|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,368
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,368 |
Looking for input on 20 gauge loads for ducks and geese. I'd like some expert opinion whether 1550fps 7/8 oz steel is necessary or if 1300fps 1oz steel is adequate. This speed stuff is confusing. Thanks in advance.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 869
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 869 |
Either one works. Just increase your lead if the velocity lowers. I would prefer the 1oz at 1300fps.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,866
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,866 |
My son uses 3" 1 oz. loads and does well with ducks. I would pick pellet count over speed any day of the week. Some goes for bigger gauges. I use 1 1/4 oz loads in my 12 gauge even though 1 1/8 oz loads are more available.
Eating fried chicken and watermelon since 1972.
You tell me how I ought to be, yet you don't even know your own sexuality,, the philosopher,,, you know so much about nothing at all. Chuck Schuldiner
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 563
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 563 |
I think at shorter range pellet count matters; but a longer range speed increases pellet energy - speed kills! We are about to be blessed with the northern Canadian birds that have thick down. I go to T or even F for geese, as smaller shot don't seem to impress them.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,866
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,866 |
Do a phonebook test and then make a judgment on how speed kills. You lose most of the extra energy from speed in the first 20 yards or so. Shoot a phonebook with a fast load then shoot another identical phone book with a slower load of the same pellet size, then see what number is on the page of the last pellet that penetrates on both books.
Eating fried chicken and watermelon since 1972.
You tell me how I ought to be, yet you don't even know your own sexuality,, the philosopher,,, you know so much about nothing at all. Chuck Schuldiner
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,368
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,368 |
Appreciate the input - not a lot of info on 20 gauge steel loads available. Almost nothing on reloading them.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 580
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 580 |
A 1oz load of #6 Hevi-shot works great.
If geese are in the picture, use #4 Hevi-shot.
Very impressive stuff.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,990
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,990 |
A 1oz load of #6 Hevi-shot works great.
If geese are in the picture, use #4 Hevi-shot.
Very impressive stuff.
Yeah, so is the price.... can't afford it on a fixed income. Wish I could.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 24
New Member
|
New Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 24 |
No contest the majority of advice (rightly so) will be in favor of the 1oz #3 steel loads for ducks. For geese it get more difficult 1oz #2 you might get to pattern well but so few of a small shot size requires decreased range. 1oz of #1 steel most likely will not pattern well at all. So that leave heavier than steel shot which the only commonly available factory loads would be from Hevi Shot either #4 or #6. There has been a lot written on various forums about using the 20ga for ducks and with both steel and HTS shot. http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=14(Copy and paste link into URL box) http://www.google.com/cse?cx=011358298806334250876%3Atgu2trurtro&ie=UTF-8&q=20+ga+duck&sa=Search&siteurl=www.shotgunworld.com%2Fbbs%2F&ref=&ss=4298j2977532j10#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=20%20ga%20duck&gsc.page=1 Wyogal most certainly you can afford hevi shot you just have to be like me and shoot less than 25 shells per year.
Last edited by ksfowler; 11/29/14.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,990
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,990 |
In reality, I just need to learn how to shoot a shotgun properly. Then I'll get more hits using fewer shells. So, yes, you're right on.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,740
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,740 |
I would Pick #2 steel in the 7/8oz Or 1oz then just stick with that load. The Faster load will give you about 5yrds of more effective penetration In real life bird killing experience. The 1oz will give you 15 more pellets.
The anti American Constitutional party (Democrat). Wants to dismantle your rights, limiting every aspect of your constitutional rights. Death by 1000 cuts is the tactic. Each cut bleeds constitutional rights to control you. Control is the goal.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 30
Campfire Greenhorn
|
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 30 |
1 1/4 oz #4 boss all the way!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,573
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,573 |
Fast #3 or #4 steel will do what most will need from a 20. IF you’re all that and a bag of chips with a shotgun, you can stretch it some with HTL or bismuth, or get less cripples if you aren’t....but cost/benefit is doubtful for most.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,929
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,929 |
I like 3 or 4 shot in 20 GA. If stepping up to premium shot (not steel) will shoot 5's.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,144
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,144 |
My son used 1oz #2s in Arkansas last year. I was quite pleased with the results. Birds didn’t decoy well, so shots at high/passing birds were common. He was bring the ducks down as well as I was with a 12 gauge. Of course we had to do a follow up shot with the occasional cripple. Maybe We will try the faster stuff next year to see if we notice a difference.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 240
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 240 |
We use both depending on where and what we are hunting. We have several cases of the Remington SuperSonic that we use for early teal and woodducks. For Slower flying birds later in the year, we use standard velocity shells
"The choices you make dictate the life you lead"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 373
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 373 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,464
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,464 |
I use a Win Model 24 sxs so I use Kent Bismuth. Good stuff, but pricey.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 169
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 169 |
We shoot ducks, nearly all mallards, exclusively with 20 & 28 gauges. While we often use steel in the 20’s, Hevi-Metal shot shells really are superior. I like 4’s in a 3” load and they work great. In the 28 gauge, I prefer 4’s in Hevi-X shotshells. We also shoot Hevi-X 6’s in the 28’s, but 4’s seem to kill birds more efficiently. We are typically shooting decoying mallards at 15-25 yards and the smaller gauges work fine.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,464
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,464 |
|
|
|
185 members (32_20fan, 257_X_50, 1minute, 300_savage, 204guy, 10gaugemag, 26 invisible),
2,068
guests, and
969
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,187,726
Posts18,400,648
Members73,822
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|