Arrgghh I hate choosing Duck shells!!

One final tip. If you find you're killing birds really well with Magnum #3, etc., try a magnum in #4 and judge the results. Or try a 2-3/4" at 1500 fps in #3, and just keep experimenting. There's no need to buy the super expensive premium magnums for your style of shooting if the standard steel loads will do just as well.
 
I just thought I would BTT this thread and say thanks to sjemac! I was thinking of trying #4s and #6 for ahwile and this thread convinced me... man it was hard to find #6s, I finally got some special ordered, Fasteel 1/18oz, 1560 fps.
I am using a Baikal MP-153 with a X-Full steel choke and man on man, ducks are dying. My percentage has gone way up and the cripple rate has gone way down. Anything within normal ranges seems to drop like the old lead days, anything outside of 40... forget it! but really should we be shooting at those ranges anyway? Even with heavy loads, it's spray and pray.
I have a pile of Tungsten Matrix left over from when it was less expensive and I think I will save it for Geese and shoot 100% #6 fasteel. I may even cut open some of my lighter TM and load it into some 410 shells just to have for those "just in case" moments.
 
I used to use Kent exclusivly. And then in #2 and 4 shot. But now, I use anything I can find in BB or BBB shot. I may miss a few shots, but I've nailed birds at extended range and still brought them to net. I feel more confident in the bigger shot, and since I'm not shooting at sparrows, I'm not too concerned with holes in the patterns. He might fly through one hole, but he usually won't get away from the second shot.
 
I was going to pick up some of the black cloud this year but oppted out. It's pretty expensive and I read a few reviews that suggested for the $$ it wasn't worth the premium. I ended up picking up some # 2 and bb Remington High Speed Steel in 3" pushing 1550fps. I used the bb's for Geese with great success.

As I was testing the patttern at my range a gentleman put me onto the Kent brand as something to try in future.
 
BIGREDD said:
I use #3 Kent steel on Ducks and BBB on Geese.... 3 inch shells are fine for puddle ducks and 3.5 for the big water and field hunting Geese!
We beat the hell out of the Geese on Friday and Saturday!
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That is the what I have been using for the last 10 years without complaint. Fast loads of steel #3s for ducks and BBB on geese.
 
I bought two flats of #1's this year in Winchester Expert 1400 fps. I have tried them on large geese and did not have the same success that I normally have with 1550 fps BB's.
For ducks I like 2's in 1550 fps. The faster the better. Some of the birds do finally drop a fair ways away but that just gives the dog a bit of a run before the retrieve. It's been a great fall for birds in southern MB.
 
londongunguy said:
Anybody have anything to say about the new Federal Black Cloud combination shot? Saw a small demo during the free Wild TV promo on ExpressVu.
My apologies if this has already been covered.
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I shot a couple of boxes. Kills ducks and geese..........but no better than Win High Vel experts I was also using. First 3 shots with it brought down a triple on geese with one lively cripple for the dog to hunt down. Did the same the next week with Win 2's. I pretty much think its just a gimmick to get the average hunter to pay a couple of dollars more for their shells.
 
i got a couple boxes of black cloud for free ( a client at a waterfowl outfitters left them behind, i was scouting so i got them as a tip) I found them to kill nicely, but nothing more than the average # 2 3" steel kent loads i have been using. The box IS cooler looking though, and man do those black hulls look mean!
 
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