Home Forums Birds & Dogs Waterfowl Ducks: what size steel shot?

I've had decent results on ducks with #3 steel most of the time.

I would prefer the pattern density of #4 but found that it didn't penetrate well on any longer shots.

Would love to use #2 steel all the time, but it seems pretty thin on teal.

What have you guys noticed?

When I used to shoot steel, I used 3's. I was shooting over dekes and I guess it performed as well as it could. I tried the 2's, 3's and 4', and 3's seemed to be the best compromise with steel over decoys.


I jumped all over bismuth when it came out. In '03, Natchez had a big sale on Kent Tungsten/Polymer and I bought a bunch of it. I still have half a 20mm ammo can of the stuff.

I like #2 steel for a couple reasons. Knockdown power, range and pass through. #3s are shine if the shooting is close or small ducks like teal are your focus. I just assume skip the #4s as the benefits of the larger sizes outweigh pellet count IMO.

Take the time to pattern you gun on a board with a variety of #2s and a couple chokes. You might be surprised at the density you can achieve when you find the right combo.

Well, I guess that about agrees with what I've seen. #3 seems to be the lightest shot that still can kill well within most ranges.

I'll keep switching over to #2 when the later season/bigger birds come around.

I kill most of my birds inside 40 yards with 3's. Steel 4's will get the job done, and I slightly prefer them for the first weeks of our season, but as birds down thickens and the woodducks and teal depart, 3's, 2's and even 1's dominate my preferred loads depending upon what birds are in the area.
I don't take long shots and prefer the ducks to be at 15 yards and just about to land when I start shooting which is why I love divers so much.

Sorry, to not answer the OP directly, but I did the same as Hawk. Tungsten Polymer from Kent is just about the equal of lead in density and makes steel look like confetti in comparison. Ok, a little hyperbole there but it's just so much better and yet softer than lead and much more so than steel.

I use nothing but Federal blue box, 3", #2's at 1550 fps.
Up to 54 ducks and 2 geese so far, and no lost birds.
A great dog helps.
I also don't sky bust. 30-35 yards is my furthest decoy. Anything past that, I wait til they come around again.

Later, I do switch to bb's when going after well feathered geese.
Factory Remington extended modified choke always.

In 12 gauge, I use handloaded #3 steel (1 oz) at 1480 fps.....like others have said, I only use it over decoys.
Smaller gauges I use T.M., bismuth, or NICE shot.....usually #5 or #6.

4's early season, then down to 3 and 2 later on in the season, when the big mallards get well feathered and more wary.

#2 Steel kills Eiders and Scoters without issue. I guess we don't have those armor plated ducks as other seem to have. #4 Steel no problem with Teal, Woodies, Greenheads, and Divers.

Don't get me wrong I like Tungsten but not at the cost.

I use steel only and like #4's early in the season and use #2's late in the season. When geese start coming in I will switch to BB's.

I'm a 2's or 3's guy - 3's early and when there are lots of smaller ducks. When the teal and woodies are gone, and the flight mallards and divers predominate, I go to 2's. Early season geese fall to either with head shots. To quote my grandfather, "You have to shoot them in the face!" Later, I go to BBBs for the northern Canadian geese with bullet proof vests ;-)

Yep, # 2 generally, 3's if we're after woodies. Late season when Geese are in at the same time, or we are on big water with high winds I swith to #1s

I like 3,s but we shoot pretty much all green heads and woodies with some teals thrown in. I have shot a lot of 2's down in the chesapeake bay for divers as well

Are the they passing through or are they decoying in? If they are passing through I like #2s and a modified choke. If they are decoying in I like #3s or #4s and an improved cylinder or even wider choke. All this talk is getting me primed for season!

Pass shooting, most shots we get/take are in the 30-40 yd range. I usually use Kent #1s but did shoot some 3 1/2 in #3 this year just cause someone gave them to me. Both did pretty well. The guys I hunt with swear by blackcloud BBs 3" and they seem to kill pretty cleanly, which is the goal.

I'm in the #3 corner too. I shoot most of my ducks inside 30 yards and shoot many woodies too. If I'm shooting teal and woodies I take 2 3/4" #4s and if I'm hunting the lake I use #2s cause all we get are mallards and a good chance at decoyed geese. But 90% of the time its 3" #3s in kent fasteel or federal blue box. Good all around duck load and patterns great in my sbe and my M1 both.

I use #2 for decoys/jump shooting. #1 and BB for pass shooting large ducks.

I reload and After A lot of killing and Patterning. In the 12ga I Load 1 1/8oz #3 steel for Ducks in the decoys, 1 1/16oz #1 steel for Ducks and Geese in the Decoys and 1 1/16oz B Steel For Geese In the decoys when Not many Ducks Are flying. All in 12ga 2 3/4" hulls at 1470fps. Pass shooting I shoot 3" 1 1/4 Oz Of #1 at 1400fps With a few of the short loads also. Or I use the 10ga.

A pic of what #2 shot did.