best general purpose STEEL shot-size for combo of big & small ducks?

[Dukhtr3]

I only shoot #2s for everything from teal, mallards, geese and pheasant. Late season I switch to 3.5". Nothing drives me more nuts then half boxes of shells rolling around

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[Ringbill27]

I use 3” 2s for everything from early teal to late season geese. Sometimes I switch to 3.5” 2s in the late season.

Also I like to buy my shells by the case. So I like using on size for everything.

I’ll run 3” BB for snow geese in the spring. Range is typically farther so a little more punch helps.

 

[Gman12]

I like #3's for mixture of ducks. Sometimes I use #4's if it is just wood ducks and #2's if geese are around

 

[willfrye027]

You guys must be a lot tougher than me!

2 3/4 #3s for ducks. Bought by the case because they are a bit harder to find. I shoot 2 3/4 SO much better than 3in shells..almost night and day. The ducks are just as dead and I don’t start getting a headache and flinching half way through the morning. This is with a fairly heavy sx2 auto loader..I can’t stand to shoot my 870 any more.

 

[spur60]

30ish ducks shot so far this season, majority with steel 6's. a few 3's or 2's for 3rd shots. 50% blue wing teal, the rest a mix of 7 species big and small. I'll continue to use mostly 6's over water, especially when solo. As we start field hunting, I break out the 1's & 2's. I do use bismuth and tungsten here and there as well. 5 roosters so far this fall with 20 gauge hevi XII.

 

[Fishn4eyes]

I shoot 3" #1's or #2's for all ducks.

Usually Federal Black Cloud.

 

[MOwhitetail]

I shoot #2 steel for ducks and BBB for the big Canadians we get around here. Tom Roster has been doing research on the best shot size for different birds for years. After looking at the table I decided 2s would give me the best performance in a wide range of conditions. I also figure that I’d rather have a bigger hole, but less of them in a duck shot at close range as well as the energy at distance from a larger pellet.

 

[Pulleye16]

3 shot is my go-to for random duck hunting.

 

[RockAndSage]

I shoot #2 steel for ducks and BBB for the big Canadians we get around here. Tom Roster has been doing research on the best shot size for different birds for years. After looking at the table I decided 2s would give me the best performance in a wide range of conditions. I also figure that I’d rather have a bigger hole, but less of them in a duck shot at close range as well as the energy at distance from a larger pellet.

View attachment 781246

This distance and best choke performance info was great information as well, thanks for this.

 

[KurtR]

I know for a fact 12-15lb geese verified on a scale die real good with 2 shot over decoys. The guys shooting bb and bbb always wonder why they are missing. Less bb and way open pattern . It’s not 1995 anymore steel has came along ways .

 

[MOwhitetail]

I know for a fact 12-15lb geese verified on a scale die real good with 2 shot over decoys. The guys shooting bb and bbb always wonder why they are missing. Less bb and way open pattern . It’s not 1995 anymore steel has came along ways .

If you’re shooting them at decoy range then you shouldn’t have to worry about your pattern being too open.

 

[KurtR]

If you’re shooting them at decoy range then you shouldn’t have to worry about your pattern being too open.

Less bb’s and they suck at shooting. You gain nothing shooting bb at geese decoying except blow the hell out of them with bigger holes. The bigger shot thing is a hold over from the days of when steel first came out

 

[MOwhitetail]

So you’d rather put twice as many holes in them with 2s? That makes no sense. Anything will do the job at close range. Larger shot gives you less holes. The larger shot also gives you more range when you need it.

 

[OneGunTex]

Tom Roster has been doing research on the best shot size for different birds for years. After looking at the table I decided 2s would give me the best performance in a wide range of conditions

Only thing that doesn't make sense in that table is a full choke for teal. Otherwise, matches up exactly with my thinking. (Well, except that I don't shoot "long range" ducks)

 

[MOwhitetail]

Only thing that doesn't make sense in that table is a full choke for teal. Otherwise, matches up exactly with my thinking. (Well, except that I don't shoot "long range" ducks)

Yeah that’s definitely not what I shoot at teal. Although it makes sense with how little they are that if you’re going to shoot them at distance (I’m not that good of a shot) you have to tighten things up to avoid teal sized holes in your pattern.