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| < 16ga. Ammunition & Reloading ~ Boss Shotshells for Waterfowl |
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 Posted:
Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:12 pm
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Joined: 19 Oct 2015
Posts: 94
Location: seattle, wa
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Hello, I just ordered a case of Boss non-toxic shells in #6 for upland birds, but I think I'd like to try 16ga for waterfowl, also. I have two old pumps in 16ga with full chokes. Boss sells #3 in 16ga. I guess this question is for you duck hunters out there, will #3 pellet size be large enough for ducks at moderate ranges? I'll either be jump shooting them or shooting over dekes in back eddies in the Columbia River and/or smaller ponds in Washington state.
Thank you,
Cliff |
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Tue Sep 06, 2022 1:55 pm
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Joined: 04 Apr 2018
Posts: 40
Location: ESKY
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Tue Sep 06, 2022 1:55 pm
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Joined: 07 Mar 2010
Posts: 483
Location: South Eastern PA
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Heck Yeah!
Anybody over 50 remembers killing ducks aplenty with lead 4's, 5's, 6's even 7.5's.
3's may not give the densest patterns but they should work just fine. |
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| Posted:
Tue Sep 06, 2022 2:17 pm
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Member
Joined: 19 May 2006
Posts: 313
Location: Too far south in New England
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You should have no problems. I have used Boss the last few seasons, #3 & #5 in 16 ga. They pattern nicely and my last few duck hunts in January my son and I smacked some fat Black ducks for a couple days in a small swamp hole. The ones I hit with Boss dropped dead with #3’s @ 20 to 30 yds.
This year I’ll be trying the combo 3+5 load, and bought some 7’s for those woodcock alders that have woodies occasionally (close range only). That is in addition to some Bismuth spreader reloads I’ve come up with for pass-shooting woodies. |
_________________
"You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means" - Inigo Montoya |
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Tue Sep 06, 2022 2:23 pm
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Joined: 14 Apr 2020
Posts: 144
Location: Boise,Idaho
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I used #5's on a couple of green heads while pheasant hunting and jump shot a couple.
Bob |
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| Posted:
Tue Sep 06, 2022 2:25 pm
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Joined: 19 Oct 2015
Posts: 94
Location: seattle, wa
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| Thank you all. Citori 16, I was looking at those #3/5's, also. Since I first posted this message I found some additional non-tox I bought from a guy last season, but I had forgotten about it because I didn't hunt ducks last year. That would be 2 boxes of Heavy Bismuth is #2 and 2 boxes of same in #4. so I'm pretty well set but I'll buy a couple of boxes of the Boss #3 just to have all bases covered. Appreciate everyone's help. |
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| Posted:
Tue Sep 06, 2022 4:11 pm
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Joined: 07 Jun 2020
Posts: 224
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Were I you I would include a box of #7s for use on cripples.
I like the shot that Boss uses. I have used boss bismuth #7s in reloads on pheasants; they were very effective.
I have also used Boss #5s in reloads, but have not shot enough of them to know.
My unscientific examination of their pellets showed me they had good uniformity of shape, consistent hardness
Their shells are at the high end of SAMI standards. I have Boss Shot-shells in my truck box in case I need them for a non-toxic only area, but have not used their loadings much as I only have two guns I feel comfortable pushing that far. |
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Tue Sep 06, 2022 4:43 pm
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Joined: 19 Oct 2015
Posts: 94
Location: seattle, wa
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| Old colonel2 wrote: |
Were I you I would include a box of #7s for use on cripples.
I like the shot that Boss uses. I have used boss bismuth #7s in reloads on pheasants; they were very effective.
I have also used Boss #5s in reloads, but have not shot enough of them to know.
My unscientific examination of their pellets showed me they had good uniformity of shape, consistent hardness
Their shells are at the high end of SAMI standards. I have Boss Shot-shells in my truck box in case I need them for a non-toxic only area, but have not used their loadings much as I only have two guns I feel comfortable pushing that far.
