Home Forums Birds & Dogs Waterfowl 20 Gauge

Gentlemen,

I have never duck hunted and need some help selecting the best load for my 20 gauge. I know a 12 gauge would be better but all I have is a 20 and I figure it should work.

Thanks, Les

Depending on distance, I would go 3" with number 2 steel as an all around load.

I use #4 Hevi-Shot for ducks. Spendy but it works well. I only hunt a couple of times per year.

I'll give those a try thanks

How much is a guy giving up by using a 20 gauge?

Nothing in the velocity department.
Most 20"s throw a 7/8 oz load. A 12, anywhere from 1 1/8 on up.
With a load of 2"s, I'd have to look it up, but , there isn't a huge difference, in pellet count.
Been wanting to take my wife's CZ o/u out for a run on ducks!
If I would mess up her trap gun, I'd be in some hot water, tho!
Got shells!

one of my buddy's shot a few with a 410 this season.

Roger,

He's probably a better shot than me lol.

I know a fella that used a 20ga for ducks after shoulder surgery. He put some money into a good choke tube and Hevi Shot,but had wonderful success with the combo. Hunting over deeks anyway. Not sure about pass shooting. Should do the trick if you get the shot on the birds. It is expensive,but Hevi Shot is a rel killer. I used it for turkey for couple years after it hit the market. Impressive stuff.

If you're shooting decoying birds, look at a 1oz or 7/8oz load of #4s. You'll get a few more pellets out of the 4s vs the 2s which will help with pattern density. All I shoot anymore is a 20ga, and I've shot 1oz load of 2s and 4s, 7/8oz of HV 4s, and 3/4oz load of 4s and 6s. They all kill just fine. I believe that the 1oz load of slower(1350fps range) 2s and 4s work better out of a 20ga, but I've killed birds out to 40 yards with no problem with all the loads listed. Just buy a few different boxes and pattern your gun. The little bores will more than likely respond better to a more open choke, so try a Skeet or IC to begin with(my gun likes the SK the best).

I have lots of shotguns, but this year I tried something different. Mostly because my duck hunting partner was busting my chops about the idea. I bought a new semi-auto 20ga for ducks! I've killed several turkeys with a 20 so why not ducks (Encore)? It might have been an excuse to buy a new gun. I used it this season, every day I went out. Bought the Black Could long range tube for it and I have been using Black Cloud #2 1oz loads. Honestly, I feel like I kill more ducks with this over my A400 12ga, but that's probably just me. Only thing I try to be careful of is distance because the pattern density is slightly less. Obviously on Deke birds it makes little difference, you could kill them with anything if you let them come in close enough.

I shoot 3" Kent #4 and have done really well with them. I shoot them out of a Benelli M2 20 gauge

I've used my montefeltro 20ga quite a bit over the last 14 years for ducks and geese. All I've ever used has been estate, kent, and a little bit of remington nitro steel. All 3" with the majority being #4s and some #2s

I shoot 3" #3's and 4's. Shots inside 35 yards work best.For shot over 40 I think larger shot is warranted. If money is no object Heavy Shot and Tungsten Matrix will take you to ranges where lead becomes you nemesis.

Wow I was at Cabelas last night and priced some Heavy Shot . So number 2 or 4 steel you say should work.

Yep that's why I don't shoot it, but I did try it and it's the real deal. The good news is that steel will work just fine,it just limits the range that one can make consistent clean kills. For me that's inside 40 and the closer the better to a point.

#4 steel is the best in a 20 gauge, as it gives a good pattern, but I hate the stuff past about 30 yards.

#2 steel will kill ducks about as far as you can hit them, but a 20 gauge doesn't have many pellets in it for that work.

#3 is a good compromise if you can get it.

All three sizes work great if you limit your yardage to 30 or 35.

Agree that the #2 have the mass for the longer work but not the pellet count for consistent multiple hits.

Well, If the 20ga is putting 99% of the pellets inside 30" at 30yrds. Like mine has. Pellets on the bird is what kills, not how many are in the shell. Pattern it, 1550fps #3-#2 will work. Beyond 30yrds in fact