Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: 270Shooter on October 10, 2008, 08:14:46 PM
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I'm thinking of using my 20 gauge for ducks this season. But i can't decide which load to use. I have a box of Kent Fasteels 3inchers with 7/8 oz. of 2 shot in them at about 1550 fps. Is 2 shot too much for ducks?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks :)
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little bit different situation, but i use 12 ga. 3.5 inch 2 shot for duck and they work very well for me.
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2's arent bad. some people like to used twos cuz they can go for ducks or geese.
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You won't get very many pellets in a 7/8 oz load of 2's, but it should work. I like 2's in a 12 ga load for decoying ducks. I also like 1's for the 12ga if the ducks are going to be a little farther out there.
For 20ga, I think 3's or 4's might be a little better since you'll have more pellets in your pattern; but since you already have the 2's.......give them a try and see how they work.
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Definitely go with 3's or 4's if you know how to decoy the birds in close. Bi-Mart in Yakima had a bunch of Kent Fasteel 20ga 4's on sale in Sept but somebody must've bought all they had since they were so cheap!!! :dunno:
If you don't want to spend a fortun on them, check Griggs Dept store in Pasco. I found some Estate 3" 1oz 3's there for $11/box. They also had the lighter, faster loads a little cheaper but I'm always for more pellets.
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I prefer 1 oz of 3's in Federal as first choice. I also use 7/8 oz Kent 2's and only use the 20 over decoys. Bill
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When mechanical decoys were legal I used to shoot my 20 a lot. I'd shoot steel in my O/U w/ skeet (3" 4s) and imp cyl (3" 3s) tubes in it. Great out to about 25- 30 yards. I remember hunting a small pond and limiting on 3 consecutive trips and never taking a shot over 20 yards.
You might try 3" Heavy Shot.....
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:hello:
I shoot my Twenty all the time on decoying ducks on fresh water. I use both the Kent Fast Steel 3" #2 and Remington Nitro-Steel 3" 1oz #2. Salt Water ducks I use a 12 ga with Kent Fast Steel #2 for the first two shots and the third is a BB. If the birds are decoying in close I hand load 28ga with 5/8 oz of #4 Heavy shot (if I can find it) and the same with .410.
:twocents:
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what are the chances you'd handload a few non-tox 28ga loads for someone else? :dunno: For a fair price of course.
I love shooting my 28 but have yet to find a reasonable way to do it for waterfowl.
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All i know is a 20 gauge is OK versus ducks. more of a quail gun imp use smaller sized shot at least
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That's what I used when I was shooting a A-5 20 for the kwackers......2's are definatley not too big, especially w/ a 20 gauge. #4's are my favorite though.
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I'd love to try a 20 gauge for waterfowl, probably will in a couple years. I'd use 3" 4s faststeel. I shoot 2 3/4" 4s in my 12 and it knocks the piss outta the ducks and pheasies (a lot of times I can jump shoot while pheasant hunting). Good luck.
Abe