What's the best 2 3/4 steel for goose out ther

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Canadian Bush Wacker

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I just had some old rem's wing masters crowned and reworked for steel, and beretta semi got a cone job. Now, I have not gone for goose for years! Since the lead went by by. So need some direction on shells, brand, and shot size, to start doing my test patterns. What ya got and how did it work?
 
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Faststeel 12 ga. 2-3/4" , 1-1/16 oz, 1550 fps, #1shot if you can find them, #2 or BB if you can't find the #1's. I've shot several cases of them, the geese do not like this load! I find the #1's to be a perfect compromise for size vs. pattern in my guns, shooting mostly lesser Canadas and snows, but some greater Canadas too. If only shooting greaters ( 9 lb plus birds) I would consider BB's or BBB, but pattern quality suffers in my experience, but your barrels might pattern different.
Kent Fassteel was the first company to load really fast shells >1500 fps, Remington, Win, and Federal are only now "catching up" - but I mostly stick with FS because they work very well and are a good value. I use about 0.0020" of choke ( modified ) when shooting these loads over decoys, they are deadly to about 45 yards, dropping off quickly after that.
 
I agree on the Kent loads. They pattern well out of my gun and choke (870 Wingmaster with a Wad Wizard Supreme) and they get on target fast and hard.
 
Okay myself I don't go with the faster is better theory, pattern density is what kills, proven over and over. That said I wont sacrifice pellet numbers for speed. I have had fantastic results with Federal's Premium Ultra-Shok Steel. I shoot nothing but 2 3/4" in 1 1/40z. loadings of #2 shot for both ducks and geese. The box lists this load as muzzle velocity of 1375fps and it has good pattern density. That is more than enough speed/pellet count to anchor them. We consistently kill ducks and geese with these loads to 40 yards. Here is a vid from my gun cam, It was -6C that morning, heavy frost and air density and I was shooting these loads. As you can see the birds that had landed (lessers) were on the outside edge of the spread, the farthest dekes you can see were about 35 yds away. The fliers coming over my layout were huge honkers(giants) and were about 35-40 yds from 1st bird to last I hit. I scored a triple on the last shots but you only see two fall as I pulled the gun off the third bird too soon. These shells work well, at least for me....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDFWSNA5TPU
 
For Canada geese, I find BB is the best steel shot size. For ducks I use #2. As other posters mentioned, your shotgun may pattern them differently. I like Federal's BlackCloud, but at $1 per shot it is a bit pricey. My friend swears by Winchester Xpert high velocity steel BB. Buy a few boxes of different manufactures & see what patterns best in your gun.

George
 
i use Kent 2 3/4" BB for goose and duck hunting.

watching my hunting partner change from #3 to BB when he hears a goose comming in and rushing his shot from barely managing to load the gun, makes me just run BB all year long.

i might "miss more" but i cripple zero birds.
 
In 2 3/4" shells my preference would be Kent Fasteel 1 1/8oz BB 1425fps for the local honkers (+9lbs birds) around Winnipeg in the early season. Later in the season if you find you're killing more lessers, once the Arctic birds start to arrive (5-8lbs birds), you could always downsize to #1 or #2 depending on which patterns best in your gun. Assuming of course you're hunting over decoys and not pass shooting.
 
I shoot 3" Win x-pert, 1-1/8oz BB @1550fps through a modified choke and it patterns very well in my gun. Win also makes a 2-3/4" 1-1/16 oz load at the same speed. If I were in your position this would be the first load I tried, or the Kent load mentioned above with the same specs.

Jim
 
Your area of Manitoba may be different than here in Sask., but we never know what's going to glide into the decoys. This picture from last fall shows why I recommend #1's, they are a compromise size for most anything from ducks to cranes....
IMG_3452.jpg
 
So what does cranes taste like? Looks like a bunch of states and provinces are now in line for a crane hunt sometime in the future.
 
Cranes taste a lot like goose, with less ( no ) fat. Great for jerky, or done in slow cookers as stew. I have heard marinated breast filets can be good on the BBQ but haven't tried that.
 
Cranes taste great. I have found with the new steel loads at around 1500 fps I have been able to go to #3's and #4's. Denser pattern and I aim for the head and neck if I can. The denser patterns work nice when trying to whack a cripple swimming away from you. I have shot Kent, Remington and Winchester loads. All good but Kent has consistently been the cheapest to purchase.

regards, Darryl
 
I haven't shot many geese the last few years but back when it was an obsession I loved Kent. 14-1500fps #2-BB. I personally preferred BB with a modified either 2 3/4 or 3 1/2" for geese depending on the shooting. 2 3/4" #4's are great duck medicine. if I was to choose a different brand it would be federal.
 
Get a good goose caller and then you can do it with fours. I went with a guy that has forgotten more about goose hunting than I will ever learn. the hard part was waiting till they were in good and close. Limited out, decoys cleaned up and having brekkie before 0900. Geese cleaned and in the freezer before noon.
If only he had cooked them for me....
 
Federal black cloud

Canadian Bush Wacker said:
I just had some old rem's wing masters crowned and reworked for steel, and beretta semi got a cone job. Now, I have not gone for goose for years! Since the lead went by by. So need some direction on shells, brand, and shot size, to start doing my test patterns. What ya got and how did it work?
Click to expand...

I switched to these after i read about them and I have been really impressed. Using BB shot have made good clean kills at 40 yards (yeah, i actually have paced off a couple just to see) Those little razor edged pellets penetrate deep.

And interestingly, one time i forgot to change out the choke tube to modified before i headed out, and used the extended midas grade I/M choke and the pattern was even better (I did not pattern on paper, just on bodies). So this is the choke i use now. Good hunting!
 
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