I got invited to hunt the Lesser Snow Goose migration next month.

I've got a 1970's Ted Williams mod 200 12ga (2-3/4") that I use for grouse hunting. It is essentially a Winchester 1200.

My question is on steel shot. I really don't want to go out and buy a modern shotgun for this if I can avoid it.

Anyone have any REAL experience shooting steel through pre-steel designed shotgun?

I've been told to expect to go through 50+ rounds a day for the hunt.

The plastic wads used in steel shotshells are adequate to protect the barrel, but use an IC choke.....modified is OK too.....just don't use a full choke.

Mine is modified choke - I should have listed that.

I know not what you want to do but I would cruise the lgs or pawn shops and pick up a used 870 with a 3inch chamber and one you can switch chokes...

I went around today and hit 5 shops. I didn't find anything - not many shotguns at all... I found one used 870 that was overpriced.

That's sucks at one time you could pick up 870 pretty cheap..

Call the manufacturer and ask them.
Some,I think ithaca ,for one 0 all of their guns are ok for steel.

If you will share a goose or two, I'd loan you an 870 magnum. I live in Erie, CO.
Also have a Savage Model 12 (humpback) that takes 2 3/4 if you wanted to borrow that, but it's hard to beat an older 870.

Send a pm and we can link up
Jon

Umm...you are not going to want to hunt with a pump of any type. Most guys will not be satisfied using 2 3/4" on snows either. I would be asking the fellows who are taking you out what they find acceptable, because your current setup is very limiting and they may find that to be a chore for them. That is--you become the limiting factor of the group and they won't want to wait for your birds or for you. That can ruin a hunt fast.

Find a cheaper magnum gas-operated auto, put an extended magazine tube on it, and enjoy yourself!

For a one time hunt, borrow a gun.

3 inch I'd want, 3.5 could be better. 2.75, well in the old days, we killed LOTS of geese with them.

All depends on how close the geese get before you shoot.....

It won't hurt it.

The Mod Choke will be perfect for the Geese you will be hunting

Fugg shooting 3.5's all day at snow geese, even in a heavy gas autoloader. 3" will give you a little extra pattern density and/or velocity over 2.75". Borrow a gun if you can, but I wouldn't spend the money for a 3" gun for 1 time hunt

Go buy a new or used Rem 870 express, probably $300
Shoot 3" steel with it
If you don't like it, sell it after the hunt and maybe lose a few bucks
Or, unless there is sentimental value in the other gun, sell it and keep the 870 express

I did that, bought, used an 870 express and sold it

Mossberg 500s are cheap and imo are better than the NEW 870s. The modified on your current gun will probably be OK but I don't know if I would shoot steel in it. I.C. would be OK for sure.

Have hunted with 2 3/4" all my days and never thought I needed more gun.

I usually use my 3.5" 12 on any goose hunt but sometimes I like to pull out the old 311. It has 2.75 chambers choked mod- IC. For large ducks or small geese the #3 Kent Tungsten-Matrix works real nice. Out of the Mod barrel it will knock them down as good or better than lead.
It's a little spendy ($70 for two boxes) but it lets you shoot your gun.

Took my dad goose hunting years ago and used a win 1400 auto of the same vintage as your gun . Worked fine and the steel didn't harm anything. Mine was a fixed modified too, which most mfgs. Recommend for steel. Just go ahead and get your ammo and don't wait till the last minute as 2 3/4 inch while it works fine can be harder to find than 3" ammo in shot size bb and bbb.

I disagree that you will be at a disadvantage using a pump gun. I'm using my inherited 870 Wingmaster and loving it. Pick out a bird, shoot and make sure it is going down, shoot another. It took me a while, but I figured out leading and shot drop pretty well finally. The biggest problem I saw was some of the young hotshots not following up on a hit or paying too much attention to bird count. I got on a couple of em and (while I was there at least) they were chasing cripples down. They had the newest and best autoloaders. Can't wait till next year.I did however convert the 870 to 3". Have fun, its addicting.

50 heavy shots, or hopefully a lot more, through a pump gun in one day is brutal on the shoulder and cheekbone.

Get an extended magazine tube also, and have some fun!

I guess I understand the high bag limit if there is one, but what the heck do you do with that many geese? As long as they are edible I would still probably only want to take only about 4 or 5 home at a time.

heavy shot high velocity BBs

Steel sucks, use Bizmuth and call it done.

http://www.wral.com/hunting-rules-relaxed-for-special-snow-goose-season/15303709/

Buy a freezer....

I have killed a bunch of waterfowl including geese some have certainly killed more. I hunt and hunt alot. I hate being limited for any reason. They might not be hitting the dekes and you may have to make 50 yd shots or more even weather and bird mood depending.

If this is a one time thing certainly don't limit yourself to a pump nor 2-3/4". Borrow a 3" semi auto or better a 3-1/2" semi auto. Get some #2 or BBs and rollem their butts.. Your going to wind up wishing you had if you don't , promise.

Your gun is perfect.

Mmmm sky carp.