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Thanks OC-2. When I traded emails with the guys at Boss about what size shot I should use for quail they suggested #6. I normally use lead #7.5 for valley quail here in Washington state, and lead #6 for chukar. I'm hoping I can use the Boss 6 for chukar, also. The shots will be a little longer. I may opt for some Boss #7 for cripples as you say, but at closer ranges it might be better for quail. Thanks. |
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Tue Sep 06, 2022 5:38 pm
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Member
Joined: 10 Jul 2010
Posts: 356
Location: Ponchatoula, Louisiana
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I have taken a few specklebelly geese with Boss #3's. 
That having been said, I have missed a few specklebelly geese with the same load. 
Regards,
Chuck |
_________________
The reason I am awed by shotgun shooters is that most of them don’t know how in the hell they do what they do.
Charles F. Waterman, |
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| Posted:
Tue Sep 06, 2022 8:47 pm
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Joined: 19 Oct 2015
Posts: 94
Location: seattle, wa
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| 1stgun wrote: |
I have taken a few specklebelly geese with Boss #3's.
That having been said, I have missed a few specklebelly geese with the same load.
Regards,
Chuck
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Thanks Chuck. |
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| Posted:
Wed Sep 07, 2022 7:38 am
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Joined: 26 Jun 2020
Posts: 140
Location: Spokane, WA
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| BOSS 16 ga #5 @ 1350fps will kill ducks at 35-40 yds, pheasants too. |
_________________
Stevens 311c 16
F.A.I.R. ISIDE EM 16
Rem 58 16
A5 Sweet Sixteen
Husqvarna model 49 16 |
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| Posted:
Wed Sep 07, 2022 8:05 am
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Joined: 19 Oct 2015
Posts: 94
Location: seattle, wa
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| silverbowff wrote: |
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BOSS 16 ga #5 @ 1350fps will kill ducks at 35-40 yds, pheasants too.
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silverbowff, thank you. |
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| Posted:
Wed Sep 07, 2022 9:12 am
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Member
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 467
Location: SC PA
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| Old colonel2 wrote: |
Were I you I would include a box of #7s for use on cripples.
I like the shot that Boss uses. I have used boss bismuth #7s in reloads on pheasants; they were very effective.
I have also used Boss #5s in reloads, but have not shot enough of them to know.
My unscientific examination of their pellets showed me they had good uniformity of shape, consistent hardness
Their shells are at the high end of SAMI standards. I have Boss Shot-shells in my truck box in case I need them for a non-toxic only area, but have not used their loadings much as I only have two guns I feel comfortable pushing that far.
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I wasn't aware Boss was selling loose shot. Nothing on their website that I can find. Is this something they offer only via phone? |
_________________
"A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man" - Vito Corleone
''Common Sense isn't common" -Lefty Kreh |
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| Posted:
Wed Sep 07, 2022 5:37 pm
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Joined: 27 Aug 2020
Posts: 92
Location: SE TX Marsh and Young County Tx
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| silverbowff wrote: |
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BOSS 16 ga #5 @ 1350fps will kill ducks at 35-40 yds, pheasants too.
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My go to load for ducks. Hits them like the hammer of Thor! |
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| Posted:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 9:04 am
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Joined: 07 Jun 2020
Posts: 224
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| Upland Carpenter wrote: |
| Old colonel2 wrote: |
Were I you I would include a box of #7s for use on cripples.
I like the shot that Boss uses. I have used boss bismuth #7s in reloads on pheasants; they were very effective.
I have also used Boss #5s in reloads, but have not shot enough of them to know.
My unscientific examination of their pellets showed me they had good uniformity of shape, consistent hardness
Their shells are at the high end of SAMI standards. I have Boss Shot-shells in my truck box in case I need them for a non-toxic only area, but have not used their loadings much as I only have two guns I feel comfortable pushing that far.
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I wasn't aware Boss was selling loose shot. Nothing on their website that I can find. Is this something they offer only via phone?
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Normally they do not sell shot, I was able to purchase some from them several years ago in the spring after all hunting season demand for shells was done. I forget what I paid, but recall it was significantly higher than getting bismuth from precision or bpi |
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