Who makes the best steel shot loads?

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I am looking for your thoughts on steel shot. Who makes the best shells, shot size and shot weight?
I have been using winchester xpert shells in 3", 1.25oz of #4 for ducks and BB for geese. I have found that I have to shoot some birds at least twice to put them down for good. I have been using a mod choke, and shooting no farther than 40 yrds. Any info would be great!

Thanks
Duane
 
Kent is by far the best steel shot for migratory birds. I have patterned them all and Kent Fasteel is a hands down winner :idea:
I use #3's for ducks over the pond.... and #2's for big water. I like #BBB and T's for Geese anywhere. 8)
If you step up your shot size you will have less cripples :idea:
 
best steel

i like the federal shok loads, we killed 2 geese right over the duck decoys yesterday and these were # 3's. you gotta hit em to kill em.pattern your gun as well to see what that looks like. i only shoot 2 3/4 in then i don't flinch and stay on target. hope this helps. bucky
 
I give the vote to Winchester Xpert #4's going 1550 fps for ducks and BB or #1's for geese in the same make/speed...

I think MANY guys use too heavy a shot and don't have enough pellets in their patterns to cleanly kill ducks... I believe THAT'S why you see SO many wounded ducks, YOU GOTTA hit them with pellets to kill em!!!

Cheers
Jay
 
1. I have found with the steel shot that high velocity is VERY important. I have tried several brands, and all are about the same for me. (But I am not the world's best wing-shooter :roll: ........) When I was using "regular" velocity shells all I was doing was crippling birds.

2. I am currently shooting my way through a case of Challenger shotshells, and they have performed well for me. (And I SPIT on Challenger slugs, so this was something of a leap of faith for me......... :wink: )

3. I agree with BIGREDD on larger shot size for the geese - in the eastern Ontario flyway the guys I know and hunt with have pretty well all switched to size BBB shot for the big Canada's. The one lad uses T shot for the longer (later season) shots too.

4. Did I mention that HIGH VELOCITY is the important thing?

Doug
 
You really do need to pattern your gun to find out what it likes best. I was somewhat skeptical about how neccessary this was, till Cletus invited me out to the range to try it. Oddly enough I had all 3 brands that have been mentioned so far and got decent results with all of them, though the cheap Win X-perts were the best with absolutely no gaps in the pattern. I also had Rem Nitro-steel and while it put lots of pellets in the circle, most of them were in clumps of 3 to 6 pellets, with huge areas with no pellets at all. I know of guys who have patterned Nitro steel in their guns and say it was the best. This is the reason I am now convinced that patterning is neccessary. I don't think you really need to go all out and use the patterning board at the range, then sit down and count all the holes in the target. Get some cardboard to shoot at and examine the pattern to make sure you are getting even shot dispersal.

Edit: Dougs post was not up when I was typing this, I haven't tried challengers. I was referring to Win, Kent and Fed.
 
I agree that patterning a gun is a VERY good idea. And I actually did this with other brands of shotshells. But then I bought this case of Challengers, and shall I say, the season snuck up on me..............so I guess I patterned them on live targets. :oops: Not a recommended option, but this time it worked out OK.

Doug
 
With the larger shot....BBB and T... the Challengers have a tendancy to leave a layer of pellets stuck in the wadcup :shock: I have seen some seriously blown patterns due to this... and the wad cup actually blowing through my cardboards at 30 yards :(
You could go and pick up the wad and find seven or eight pellets still stuck in the wad :?
I did not experience this with the smaller shot sizes and the ammo was last years... I have not tried any of the new stuff... not likely to either :!:
 
Kent ammo seems to be the preferred brand here in Alberta. Most outfitters offer their guests number 2's for ducks and BB's for geese, usually in 3 inch shell lenth, how ever both sizes are available in 2 3/4 inch as well with the same speed rating at 1560 fps.
The Tungsten Matrix product in 2 3/4 inch is really a great load as well with number 5's for ducks and 3's or 1's for geese. Regards Greg
 
OK guys you have convinced me, Kent fasteel it is, but not until I use up the case of Challengers...

I last used Kent cartridges the very first year of the lead shot ban, don't recall much about them really. In fact I probably bought the same size as I would have for lead, and so was under-gunned.

Anyways, Spanky is coming home for the weekend and his very first goose shoot will be this afternoon. I suspect that the Challengers will not last too long..... :roll:

Doug
 
Well, thanks for all the great info, I'll have to remember "Speed Kills" in this case..I'll buy a box of Kents and try them at the range this weekend.

Duane
 
The best is the one that patterns best in your gun. Someone elses "best" may be crap in your gun. If you are having to shoot birds twice it is one of two things, both dealing with your pattern.

You need both coverage and penetration. Sufficient coverage with no large holes in the pattern. Enough energy in the pellets to provide sufficient penetration into the bird.

Each and every brand and load will shoot differently in each and every gun and choke combination.
 
well said, Waterfowler!

BTW we saw today what steel BBBs (Challengers) do to DUCKS!!! :shock: Field hunting the corn for geese and had two small flocks of mallards wing past. Son "Spanky" shot his first and second ducks of his life.............with BBBs! :roll:

Did not find any shot cups full of shot, though......... :wink:

Doug
 
My buddy and I had a good day goose hunting this afternoon. We were set up on a bean field, that had the back half flooded. Sure worked great. We spent an hour and a half there, took home 8 geese and 3 ducks. I tried Federals Tungsten Iron #2. I have to say, they really hammer those geese.

Duane
 
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