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Duck Shot Shells

Posted on 12/19/23 at 8:17 am
Posted by TreyE663
Walker
Member since Nov 2007
830 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 8:17 am
I have a old pump shotgun that only shoots 2 3/4" shells. Got a duck hunt coming up, what's the best shells, brand and shot size do y'all recommend?
Posted by Dissident Aggressor
Member since Aug 2011
3910 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 8:38 am to
heavy metal xtreme #4
Posted by Tigah D
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2008
1412 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 8:38 am to
Some will struggle to accept it, but you CAN kill ducks with shells smaller than 3.5 inches. Get you some 2 3/4 inch #3's or something and go hunt.

If it's a really old gun, make sure its barrel is rated for steel shot, bc if it isn't you might need to spring for a softer shot type (and more $$$) like bismuth. (See BOSS Shotshells)
Posted by Koolazzkat
Behind the Tupelo gum tree
Member since May 2021
1749 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 9:08 am to
Winchester xpert 2&3/4” 1&1/16 oz #4 works very well in my buddy’s old wingmaster 870 with a 28” modified barrel. Kills ducks just as well or better than my Beretta A400 with 3” #3’s.
Posted by Tridentds
Sugar Land
Member since Aug 2011
20758 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 9:19 am to
Get you some 2 3/4” 2s shooting at 1550 fps. You will have as much range as anyone else. If you are shooting behind the ducks 5” long shells won’t help!

2 3/4” is not a problem for you.

Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
66763 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 9:36 am to
How old is it? Not a fixed full choke?

Fixed full chokes can't shoot steel. Anything modified or looser is fine.

I've been using regular ol arse 2-3/4" federal 4's for teal and 2's for big ducks for like 8 years now. No reason to change. I dont kill any less ducks than the anti aircraft shell users.
Posted by White Bear
Yonnygo
Member since Jul 2014
14242 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 9:38 am to
2.75 #4 will kill anything worth killing. I wouldn’t shoot 2’s.
Posted by WPBTiger
Parts Unknown
Member since Nov 2011
31490 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 9:44 am to
This is what I used last time I hunted ducks.

Posted by DomincDecoco
of no fixed abode
Member since Oct 2018
10930 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 9:47 am to
Heavy bismuth 4
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
81956 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 9:53 am to
Been doing well this season with Black Cloud.
Posted by ecb
Member since Jul 2010
9361 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 10:16 am to
2,3,4 steel shot will kill ducks, if you hit them
Posted by LSUDUCKMAN67
DTB
Member since Sep 2020
978 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 11:07 am to
If you can find something with a mix load like 4's and 6's or get some 3 or 4 shot. Thats a good all around shot. I would look at getting 1-1/4 oz if you will be shooting a strictly steel shot shell.

If you feel like spending the extra money get something with a mix of Bismuth or a straight up Bismuth shell. They Hevi Metal line is good its a mixture or The Heavy Bismuth is bad to the bone.

Now if you want to break all the rules Get some Kent Fast Lead ...... and ill just leave it at that.
Posted by OeauxMy
Member since Feb 2017
263 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 11:48 am to
We went on a sand hill crane hunt years ago. The guides swore by, and shot, BOSS shells. Even recommended the 2 3/4 with a blend of 3 & 5 shot version even for those giant birds. We used them and really liked them. Still use them for ducks today.

BOSS Shot Shells - 2 3/4” #3/5
Posted by SmoothBox
Member since May 2023
822 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 11:53 am to
Boss warchief #5

Killed everything from teal to giant Canada geese with them. Will never shoot anything else.
This post was edited on 12/19/23 at 11:54 am
Posted by StrikeIndicator
inside the capital city loop.
Member since May 2019
482 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 12:06 pm to
Not to derail, but we should do a poll on how many hunters use 20ga vs. 12 Ga.
Posted by AwgustaDawg
CSRA
Member since Jan 2023
7543 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 1:03 pm to
Winchester Super X #2s, 1 1/8 oz, 1400 FPS. I use them for ALL waterfowl including geese. Also shoot crane with them when hunting waterfowl (you can shoot lead at cranes if you ain't also shooting geese). They will knock a Canada goose arse over tea kettle if it is decoying. If it ain't I ain't wasting a shell.

I use them because they are almost ALWAYS available and I am convinced that shooting the same load is as important as shooting the same gun and choke....the velocity and load are important in wing shooting and when you get accustomed to hitting with one load and one gun I don't see the point in changing it up for the sake of changing it up. I do not pass shoot. I will shoot birds that are working but not committed but I am not taking pop shots at birds that are at the edge of what I can kill without crippling. At 30 yards I have folded a BUNCH of big ducks with this load...as well as a bunch of geese. In my opinion most people are over loaded when they shoot ducks and geese and it leads to sky busting and taking high risk shots. I may be wrong but I know I don't shoot at a bird more than 35 yards away....
Posted by Louie
Jonesboro, GA
Member since Jun 2006
729 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 1:19 pm to
Just Shot some Kent Fast Steel 3 Inch #2's and they worked amazing. I've shot Heavy Steel and they were compareable. Really its' up to the shooter..

Unless your shooting Bismuth or a heavier load.
Posted by Stuttgart Tiger
Branson, MO
Member since Jan 2006
14666 posts
Posted on 12/19/23 at 1:39 pm to
I've shot Kent Fasteel #4s all season and they've performed well for me in the fields and in the woods.
This post was edited on 12/19/23 at 1:44 pm
Posted by LSUtigerMD
Member since Nov 2005
1140 posts
Posted on 12/20/23 at 10:15 am to
I think different shotguns like different shells. It’s best to check the pattern with different ammo. My SBE II likes Hevi-metal 3” #4. That being said I hunted with my nephew who used my 870 pump and he did fine with 23/4 11/4 Remington. Like others have said, It’s more about shot placement than anything else, but we like to blame the ammo when we don’t knock a bird down.
This post was edited on 12/20/23 at 10:17 am
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