Geese and Duck,non toxic shot only?

[Badbuzz]

If you already have a mod choke i'd pattern some steel 2's and 3's before you buy a new choke. BB's may not be enough pellets in a 2 3/4" load. 3's will work over decoys and 2's out to 40 yds if you have a good pattern and can judge 40 yds

This. I bought a new gun, and picked up a kicks high flyer, mid range, patterned extremely well in my gun. Then for laughs I tried the factory choke and it performed pretty close to the kicks choke, however was superior when using black cloud (which the kicks HF does not) Of course, this was already once I gave away a case of black cloud...doh..

W.

 

[Uplandguy]

I'd be inclined to keep your shots under 30 with that load. Yes they CAN kill farther, but I'd rather watch a few birds fly away unharmed than watch em fly away wounded. With steel, speed is everything. 2 3/4 shells offer smaller shot payloads so maximizing pellet count is important. Limiting range is the best way to do that. I won't shoot shells less than 1500 fps. More is better.

You can get a full pattern with steel at 40 yards with a good shell / choke match up but it takes a lot of time and Bristol board to figure it out

 

[wbaad]

I was wondering if copper plated lead pellets were on the non toxic list? I doubt it, but not sure.

 

[swinginberrys]

No lead...plated or not.

There are a lot of high end shot options available for those that want the security when a longer shot might be needed. That being said you just need to use some common sense. Small pellets may pattern well a longer ranges but you probably won't get enough penetration. You just need to respect your range and pattern your gun. Simple rule, find and shell that patterns well, respect your range and center the pattern in the head neck area and you'll be fine.
Sorry if that's a bit garbled but I'm on a night shift turn around.

 

[FTGV]

What would be considered a good pattern at 35yds with BB shot?I compared some Kent Fasteel to Win Super X Xpert hi velocity with both Rem full and mod chokes.Using standard size bristle board as a target I did not see huge differences but the mod choke seemed to have a little tighter pattern.I expected the full choke to have a greater consentration towards the center but it did not.The pattern was well spread out.

 

[prairie lover]

good pattern? start with a 30 inch circle which is the standard for patterning most shotgun ammo. the best load in my gun will consistently put 75-82 bbs into a 30 inch circle at 40 yards. spread out pretty nice. this is entry level 3 inch shells. most others would be low to high 60s. Winchester x pert is in the 50s and score averages about 40! this a a versamax and stock chokes. big steel shot like bb does usually not respond well to tightening chokes. my guns best load will do better out of the improved cyl than plenty other loads out of the mod or imp mod, and it is actually a little tight at 40 with the imp mod.

 

[FTGV]

Well since I'm limited to 2 3/4" shot I figured I would try limit my shots to 35-ish yds so patterned at that distance.All of the test shots using BB had a pellet count mostly in the high 40's to mid 50's with one xpert/ mod choke combo sticking over 60 into a 22"x 28" target.Is this reasonable for that combination?

 

[prairie lover]

I have patterned challenger 2 3/4 and it patterened right there with the average 3 inch load in my guns. just cause its 2 3/4 does not mean it will pattern bad at 40. I have yet to see a 3.5 inch load that is any better than your average 3 inch load on the pattern board. they are a waste of money if you ask me.

 

[the spank]

These steel shot threads really get me chuckling at times. You'd think steel shot was the worst thing to ever be fired down a shotgun barrel. I've been hunting with it since it was first mandated and in that first few seasons all that was available to us were light loads of 2 3/4". That first season I shot Winchester 1 oz #2's and Federal 1 1/8 oz of the same. Published velocities on the boxes were 1300 fps (Win) and 1375 fps (Fed). Both absolutely pulverized ducks inside of normal shotgun ranges. The following year I picked up Winchester 1 1/4 oz 2's & 4's that wally world put on sale for $3/box!! As well they put on Federal Classic steel 1 1/8 oz in boxes of 20 for $2 and boxes of 25 for $3. I walked out that day with two shopping carts filled. 160 boxes!! The Winchesters had a published velocity of 1275 fps and they killed ducks dead!! The pellets did not blow through them but stayed in the bird like a lead pellet would and it anchored them plain and simple. After all these years shooting shells of every description I can say that in my opinion the biggest factor in killing birds with steel is no different than it was with lead. Know your range and know how to shoot. The guys I know who whined and cried about steel wounded just as many birds with lead because they couldn't hit a bear in the arse with a scoop shovel. I shoot skeet and trap all summer with light target loads of lead and find it funny how I can go out in the field and centre a bird the same with a faster heavier load of steel with no noticeable difference in lead. Most would do well to focus on learning to shoot more than worrying about their choice of ammo.

 

[FTGV]

These steel shot threads really get me chuckling at times. You'd think steel shot was the worst thing to ever be fired down a shotgun barrel. I've been hunting with it since it was first mandated and in that first few seasons all that was available to us were light loads of 2 3/4". That first season I shot Winchester 1 oz #2's and Federal 1 1/8 oz of the same. Published velocities on the boxes were 1300 fps (Win) and 1375 fps (Fed). Both absolutely pulverized ducks inside of normal shotgun ranges. The following year I picked up Winchester 1 1/4 oz 2's & 4's that wally world put on sale for $3/box!! As well they put on Federal Classic steel 1 1/8 oz in boxes of 20 for $2 and boxes of 25 for $3. I walked out that day with two shopping carts filled. 160 boxes!! The Winchesters had a published velocity of 1275 fps and they killed ducks dead!! The pellets did not blow through them but stayed in the bird like a lead pellet would and it anchored them plain and simple. After all these years shooting shells of every description I can say that in my opinion the biggest factor in killing birds with steel is no different than it was with lead. Know your range and know how to shoot. The guys I know who whined and cried about steel wounded just as many birds with lead because they couldn't hit a bear in the arse with a scoop shovel. I shoot skeet and trap all summer with light target loads of lead and find it funny how I can go out in the field and centre a bird the same with a faster heavier load of steel with no noticeable difference in lead. Most would do well to focus on learning to shoot more than worrying about their choice of ammo.

I have not hunted ducks or anything with a firearm since I was a teen back in the late 70's.My daughters recent interest and passion for hunting has rekindled my old desire.A lot has changed in the last 40years.I want to learn all I can about my firearm and ammo so I can be proficient and as an ethical hunter as possible.I appreciate the exchange of info in threads like this.