collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Shot size you use?  (Read 7769 times)

Offline kevinp16

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 85
  • Location: Marysville, wa
Shot size you use?
« on: December 14, 2011, 07:04:42 AM »
Looking for some advice on the proper shot size and brand used. I've been using  3 1/2 BB size and I'm starting to think it's not strong enough to drop birds. Any advice would be great.
Thanks

Offline BOWHUNTER45

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2009
  • Posts: 14731
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2011, 07:13:41 AM »
WHAT ?  :yike: I use #2 shot 3" mag and it drops sheet right now !! You have to be really on with your leads if your using BB because you do not have that much shot to play with as you do if you were using 2 shot ...plus if your using steel shot you need to let birds get with in 30 yrds or better yet 25 yrds.... :tup: :twocents:

Offline rtspring

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 5604
  • Location: Hermiston Oregon
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2011, 07:15:46 AM »
I use 2's . Maybe try letting them get closer... :chuckle:
I kill elk and eat elk, when I'm not, I'm thinking about killing elk and eating elk.

It doesn't matter what you think...

The Whiners suck!!

Offline Heartsblood

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 737
  • Location: Everett, Wa.
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2011, 07:19:02 AM »
That's was my first thought after reading the post - maybe he's shooting at them when they're out of range? Maybe let 'em get closer? I mostly use #3 shot, 3" but have used #2's and also smaller length to good results. 2's and 3's are really gonna chew up your smaller birds at close range tho'....
"Ting-a-ling! Ting-a-ling!"

Offline Heartsblood

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 737
  • Location: Everett, Wa.
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2011, 07:20:27 AM »
I guess I assumed we're talking ducks here? I'd go 2's or bigger for geese...
"Ting-a-ling! Ting-a-ling!"

Offline et1702

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 950
  • Location: Duvall
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2011, 07:31:24 AM »
Definitely #2 in 3" Hi velocity steel or heavy shot shells.  Great for ducks and Geese w/in 35 to 40yrds w/IC or improved mod choke.  What choke are you using?  A buddy of mine shoots BB and he is a great shot.  He uses either IC or Mod choke.  FYI, you shouldn't use more than a Mod w/steel shot (unless you have one of them spendy choke tubes made especially for steel shot).  Pattern your gun w/the BBs and see how many pellets you are working with at 30 and 40yrds (i.e., not many).  Good idea to pattern it anyway, even if you choose anotehr shot size.

Offline kckrawler

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2007
  • Posts: 698
  • Location: Snohomish
  • Groups: NRA, RMEF
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2011, 07:43:28 AM »
2's for ducks, BB for lessers, BBB for canadians...all 3 1/2"  :twocents:
I worry about belonging to a club that accepts people like me as members.

"Horrific things happen not because we have guns in our society, but because we have evil in our society."

Offline Glockster

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 462
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2011, 07:48:31 AM »
3" #2's.  Getting a rangefinder is a good investment for duck hunting.  Set the farthest decoy at 40yds and don't shoot at anything past it. 

Offline 270Shooter

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 3828
  • Location: Yakima
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2011, 08:06:10 AM »
3" 3's or 4's

Offline singleshot12

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 3445
  • Location: N.W. Washington
  • WWA,PF
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2011, 08:16:49 AM »
I assume everyone is talking about "steel"  You always want to go bigger when using steel, I used to go with 4's when using lead but now use 2's in steel for geese,ducks, and pheasants.
NATURE HAS A WAY

"All good things must come to an end"

SEARCHING FOR TRUTH, SEARCHING FOR PURITY, something that doesn't really exist anymore..

Offline MP123

  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2009
  • Posts: 1048
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #10 on: December 14, 2011, 08:21:29 AM »
I use 2 3/4 inch #3 or #4 steel for ducks and pheasant.  I don't shoot much past 35 yards though.

Are you hunting ducks or geese?  3 1/2 BB is a pretty hefty load...  How far out are they?  What choke are you using?

Offline Curly

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 20921
  • Location: Thurston County
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #11 on: December 14, 2011, 08:24:27 AM »
If 3.5" BB's aren't getting it done, maybe they are too far out or you need to switch to a 10 ga. :twocents:  :o
« Last Edit: December 14, 2011, 12:01:53 PM by Curly »
May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.

><((((º>` ><((((º>. ><((((º>.¸><((((º>

Offline goosegetter79

  • YAR Member
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 1624
  • Location: Bainville, MT
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #12 on: December 14, 2011, 09:06:38 AM »
Jump shooting I use 2 3/4" 3's and 4's for decoying i'll use 3" #2's for ducks and 3" bb's for geese.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" -Edmund Burke

Offline D-Rock425

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+12)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jun 2009
  • Posts: 13255
  • Location: Lake stevens
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #13 on: December 14, 2011, 09:08:15 AM »
2's normally for me.

Offline Blacktail135

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2007
  • Posts: 1133
  • Location: Skagit Valley
Re: Shot size you use?
« Reply #14 on: December 14, 2011, 09:08:24 AM »
 3" #4 shot Federal UltraShok steel for mallards and 3" #2 HeviShot for Canadas.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Looking for grouse hunting or pheasant hunting friend by Marlin444ever
[Today at 06:48:41 PM]


Jetty Fishing by jackelope
[Today at 06:10:56 PM]


Idaho General Season Going to Draw for Nonresidents by CarbonHunter
[Today at 05:19:54 PM]


Commercial crab pots going in today. by steeleywhopper
[Today at 03:26:22 PM]


where is everyone? by dagon
[Today at 01:23:20 PM]


Best gear shop? by Cylvertip
[Today at 01:01:14 PM]


New fisher looking to catch some pinks this year by freshgrease
[Today at 12:27:45 PM]


free fishing weekend but not all is included! PSA by birddogdad
[Today at 11:09:28 AM]


What is the VA Funding Fee and Its Purpose? by pianoman9701
[Today at 10:43:39 AM]


Looking for English Pointer pup (Elhew and/or Guard Rail lines) by Shannon
[Today at 08:11:19 AM]


Brittany breeders by Wingin it
[Yesterday at 10:31:28 PM]


Utah backdoor by baldopepper
[Yesterday at 08:24:45 PM]


Halibut fishing by hiway_99
[Yesterday at 08:17:27 PM]


1oz cannon balls by Angus
[Yesterday at 07:01:53 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal