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< 16ga. General Discussion ~ Question on shot size for waterfowl. |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:51 am
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Joined: 17 Jul 2019
Posts: 78
Location: Illinois
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This year, for the first time ever, I will be hunting waterfowl and am wondering what size shot shells to buy for my 16 ga. What brand do you guys recommend? I will be hunting mallards, wood ducks and Canadian geese. |
Last edited by SweetAndNot16 on Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:19 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 29, 2019 8:28 am
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Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 1460
Location: Eagle, Nebraska
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loading your own I take it, the Bismuth from Kent is good, number 4 or 5
#1 bismuth or BB for the big Canada geese. |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:18 am
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Joined: 17 Jul 2019
Posts: 78
Location: Illinois
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No, I am not loading my own. |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 29, 2019 6:48 pm
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Joined: 28 Jan 2018
Posts: 159
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I have patterned bismuth loads fairly extensively, and the kent loads in #5 would work great for ducks. hevi bismuth makes bismuth loads in #2, and those pattern very well too. that might make a good goose load. |
_________________ al |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:21 pm
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Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 1301
Location: Western WA
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S,
Very good and relevant question. In my experience, #2 steel has been excellent for ducks, with smaller steel shot only marginal. #2 steel will also drop geese with headshots. #4 ITX10, which is a tungsten blend,is quite good as well for ducks but you might have to finish them off on the water. #6 original pure hevishot will shred ducks to the point of being inedible. I don’t have any bismuth recommendations yet.
Good luck
B. |
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Posted:
Mon Sep 30, 2019 5:14 am
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Member
Joined: 21 Dec 2005
Posts: 722
Location: Napoleon, MI
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Brewster is spot on.
Steel #2 is the way to go. |
_________________ Good luck & great hunting,
-Danny Pratt |
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Posted:
Mon Sep 30, 2019 5:59 am
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I use steel #3's early, and #2's when the woodies clear out. #3's are quite good and shouldn't be lumped into the small shot group. (I live on the Mississippi) |
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Posted:
Mon Sep 30, 2019 10:05 am
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2786
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Sweet¬16,
All the advise given here is good, I have used all the different shells noted from time to time. I agree with Dave Erickson about the shells used for gunning Woodies, especially jump shooting them. #3 steel are great stuff!
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Tue Oct 01, 2019 2:54 am
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Member
Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 2343
Location: West MI
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All good stuff thus far, agreeing with the last couple responses, if reloading for 16ga I find #3 steel to be the best pellet count/terminal energy compromise. But I mostly shoot 10ga reloaded steel at later season Waterfowl and then throw #1 at Quackers and #BBB-F at Honkers.
16ga factory; after looking at the Hevi-Bismuth offerings by Hevishot at ~$1-1.50/trigger pull...IMO, kinda no brainer territory, it would be difficult to justify reloading 1 1/8oz of Bis or 1oz steel for that cost, impressive.
https://www.hevishot.com/catalog/hevi-bismuth-waterfowl/
found through ammoseek;
https://vizardsgunsandammo.com/hevishot-16702-hevi-bismuth-waterfowl-16-gauge-2-75-1-1-8-oz-2-shot-25-bx-10-cs/
Maybe buy a box of #2 & #4 and see how things play out, Hunt well... |
_________________ Sorry, I'm a Duck Hunter so shouldn't be held strictly responsible for my actions between Oct 1st and ice up. |
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