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<  16ga. General Discussion  ~  Question on shot size for waterfowl.
SweetAndNot16
PostPosted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:51 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Jul 2019
Posts: 78
Location: Illinois

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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Hootch
PostPosted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 8:28 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 1460
Location: Eagle, Nebraska

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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SweetAndNot16
PostPosted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:18 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Jul 2019
Posts: 78
Location: Illinois

No, I am not loading my own.
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case 1775
PostPosted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 6:48 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 28 Jan 2018
Posts: 159

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.

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Brewster11
PostPosted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:21 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 1301
Location: Western WA

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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dannypratt
PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 5:14 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 21 Dec 2005
Posts: 722
Location: Napoleon, MI

Brewster is spot on.

Steel #2 is the way to go.

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-Danny Pratt
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double vision
PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 5:59 am  Reply with quote
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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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Pine Creek/Dave
PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 10:05 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2786
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa

Sweet&not16,

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

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putz463
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 2:54 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 2343
Location: West MI

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...

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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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