Home Forums Birds & Dogs Waterfowl What is your standard duck shotgun/load ?

1977 Remington 870, 28" Imp Mod with 2-3/4" 1-1/8 oz #3 @ 1479fps.

Not much of a duck hunter but i get after them a few times a year. Might try out the 1959 Winchester model 12 heavy duck i just bought

I don't really have a standard I could be shooting a 28ga one day and the next 12ga 3 1/2" it just depends. But I do have a favorite general purpose duck load. That being Kent 12ga 3" 1 1/8 oz #6 steel at 1560 fps. From doves to mallards it has worked fine as far as I can tell.

I have 5 870 wingmasters, 12ga and 20ga. In timber I use the 20s with modified choke and usually Winchester 3inch number 2s. For hunting fields I usually use a 12ga with modified choke and number 2s. I've owned every type benelli, Winchester sx2,3,4 and several others but always return to an 870. They always work for me.

Versamax, 3" #3s

LH SBE1. Carlson 0.705" flush mount choke. Rio #4's. Nothing fancy. Works for me...

For the last 20 years I’ve shot 2 3/4” 12 ga, 1-1/8 or 1-1/4oz bismuth. I only shoot at geese if they happen to fly low over me while I’m duck hunting.

90% of the time I either use a 1911 AH Fox Pin gun or a 1924 Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga.

Obviously a man of good taste. 😁 My Fox 12 is a 1911 A Grade. My Sterlingworth is a 1922 16ga. Both are short chambered so I use 2 1/2 in shells,usually with 7/8 to 1oz. I’ve shot a few limits of mallards and one unlucky goose with an ounce of Nice Shot in the 12.