Rogers Sporting goods will ship you a case of 3" Federal BBs for $119.99. Borrow a gas auto. Averaging 50 rounds might mean 15 one day and 85 the next. Have fun.

Your 2 3/4" gun will be OK not ideal but OK. If you like goose hunting then start shopping for a different gun. The most Snows that I've ever seen knocked down with 3 shots was with a 2 3/4" 1100.

First year I hunted Geese I used my 2 3/4" Win 1200 with a modified choke with steel shot, I am going to say BBB size, and it worked fine. My second time I purchased a 3" 870 Express and I am not sure my kill percentage was much greater.

If you are calling the Geese into decoys a 2 3/4" gun will work fine. If you are "Pass Shooting" a 3" or 3 1/2" gun has an advantage.

If you can borrow a 3" or 3 1/2" gun, like others have suggested, do so. I would not purchase a gun just for this one hunt though until you know if you want to do this often.

3 inch BB steel is my go to snow goose load, when I'm a "middle guy" in the blind I shoot a kicks modified, and 3 inch BB

But if I'm shooting clean up I switch to 3.5 inch and a pattern master as I'm doing the shooting on the edges


Find out what the average range of birds you'll be shooting.

While 2.75 inch wouldn't be my first choice I'd find some BbB and have fun....or borrow a gun

To anyone,

Will the food pantries or homeless shelters take excess geese ?

I hate to shoot anything (except varmints) if no one wants to use it, and I sure wouldn't want a bunch of excess geese.

Myron

Snow geese have reproduced to the point they essentially are varmints.

We go every few years and are headed to South Dakota in a few weeks.

I started with an extended tube and 3" BB's from my Benelli SBE a Briley IMod or Patternmaster.


This year i have a loaner X-rail for my Extrema 2 to try out. $750 is a big hit but 22rds of bb's at a time should be fun. I have several chokes for it but am guessing it will mostly be the Patternmaster.

I also usually buy all of my shells from Rogers but got 2 cases of HeviSteel 3" BB"s for a song locally.

Couple notes - If your pre-steel shotgun is important to you than don't risk shooting steel through it. It might very well be just fine but I have seen a couple barrels bulge towards the muzzle. IIRC one was a fixed full choke and the other was a modified. I would suggest borrowing one proofed for steel.

Try to borrow a shotgun that can shoot 3.5" shells. You DO NOT have to shoot 3.5" shells on your hunt but having the option is good. If you have some furious shooting, ammo will be passed between hunters and you do want to miss the chance because the guys on you left and right are shooting 3.5" shells or one gets mixed and you feed a 3.5" into you gun rated for a 3". It happens. By all means don't worry about only shooting 3" shells. They are perfectly adequate but borrowing a 3.5" gun just gives you a little more flexibility.

Snow geese are still good table fare. Just because they are overpopulated does not mean that they are suddenly trash birds to be left to the coyotes. They roast well, make good chili, jerky or sausage.

Ask they guys you will be hunting with what size shot they prefer. Something between a #2 and a BBB will work but they will have a preference based on their experience in that area.

Personally I shoot 3.5" BBB but I hunt the outside and follow the cripples. They also pattern the best out of my firearm.

If you don't know what else to do, I would run 3" BB steel. It is the most versatile.

Basically, re-read the three responses directly above this one, and follow their advice. They have obviously been there.

If you want to be invited back again, don't show up with inferior gear for the job at hand. It's not "OK" on these hunts to have gear that necessitates you get the front middle position each time because you can't smack geese far enough or fast enough.

Get it in your head that this is varmint hunting, not waterfowl hunting.

Every goose I shot this year was a Canada goose. While we have a season on Snows, we don't have a huge migration right where I hunt. I often wondered how they taste. I've heard a few opinions but haven't had the chance to try one.

50 yard geese take more. Thats a given.

How many folks going on a one time hunt, can hit a goose at 50?

Hence run what you got..... if you can't borrow....

FWIW the most geese I've seen killed with 3 shots was out of a 10 ga.... and a situation that a short 12 would have likely done just about the same...

My goose dropping ends on the 9th. After that, I have a SBE2 you can use. I wouldn't buy a shotgun for one trip.

I've seen a couple of guns with the same thing, one is my next-door neighbor with whom I've hunted ducks for over fifty years. He still uses the gun with the bulged barrel. I'm not sure at what point the bulge was noticeable, it was nothing sudden.

My preferred snow goose gun is a Browning Gold 10 shooting HeviShot #4s through a Mod choke.

Shooting a 2 3/4 inch gun with large steel shot is going to hinder your pattern density.
Steel patterns tighter than lead. Big steel patterns even tighter. In a 1 1/16th oz load of steel from a 2 3/4 inch hull you're probably only going to have 85 pellets shooting BBs.

I'd try and borrow a 3 inch Gas operated semi 12 if I were you. 3 inch #2s in a 1 1/4 oz load will be just fine on snows.

So, how many more BBs you get with that extra 3/16 oz.....

If my calculation is right, 3/16 oz =13.54 BB's

Not enough for me to get overly excited on a one time hunt...