2 3/4" Suggestions for Goose

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Rodder

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I had the opportunity to canada goose hunt last year for the first time and had great success with 3" BB Blindside shells. This year I'm going to be limited to 2 3/4" and at this point am looking at Blindside #2. Just thought I'd reach out and see if the community had any other suggestions for potent 2 3/4 loads before I go out and stock up on ammo. Hevi-X seems like a winner but nowhere in Canada seems to stock it.

All ammo will be getting patterned at 35 yards through a mod and IM choke before being used.
 
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I’d use the same shell you had great success with but in 2 3/4 inch. You might lose a little bit of range but that 1/4 won’t make much of a difference
 
You don’t need ultra expensive ammo because you’re going to 2 3/4” ammo. I shoot 2 3/4” almost exclusively. I use 1 1/8 - 1 1/4 oz loads of #2 shot 95% of the time. Those loads will kill geese to 40 yards no problem. The only time I have ever used shot larger than #2 was when I used to shoot a 10 gauge and then I used #1’s. I am not a fan of BB or larger. You start to lose pattern density especially in shells with smaller payloads.
 
Forget blindside. It will not compare to a good shell with round pellets at longer distances. It's a short range spreader pellet in a long range wad. Does not even make sense!

If you have someone around you who sells challenger ammo, they make a 2.75 inch load with 1 1/8 ounce of shot at 1450 fps. I've patterned these loads at 40 yards and they do well.

If you shooting decoying birds at 30 yards in and closer almost anything will do. If longer shots are needed I strongly suggest hitting the pattern board at 40 yards. Every barrel and choke combo is a bit different although if you pattern half a dozen guns with a wide variety of ammo you will see somewhat of a pattern to which brands generally perform better than others.
 
I agree with the two previous posts. I shoot 2-3/4" almost exclusively, even in my 3" guns. For mixed bag Saskatchewan hunts over decoys, round #2 shot is a good choice - mallards to greater Canadas within 40 yds. About the ideal size for snows & speckle bellies. I have had great success with Fasssteel #2 and #1, and will go up to BB if strictly hunting greater Canadas. Speed is a big benefit with steel shot, 1-1/16 oz @ 1500 fps or more is my preference. Round shot patterns best, kills well, and is cheaper to make & buy. I'd rather shoot a slightly more open choke with good round shot, rather than too tight a choke and any of the gimmicky and expensive not-round pattern spreader shot.
 
I should have put it in my original post but this will be used exclusively on Canadian geese. I'm hunting over decoys but shots are still pretty long. Whatever I buy will be getting patterned at 35 yards through my mod and IM chokes.
 
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Canada geese ( not "Canadian" - that's an incorrect but popular USA term ) come in all sizes depending on where you live and hunt. We get 4 lb Cacklers to 14 lb Greater Canadas on the same morning hunt. See th sizes above- some those little Canadas are the size of mallards. Shot size recommendations vary with body size: If your Canada geese average 8 lbs or more, #1 or BB sizes are best in my experience. Also try IC choke with the larger sizes, it sometimes patterns more evenly with the big stuff.
 

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I would find a load of 1s in 2.75. Rem used to make nitro mags but not sure if its discontinued. Otherwise i am sure kent makes them. I find its a good compromise btw 2s and bbs.
 
When i use cyl or ic chokes i shoot steel bb shot. If i use my sxs guns i use kent bismuth. I routinely out shoot my buddies who use 3.5" guns. However i did grow up duck hunting over water
 
My buds and I have been using Challenger 23/4" # 3s using IC for years with no problem on ducks and geese. Over dekes, on water, or pass shooting. We tried Score but since WWS packed it in, we can`t find any. Just make sure of your shots and don`t sky bust. The #3s give a bit more of a spread. We use pumps and autos.

DF
 
I would not sacrifice speed for payload to a certain extent. I've patterned a ton of steel shot and in bb shot sizes the 1400 to 1450 fps stuff generally outpatterns the 1550 fps. After market choke companys tell me the same. I have zero issues killing geese with a certain companys 3 inch load, 1.25 ounce at 1400. It patterns best and I am starting to like the bbb size very well. More even patterns in my gun and they seem to kill very well. But every gun is different. I find in smaller sizes like 2 to 4 it's easier to find loads with the 1550 fps stuff that patterns well.

The challenger shell mentioned above is so close to the specs of the 3 inch shells I use you probably couldn't tell the difference. 50 fps more but 1/8 ounce less shot.
 
2 3/4" 1-1/8 ounce loaded with BB, 1's or 2's will fold any goose flying if you hit the important parts, an extra 1/4 to 3/4" and 1/8 to 1/2 ounce of shell and shot will not make a difference. I kill enough geese with my 20 gauge I wouldn't loose any sleep with any 12. If you can scout, have some decent decoys, a little calling ability and stay still you will kill birds.
 
Well I had the opportunity of visiting one of Ontario's only Cabelas today and picked up Federal Blackcloud, Kent and Challenger in BB, 1 and 2. I may grab some Remington, Winchester and Hevi shot and do some actual Patterning for the first time. I have a IM choke from Briley on the way so hopefully it likes one of those shells. I appreciate the input everyone .
 
Rodder said:
I had the opportunity to canada goose hunt last year for the first time and had great success with 3" BB Blindside shells. This year I'm going to be limited to 2 3/4" and at this point am looking at Blindside #2. Just thought I'd reach out and see if the community had any other suggestions for potent 2 3/4 loads before I go out and stock up on ammo. Hevi-X seems like a winner but nowhere in Canada seems to stock it.

All ammo will be getting patterned at 35 yards through a mod and IM choke before being used.
Click to expand...
My son hunts geese with a 20 gauge, 2 3/4" , #2. I believe that he was using Remington Steel shot. Gets his limit all the time.
https://imgur.com/a/B2a2Hv1
 
Been shooting 12 gauge 1-1/4 to 1-3/8 oz steel loads in #4 (2-3/4") in a cylinder choke..... for canada and snow geese for a number of years now ....... guys will tell you 4's are too small, but I have great success with them.

I have seen others say the same thing about speed.. don't buy into the hype... 1300 to 1450 fps is plenty fast.


Lucky
 
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