Duck loads?

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    Posted: 04 May 2010 at 1:39pm
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Hi guys, since were all talking smack while waiting for the second weekend to kick off, what sort of duck loads do you guys use. Lead is priceless and personally I don't think you can look past it, but it cannot be used (although I know a few cheeky buggers that do!). I am interesting in what sort of load, brand, shot size and shell size you guys use and how you find that kill rate and $$$ wise. 

Since steel shot became a must I have been using federal speed shock (i think, the blue box?) shot size 2, 1 1/8 load, 3 inch shell. For about $220-$240 a slab it was OK, but found it to have a high wound vs. kill rate. Alot of birds took 2 shots to come down, and even then still kicking!

This year I forked out and brought some expensive loads. I took into consideration that if a bird was ganna take 2 shots to kill with speed shock, then why not make it 1 shot with some good stuff???

i purchased 6 boxes of number 2 shot, 1 1/4oz load 3 inch shell federal black cloud. Sportsways had a good deal selling a slab for $392.50. This equates to about $39 per box. Opening morning came time to test the stuff and wow was I impressed. The birds were getting hit hard and going down dead as door nobs. I would (almost!) put it on par with lead and am very pleased with it, despite my bank having a heart attack. On average this stuff goes for about $50 a box in other shops. At $2 a round, you make sure you pull that trigger only when you need to and only when you know you can bring a duck down. Not bad without a dog.

This is also good because only about 3 wounded ones got away over the two days. For the record I will be buying this stuff next year.

Interested in your thoughts, cheers.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Youngfisherman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2010 at 6:50pm
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Not related but does lead shot poison the duck meat, ive eaten a couple with some shot in it and was a bit worried.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote huntfish Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2010 at 7:42pm
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Number 2's seem a little big for ducks, (still it sounds like they are working for you). I am using 3" 1 1/8 4's with imp cyl choke and having good success.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Tomatron Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2010 at 7:49pm
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What brand huntfish? I have not used any other shot size though I used to use 4's for lead. I also use imp cyl choke. No lead does not poison the duck.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Bushpig Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2010 at 9:59pm
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My first 2 rounds are 2 3\4 number 4 steel Gamebore the next 3 are 3" number 2 Federal
 
The Gamebore is 1350fps and the Federal is 1550fps. The high speed ammo has good stopping power.
 
We get up to 20 birds coming in at once so the bigger rounds are need to drop birds on the retreat after using the smaller loads on the close in birds.
 
Havent lost a bird this season from winging it. In fact the only lost shot bird this year was this morning walking the river. There was a lot of over hang, bird must have hung under the bank.
I would rather laugh with the Sinners, than cry with the Saints
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Tomatron Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2010 at 10:10pm
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20 birds at once? You must have had your large 6 bag limit within minutes of opening! Sounds like a good logical method you have going there, where you get the gamebore ammo from and how much?

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Bushpig Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2010 at 10:14pm
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Tried to shoot green heads more than anything else opening day, Ended up with a number of hens over the weekend but it prolonged the hunt.

Managed to get the ammo direct from the distributor so got a deal
 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote feeder Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 May 2010 at 12:54pm
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A lot depends on what range you are shooting at as to ammo selection, steel not having the weight of lead tends to run out of puff quicker.
Short distances, 15 to 25m 4's should be fine, over 25m I would be looking at 3's or 2's and an increase in mv as well.
Somewhere I have a ballistics chart for shotgun pellets (lead) and if you have not seen one of these it is quite interesting.
3 shot has as much energy at 60 yards as 6 shot does at 40 yards, given that both loads were the same mv, there after the drop off of energy is dramatic, I'm talking lead shot here, I would think steel would have worse ballistics than this due to the weight factor.
Most of our duck shooting is 35/40m, prior to steel I used 3's for everything, now use 2's (Gamebore 3inch Magnums) with good results, horses for courses.
 
Cheers
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