I don't get to hunt waterfowl very often, once every five or six years. When I have gone in the past I let my guide buy my shells for me. I am fairly competent with upland birds, turkey and skeet shooting. I know what I like in lead shot shells but I am not knowledgable when it comes to steel. I will be going on a duck and goose hunt soon. My host has a huntng club, we will be hunting over decoys from a blind. I expect closer shots than I usually get pass shooting or hunting the large rice fields.<p>I've been told that a lot of hunters like # 1 steel for large ducks and geese over the blocks. ??? I don't have enough experience to know what works best and what doesn't.<p>I have two shot guns I might take. A Remington 870 Express, 3 inch 12 gauge with choke tubes and a Ruger Red Label with 3 inch chamber, 26 inch barells choked Improved cyl. and Mod. I think I will take the 870. Last time I used the Ruger in the rice fields it beat my shoulder into hamburger. I shoot 2 oz. loads in the 870 for turkey and though I would not want to take that much recoil in a duck blind, the 870 is not as hard on me as the Ruger is with heavy loads.<p>What loads would you use in my situation? I saw the recomendation for 1 3/8 oz 3 inch loads. Is the # 1 shot the way to go here? What velocity do I want for these shells? 1200 fps, 1300? what seams to be the magic number? I don't know if I can stand 35 to 40 dollars per box of shells. What are those things loaded with, gold?
