Shotgun shells for duck hunting?

[llukesh]

Was wondering for those of you that hunt ducks as well as geese what kind of shotgun shells do you shoot? I am using Winchester Expert 3 inch #3 shot currently but wanted to get some new ideas and pattern several different shells. Any imput would be appreciated. Thanks.

[32-40win]

I'd tend to say if you are using that for geese and you are happy with it, it'll work on ducks, too. Nothing wrong with the shot size, can try #4 if you want more pellets and ducks are inside 35yds or so, for more punch use #2. One way or another you can grab a mitful of 1-1/4oz loads of all the different brands, your gun may or may not like them, you may get better results with different choke size, you may not.
The pattern board will tell you the story. After that you can't avoid blaming the shooter.

[pro-honker]

We use Hevi-Metal 3" #3or4

[Fox_hunter42]

Kent Fasteel, 3", #1 for Geese out to 50 yards, I have only killed 2 ducks, one of those was 50 yards or close to it. i tried several brands, sizes and chokes before finding this one.

[Cobra]

3", 1oz, 1710fps homeloads in B for Geese and 3 or 4s on Ducks. Patterns perfectly out of my gun, dropped a number of Geese cleanly @ 40yds with the 4s. Hunt more effectively totally solo these days and choose not to shoot any further. Have folded Crows @ 60+yds with all of them just to see what could be done if I wanted to press it a bit, really don't need/want too.

[archeryrob]

I use Kent 3" #1's for all waterfowl. Has enough energy to kill geese @ 40 yards and enough pellets to kill ducks dumb enough to come near the goose decoys.

[tornadochaser]

i shoot 2 3/4" federal speed shot 6's for small pot holes or when the ducks are coming in suicide close to the dekes. my typical duck loads are usually 3" federal speed shok 1 1/4 oz 3's or 2's though. 3.5" federal ultrashok HHV 2's or 1's in the fields when its mallards and honkers.

[duck slayer]

Federal
Federal Premium Black Cloud™ Steel - Per 10 Boxes

Blends steel shot with cut-on-contact Flitestopper pellets
Flitecontrol wads extend lethal range by 10-15 yards
Delivers tighter, more uniform patterns over longer ranges
Shell has 60% steel pellets and 40% Flightstopper pellets

There's a storm warning out for waterfowl, and it comes in the form of a Black Cloud. This devastating new steel ammo from Federal mixes innovative and lethal FliteStopper™ steel pellets with standard steel pellets in the range- extending FliteControl® wad for superior downrange patterning and hitting power. Unlike standard round steel pellets, FliteStopper pellets have a sharp cut-on-contact surface that produces bird-slaying wound channels unlike anything you've seen before. The FliteControl wad is configured 180° compared to standard wads so the cup flares at the rear instead of the front. This causes pellets to remain more tightly patterned longer as they leave the barrel, adding 10-15 yards of effective range compared to conventional steel loads and increasing pellet energy downrange. This deadly combination of superior patterning, increased Knockdown Power™ and longer range means there can only be one forecast when Black Cloud™ FS Steel shows up in the blind – expect it to rain ducks and geese. The new 3" #3 offering is a special edition endorsed by Phil Robertson – The Duck Commander. 25 per box. Per 10 boxes.

[DSM16428]

Um...ok?...

[Fowl'in up NORTH]

Look at fedral blue box 3in #2's

[llukesh]

Kent Fasteel 3 inch #3's kill ducks stone cold.

[cashman]

Um...ok?...

You go ahead there duck slayer and try and get your prostaff job buddy 'Till then pick a load that doesn't suck!

[DSM16428]

I wasn't knockin the load. I use and like BC. I WAS however making a little jab at the virtually cut and pasted add from the Federal Web site.

[wing seeker]

I am a huge advocate of the HeviShot family of shells. I mainly use the
HeviMetal shells in #2's and BB. Super super shells...............

[DBarLeather]

I have had good results with the Kent Fasteel 3inch #2's out of my Benelli SBEII using the factory MOD choke.

