-60 yrds is not in a high percentage range.....High percentatge of cripples....... Just sayin

[1morebuck]

I would go with Hevi-Metal (From HEVI-Shot) 3-inch #2's. You want some awesome knockdown, thats what I recommend.

[Ellensburg]

Been testing some 3in #2 in 12 guage. Love em so far. Only have missed one shot, and it was a follow up on a pheasant that turns out wasn't needed. Bird was dead when I found it.

[jake]

a buddy of mine talked me into buying a box of black cloud snowgoose, put it to the test yesterday and was really impressed. i was really skeptical about it because of the price but the results i thought were amazing. at 1635 FPS its fast and with the wad that black cloud has it seems to have an extremely dense pattern. so far this year ive been hunting ducks and geese in eastern washington about 5 days a week and shooting kent fast steel, and remington steel loads ( whatever is on sale) and i was able to really see a difference shooting the black cloud ammo. yesterday we were able to kill 3 limits of mallards, and 3 geese without a single cripple or lost bird. not saying i would start spending the money for cases of the blackcloud, but as i said i was impressed.

 i was shooting Snowgoose 3" 2 shot with a full choke. all the bird we shot were over decoys with the longest shots typically around 40 yards

[Jrzbullelk]

I tried all of them and all I know is that unless you buy the choke too you are waisting your time with them and I do also think that the expert and kents work well also and you don't have to buy a $60 choke as for the size I use #2 hope I was helpful

[seth30]

Upwind gave me some some blackcloud to try out, and my Mossberg didnt like it at all After the shot, the shell expanded too much and wouldnt eject.  I had to use a knife to get the shell out of the tube

[Stilly bay]

after hearing about stuck wads and blown barrels (from black clouds special wad) I won't touch the stuff. my face is too pretty and my gun too expensive to shoot black cloud.

and for what its worth there is absolutely nothing special about the black cloud choke, or any choke tailored to a specific brand of ammo. what makes the BC choke work with that load is the proper constriction. that constriction maybe cyl or IC or somewhere in between.
    if you have a large array of chokes already, just find out what the BC chokes constriction is and try and match them up as close as possible- you can do this without firing a shot. for BC to work properly there needs to be as little constriction as possible so the wad stays with the shot longer. people getting bad results are probably using MOD or FULL, so the BC is behaving just like regular steel shot, instead of what is advertised.

but obviously if you don't have the time, chokes, or inclination go out and buy a specialty choke tube to match your ammo.

[h2ofowlr]

Common Stilly.  You have to blow up a gun at least once.  I blew the end of the barrel off of one, due to the choke or it coming loose.  Not sure what.  It could have been a rusted up load as well.  It was a weird pop and I saw the rib kick up.  I was missing 2" of the end of the barrel.  My buddy had a round blow up in the action.  We had to take him in to have the pieces removed.  He was lucky he didn't loose an eye.

[Skagit_Hunter]

I have Elmer Fudd a barrel.... But back in the lead days. My bro had one blow up in the action With me on his left and my other bro on his right. None of us got hurt. But when it was over all he had in his hands was the forearm. That was the first year of steel shot. Shooting Remington shells... Never again!