Dumb Question

Not dumb. You can hunt small birds with pretty successfully but bigger birds will be harder to bring down. They have to be closer and you have to hit them better. You will lose more wounded birds as well

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can you hunt ducks with 2 3/4'? How successful compared to 3"

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yes

very successful ....(if you are using lead)

But really, sure you can use 2 3/4 with steel for ducks but if at all possible go with the 3"

its all I use. I shoot ~3 cases a yr. and since I started having to pay for my own shells I save a few bucks buying 23/4 opposed to 3in. Does 3" make a difference IMO yes b/c you can shoot a larger (smaller in number) load and still be shooting the same amount of bb's as 23/4in shell. All I buy is 23/4 #6 and sometimes #4. If I would buy 3in. shells I'd buy #4 and #3 shot. If you can afford 3in. buy them. I also hunt flooded timer mostly in raised blinds, so most of our shots are close. Your style of hunting has alot to do with the type of shell you need as well as what choke you use.

Also another thing I like about 23/4 is the lack of recoil. Its easier to get onto the next bird after you shoot the first couple shots. If you shoot a gas powered auto. then this really is not a factor.

hope this helps.

You should ask vernon, he is a better duck hunter than all of us posers.




















Yes, I use alot of 2 3/4 but I hunt small ponds and flooded creeks so they come in close. with lots of wood ducks and teal.

Try low brass 6's on calm days if you are decoying em, you will be suprised.

Most of the time when a hunter misses a duck it is because he shot behind the bird. I shoot 2 3/4 #4's. I know a guy who will make other hunters look foolish and he shoots 20G 2 3/4. If you brush up on your wingshooting skills you will stop paying for the larger shells.

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Most of the time when a hunter misses a duck it is because he shot behind the bird. I shoot 2 3/4 #4's. I know a guy who will make other hunters look foolish and he shoots 20G 2 3/4. If you brush up on your wingshooting skills you will stop paying for the larger shells.

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This is true, but the best shot I know hunts with 3.5' magnums. He says he only uses them because they don't make 4'. He hunts for his meals so he takes every advantage he can.

3 and 3.5" magnums became popular when lead was outlawed. The reasoning was that steel weighed less and you need bigger shot to bring down the bird (efficiently) Bigger shot meant few pellets so to get the same number of pellets people started using 3" and the 10 gauge made a huge comeback to get even more pellets. I think it was Mossberg and Federal that came up with the 12 gauge 3.5" to help bridge the gap between the 12 gauge 3" and the 10 gauge.

Now with heavy shot and the like you can just as easily use 2.75" shell with 6 shot like they did before lead was outlawed. So yes you can use them but those shelled are expensive.

Personally I only use 3.5" and BBs I've used Heavyshot but I think I can be just as effective with 3.5s And I want the advantage of being able to put as many pellets in a bird that I can.