[2500hdon37s]

Hevi-metal, great shells. I use #3 and #2 for duck, and BB and BBB for goose. 3in loads @ $17 a box

I have noticed much less crippling and many more clean kills. I switched all of my waterfowl hunting ammo over to Hevi- metal.

[speckleberry]

Too many variables to consider to limit it to one choice. Short 4's and 6's work great in the timber, long bullets in BB or triple B's on those super windy days in the fields. Depends on how serious ya are about killin' birds. Was huntin' with a fella yesterday in the wind. He was shootin' 3's. Had to back up every bird he shot but one. The BB's were stonin' 'em. I generally keep a box of 2's and BB's in the bag. If you can kill a goose with it, it'll kill a duck. Prefer to err on the heavy side anyways. Have no loyalty to any particular brand.

[SPatrick]

Federal
Federal Premium Black Cloud™ Steel - Per 10 Boxes

Blends steel shot with cut-on-contact Flitestopper pellets
Flitecontrol wads extend lethal range by 10-15 yards
Delivers tighter, more uniform patterns over longer ranges
Shell has 60% steel pellets and 40% Flightstopper pellets

There's a storm warning out for waterfowl, and it comes in the form of a Black Cloud. This devastating new steel ammo from Federal mixes innovative and lethal FliteStopper™ steel pellets with standard steel pellets in the range- extending FliteControl® wad for superior downrange patterning and hitting power. Unlike standard round steel pellets, FliteStopper pellets have a sharp cut-on-contact surface that produces bird-slaying wound channels unlike anything you've seen before. The FliteControl wad is configured 180° compared to standard wads so the cup flares at the rear instead of the front. This causes pellets to remain more tightly patterned longer as they leave the barrel, adding 10-15 yards of effective range compared to conventional steel loads and increasing pellet energy downrange. This deadly combination of superior patterning, increased Knockdown Power™ and longer range means there can only be one forecast when Black Cloud™ FS Steel shows up in the blind – expect it to rain ducks and geese. The new 3" #3 offering is a special edition endorsed by Phil Robertson – The Duck Commander. 25 per box. Per 10 boxes.

lol Federal rep
For the last three years I have used 3" hevi metal 2's or 3's, I have worked for them for 2. If I ever left, I would continue to shoot it, great ammo.

[2500hdon37s]

Federal
Federal Premium Black Cloud™ Steel - Per 10 Boxes

Blends steel shot with cut-on-contact Flitestopper pellets
Flitecontrol wads extend lethal range by 10-15 yards
Delivers tighter, more uniform patterns over longer ranges
Shell has 60% steel pellets and 40% Flightstopper pellets

There's a storm warning out for waterfowl, and it comes in the form of a Black Cloud. This devastating new steel ammo from Federal mixes innovative and lethal FliteStopper™ steel pellets with standard steel pellets in the range- extending FliteControl® wad for superior downrange patterning and hitting power. Unlike standard round steel pellets, FliteStopper pellets have a sharp cut-on-contact surface that produces bird-slaying wound channels unlike anything you've seen before. The FliteControl wad is configured 180° compared to standard wads so the cup flares at the rear instead of the front. This causes pellets to remain more tightly patterned longer as they leave the barrel, adding 10-15 yards of effective range compared to conventional steel loads and increasing pellet energy downrange. This deadly combination of superior patterning, increased Knockdown Power™ and longer range means there can only be one forecast when Black Cloud™ FS Steel shows up in the blind – expect it to rain ducks and geese. The new 3" #3 offering is a special edition endorsed by Phil Robertson – The Duck Commander. 25 per box. Per 10 boxes.

lol Federal rep
For the last three years I have used 3" hevi metal 2's or 3's, I have worked for them for 2. If I ever left, I would continue to shoot it, great ammo.

and its not 100% steel like black cloud! it has heavier pellets that transfer energy better than steel alone.

[BenelliSBE2]

Federal Speed-shoks 3" #2's is all I shoot at ducks, for $10 a box they pattern amazing.


<------ Picture is the aftermath using these shells.