Goose hunting loads with 3" shells
- Thread starter Rugerman
- Start date
1st.
Perhaps you'd care to elaborate on the style of goose hunting you intend on doing.
2nd.
You should pattern what ever load you think might suite your needs. Every shotgun will pattern every load differently.
To give a short answer on loads try this a a yard stick.
Over decoys inside of 30yds. 1-1/8oz or heavier of #3's up to BB's, go for as high of veloity as you can find. 1475fps+
For pass shooting(40+yds) try anthing from 1-1/8oz 2's up to 1-1/4oz of 1's, B's, BB's, BBB's, even T's or F's
I would really recommend any of the steel substitutes like HD, Tungsten, etc. for this endeavour.
Go as fast as you can get too.
Also dont be suprised if the larger shot sizes give better patterns with a more open choke.
But again this is all subject to YMMV
good luck.
Perhaps you'd care to elaborate on the style of goose hunting you intend on doing.
2nd.
You should pattern what ever load you think might suite your needs. Every shotgun will pattern every load differently.
To give a short answer on loads try this a a yard stick.
Over decoys inside of 30yds. 1-1/8oz or heavier of #3's up to BB's, go for as high of veloity as you can find. 1475fps+
For pass shooting(40+yds) try anthing from 1-1/8oz 2's up to 1-1/4oz of 1's, B's, BB's, BBB's, even T's or F's
I would really recommend any of the steel substitutes like HD, Tungsten, etc. for this endeavour.
Go as fast as you can get too.
Also dont be suprised if the larger shot sizes give better patterns with a more open choke.
But again this is all subject to YMMV
good luck.
My favorite goose load for a 3'' shell would be steel BB's going at least 1500fps, as for brand you would be best to see what patterns best out of your gun/choke combo. That is unless you can afford to shoot the heavier than lead fodder then go with some #3-2's and again in what ever brand patterns best out of your gun
Slayer
Slayer
Last edited:
Around here we all use the 3" loads of BBB with 75 pellets... speed kills... the faster the better. Right now I am shooting Challengers because I got a flat last year for a good price... they work realtively well.
This is field hunting and the shots are generally inside 30 yards. If we don't see their eyes, we don't take the shot.
I have killed probably hundreds of geese with these loads over the last 10 years.
This is field hunting and the shots are generally inside 30 yards. If we don't see their eyes, we don't take the shot.
I have killed probably hundreds of geese with these loads over the last 10 years.
Well, what an appropriate thread for me.... I don't know if I would call myself a seasoned goose hunter but I have done some goose hunting and plenty of duck hunting I have tried many loads and have had mixed results.
Anyway today I tried Federal Black Cloud 3" #4 shot. I killed 4 out of 5 shells (fird 2 loads of BB as well but did not connect) and all of the other guys were using Black Cloud BB and #2. None of the birds had to be chased and my 4 were as dead as any lead shell I have ever used. 11 birds were killed in total.
I am very impressed, unfortunately i cannot find anymore but I will be looking, too bad this stuff isn't available in #6 as it would be great for ducks!!!
Anyway today I tried Federal Black Cloud 3" #4 shot. I killed 4 out of 5 shells (fird 2 loads of BB as well but did not connect) and all of the other guys were using Black Cloud BB and #2. None of the birds had to be chased and my 4 were as dead as any lead shell I have ever used. 11 birds were killed in total.
I am very impressed, unfortunately i cannot find anymore but I will be looking, too bad this stuff isn't available in #6 as it would be great for ducks!!!
- Location
- Back in the Peace Country
I usually pass shoot geese and decoy ducks.
On Geese, Federal black cloud #2 is the ticket for me and my gun in 3 inch.
For ducks, the black clouds work great, but I have had tremendous success with Kent fast steel #4
On Geese, Federal black cloud #2 is the ticket for me and my gun in 3 inch.
For ducks, the black clouds work great, but I have had tremendous success with Kent fast steel #4
benelli one
Regular
- Location
- moncton . NB
3 inch #2's or bb's in 1 1/4 0z. with a patternmaster choke tube. I always stay with premium shells such as Federal premium or Winchester supreme. Any tungsten loads in above configuration will work wonders as well.
#2 lead, in 1- 5/8 oz loads used to do it for me every time, for geese in the days of lead.
Ive tried Bismuth and it was ok, but pricey.
I've tried heavy shot on ducks and geese and was totally impressed, but they were pricey.
So, Ive settled on steel in BB for geese, on body hits inside 40 yds.
Still not impressed.
There's so much to be said about steel shot, and none is good.
It goes out fast but slows down sooo fast, that at impact it has no real kill power and leads required at 40 plus yards become ridiculous because of diminished energy.
I'm gonna settle on #5 hevi shot for ducks and geese. Same as # 4 lead, and penetrates goose breast right through into the vitals.
Not even a question on pass through hits on ducks.
Ive tried Bismuth and it was ok, but pricey.
I've tried heavy shot on ducks and geese and was totally impressed, but they were pricey.
So, Ive settled on steel in BB for geese, on body hits inside 40 yds.
Still not impressed.
There's so much to be said about steel shot, and none is good.
It goes out fast but slows down sooo fast, that at impact it has no real kill power and leads required at 40 plus yards become ridiculous because of diminished energy.
I'm gonna settle on #5 hevi shot for ducks and geese. Same as # 4 lead, and penetrates goose breast right through into the vitals.
Not even a question on pass through hits on ducks.
After patterning my gun this year It shot best with Nitro steel BB 1 1/4 modified choke. I compared them to the Black cloud and winchester, I went 3 times for goose hunting over decoys and got my limit all 3 times, twice under 30 minutes. But most of the birds were still alive when I went to get them.
Well said....killed a bunch of big geese...to 13.5 pounds on Sunday and all fell to BBs and all except one were dead when they hit the ground.
Last edited:
#2 lead, in 1- 5/8 oz loads used to do it for me every time, for geese in the days of lead.
Ive tried Bismuth and it was ok, but pricey.
I've tried heavy shot on ducks and geese and was totally impressed, but they were pricey.
So, Ive settled on steel in BB for geese, on body hits inside 40 yds.
Still not impressed.
There's so much to be said about steel shot, and none is good.
It goes out fast but slows down sooo fast, that at impact it has no real kill power and leads required at 40 plus yards become ridiculous because of diminished energy.
I'm gonna settle on #5 hevi shot for ducks and geese. Same as # 4 lead, and penetrates goose breast right through into the vitals.
Not even a question on pass through hits on ducks.
On birds you should always be going for a head shot, now having said that a few of our birds on the weekend had pellets in the breast meat.
- Location
- Vancouver Island
Kent Fasteel #2 3"mag travelling at 1560fps. This is my preferred duck load and it works very well when the occasional goose flies over me. I picked up some Fassteel BB in 3 1/2"mag this year for geese. At 1650 fps the shot will really be moving, but I'm not sure the pattern will hold at that kind of velocity. I'm not convinced that 3 1/2" shells are really necessary, but I got a Supernova this year and had to try shooting some of the big boys through it.
