Home Forums Birds & Dogs Waterfowl Factory loads for duck hunting

For the past five years we've (four hunters) been shooting geese over decoys using 20ga IC chokes. Three inch 1 1/4oz Hevishot #4's are the hammer of Thor on these big honkers.

Ducks...Hevishot #6's with devistating results.

Cost more, sure, but the results are worth the extra dollars. IMHO.

Dunn's has Federal Speed Shok 3" 1400/1550fps loads for $99 delivered

So your saying I need to pattern my gun?

Your right and I need to get un-lazy and follow your advice.

I want to thank you all for your responses.

I really like the Rem Nitro-Steel. 3" in #1 or #2 shot. Also, the Federal , (blue box) in #2's. All 1-1/4 oz loads. For geese, I like the Winchester XPert 3-1/2" BB 1-1/4 oz loads. 1625 FPS seems to hit em harder and kill quicker then 1-3/8 loads at 1550 fps.

But yes, pattern your gun and usually, buy a good choke. I haven't seen too many factory tubes that are as consistent as the aftermarket ones. Plus, I have read that an extended choke tube is better with steel. The flush mount ones can get beat up by the hard steel. I don�t know if there is any truth to that or not, but my Carlson sure does pattern nice.

Anyone out there try the new Winchester Blind Side yet?

I've shot blind side last year (Got it at Mack's in stuttgart), got a case this year. So I like it, we shot some last year. We tried it out one afternoon, and the results were great, no cripples and good results. It seems to hit hard, but don't make for good mountable birds sometimes!! lol

Hey Schenk,

I will be hunting just south of Stuttgart in early January. Can you give me an update on the conditions down there. Thanks on the Blind Side review.

More than a few of us in LaGrange TX appreciate that heads up!

Used Winchester Drylock or Supreme shells until I picked up a box of Kent Fasteel. All I use now for 12ga, in 3" 1560fps. Like BB for geese and #2 for ducks, although I've felled a good number of geese with 2s.

Hevi-Metal 2's!

We shoot the young ones before sending them south to you folks. so your needs may be different, but I doubt it. I have been completely satisfied with Kent Faststeel 2-3/4" 12 ga. 1-1/16 oz. 3's for all my duck shooting, and 1's for all my goose shooting. I have used a couple cases of the 1-1/8 oz 2's with satisfactory results too. I have tried the Win. Expert, Remington promo and premium stuff, and Federal. They all work OK, but the Kent seems to be the best bang for the buck, in Canada anyway. We have high volume waterfowl shooting, and I would deplete my budget shooting the exotic ammo. I have friends who shoot Federal black cloud, but they don't kill any more birds. We hunt over decoys and don't pass shoot much, if at all. In our area, It is not unusual to shoot Mallards, Pintails, Ross', Snows, Lesser Canadas and Greater Canadas on the same morning. With a modified choke in my Rem 870, Browning Citori, or Winchester Model 12 the birds drop if I do my part.

A photo of a typical goose shoot last October, we left the ducks fly on this morning.

Put me in this camp except I've been known to use BBB and TTT for geese

i am using the same.
getting dressed right now to head out to quality waters by navajo dam.
report later !

kent faststeel 3 1/2" #3

I tried the Blindside in 3" #2 this weekend in Arkansas and they worked great. Most ducks that hit the water alive were not able to swim away. I will use them again.