New guy: shell recommendations for clays and ducks, etc.

Voxx Boxx

Voxx Boxx

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Hi guys. When I moved here last year, my realtor promised to take me duck hunting when I got my hunter number and a shotgun (deer may come later this fall--he's off filling his LEH moose tag right now). I just got my first shotgun, a Browning Maxus All Purpose 12G which accepts 3.5" shells, although I likely won't ever use anything longer than a 3". Having never hunted and never used a shotgun before, I thought it would be prudent to practice with some clays prior to going out. What are your recommendations for an inexpensive shell for a new guy to learn on that will allow me to practice the fundamentals? A coworker said to go get a case of #7-1/2, 2-3/4" and a case of clays and said he'd go out with me to get me started.

Secondly: are you aware of any youtube or similar videos that show the correct way to mount, hold and point the shotgun? While I appreciate the advice I will get from my coworker, I'd really like to ensure I've got an idea of the fundamentals so I don't learn anything grossly incorrect right from the start.

Lastly, what are your favorite shells (shot size and length) for ducks that are common to most stores? We have a Wholesale Sports but I'd like to support the private local shop if they've got it in stock.

Thanks!
 
Learn as you go... It is a straight forward process... Just practice mounting the gun and getting your eye looking right down the rib... Practice mounting with your eyes closed and then open them to seeif you are properly aligned... You can practice this in the house with your gun unloaded... Practice it a lot until you can comfortably and repeatably properly align the gun. For skeet ot clays consider 1 oz loads of #8's... Any target load is fine; Win AA is what I use, but Rem, Kent, Challenger etc... Are fine, buy what's on sale. For Ducks, consider 3" #3 shot 1 1/8 oz or 1 1/4 loads out of a modified choke... Again brand is not overly important... If you are financially blessed you can use Hevi-Shot or Bismuth etc... But we use standard Win Xpert Steel and it kills ducks just fine.
 
Any trap/skeet/clays range will have people there qualified to teach you how to shoot. It's a little late to begin training, but if you can put in 8 or so rounds of skeet it'll pay off big dividends in the field.

I got a limit of ducks this past weekend using nothing more than 2-3/4" shells, #3 steel mostly, sometimes #4, using both Kent and Winchester shells - but look for about 1,500 fps velocity on the box. But I also really like Challenger ammo. And I was using IC choke. Deadly around decoys.
 
I use Remington Gun Club or Federal Top Gun in #8 shot for both Skeet and Sporting clays. I have never had a problem with either brand; and where I am a flat is $60 for Federal and $62.50 for the Remington.

For hunting I just use Federal Speed-Shok in the blue boxes. It's cheap ($14.99 a box locally) and seems to work - for ducks I'd go with #3 shot. Kent is another decent brand and also inexpensive. Don't get sucked into the 3.5" shells or buying premium; people have been killing birds a long time without fancy shells.

Also, if you do shoot some skeet, practice with the gun unmounted. Its more realistic.
 
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I shoot federal top gun 2 3/4" 1 ounce of #8 shot for clays. Find the lowest powder load you can, which for me is the federal 8's(2 3/4 dram I believe). The higher the powder load, the more recoil which is just not necessary for learning and for clays.

When you're actually hunting and shooting at something, as long as you have a good gun mount you're not even going to notice the recoil.

I shoot 3" BB for geese, and have used 2 3/4 #4s and 3" #3's for ducks. Partial to federal but my current #3's are Winchester xpert hi velocity and they pattern excellent out of my gun.
 
Top Gun (federal) is generally pretty inexpensive and works fine for clays. Whatever you do pattern the gun before you do anything else. Knowing where the gun shoots and how it fits is paramount to success.
 
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