What brand/shot size do you use

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Barnard308

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Hey guys/Gals
Thought Id throw this up and see what the responses are like.
I am just starting into duck hunting this coming fall and wondering what you all are using for ammo? I am going to be using a 12g semi and just curious as to what brand and shot size you are using for ducks and maybe crows as well. I have noticed there are a lot of different brands around touting they are the best for ducks but what are the common ones being used?

Of course once I have some ideas I will be patterning the shot with different chokes before going afield.
 
Imperial shot shells loaded in Canada and available at Canadian Tire are superb shells. They price out the same as Winchester Expert in most cases. Challenger is the maker. I use these and Winchester Expert steel. Both excellent. I tend to like #4 shot.

Darryl
 
We use 2 3/4" #4 for early teal and woodies... switch mid-season to 3" #3's for greenheads, blacks and bluebills and then for late season divers we shoot 3" #2's... mostly Winchester and Kent... you can't go far wrong shooting 3" #3's across the board.
 
I use Kent Fasteel 3" or Federal Blue Box 3" in my 20 gauge. I prefer the Kent but both work just find.

Last year I bought a 12 gauge and in that I use Challenger Magnum 2-3/4" shells (because they were on sale at Cabela's for $11.99). I don't subscribe to the 3" or 3-1/2" shells, I think 2-3/4" shells have enough pellets to do the job if I point the gun correctly. I also like 2-3/4" shells because they are often $2-$3 cheaper per box than the 3" shells.

For geese I use BB in the 12 gauge and #1 in the 20 gauge and for ducks I use #3 or #4 in either gauge.

I agree with Hoyt, you can go with #3 for any ducks.

I can also tell you that you don't need diamond shaped shot, or whatever fancy shot those $25-35 boxes of ammo are using these days. Neither ducks nor geese can tell the difference.
 
I have 2 flats of federal 2 3/4" #3 in my gun room.

Waterfowl is not my passion. So on the 5 or so ducks I shot with them. Works great.
 
If you have any buddies that already hunt ask them for a few different shells and pattern the loads with the choke that you plan on using (if your shotgun is choked). Look for the most consistent pattern with no large holes and go from there. If you don't have buddies you can get loads from, start off with some reasonably priced loads like xpert and Kent in a given size ( ex. 3 for ducks and bb for geese). Also remember that any shot/shell combination is useless if you can't hit the bird so get out and shoot some clays for practice in the off season.
 
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