Duck Shells?

[ultralite09]

Suprisingly, cabelas. They ran a dang good sale about a month ago.

[Bow in Hand]

Kent fasteel are my go to. Affordable and will fold up some ducks. Shot some Kent tealsteel 3" #5s this weekend and liked it a lot. Left my gun pretty dang clean.

[gingib]

RIO steel #4....Think I paid $115 a case to my door from Cabelas

[Slow&Steady]

I shot Black Cloud for a few years. I found that they do knock the birds down well, but they were expensive. I've switched to Kent Fasteel 3" 1 1/4oz #3s. They get the job done and I've never had any issues with function in my Remington 870 or my Beretta A300. For $12-$15 a box, they are a great shell for a great price.

[Flex]

Kent Fasteel 3" #3 work just as good as anything. Every real hunter and guide I know in LA shoots them and we have since lead got banned.

Nothing will ever hit ducks as hard as old Remington #6 lead heavy duck load.

[Jason19]

My opinion may not matter, but for the money, winchester Xpert Steel shot 3" 1 1/8 Oz #3 shot is the way to go...I can't buy into all the hype of the Heavi Metal shells or the Black Clouds for $30.00 a box....many birds have been killed without un-arsing that kinda coin for some steel shot....I'd personally rather make a one time investment in a good extended choke or whatever fits you than I would continuously pay 2.00 per shell in a box of 25 just because someone on tv uses them or it has a Yeti sticker on it. Lol

Agree 100%

[Pushbutton2]

Some of you posted to SE use Lead shot.
Is that legal fir sucks? In Michigan you were required by law to use steel

[coachmas]

I shot estates for several years when they were super cheap. Then I switched to Kent fast steel. Probably my favorite all time for ducks in my price range. I shoot 3" #3's in 1 1/4 oz load. I used to could buy them for 99-119 a case several years ago. Now those have gone up. Switched to Rio Bluesteel last year with good success. I have a case and a half of rio so I should make it through the season or at least close. Coach

[tgridley]

#4 in 2 3/4 or 3 is plenty for ducks. Unless your sky blasting.

[Big Mike M]

Some of you posted to SE use Lead shot.
Is that legal fir sucks? In Michigan you were required by law to use steel

I'm pretty sure you have to use steel for ducks.

[LarryP_1989]

I started shooting Rio's last year for ducks and was impressed. I shoot 3" #4 for early teal and switch to 3" #2 for big ducks

[Razrbk89]

#4 in 2 3/4 or 3 is plenty for ducks. Unless your sky blasting.

X2. Most people sky bust, whether they think they are or not. Cripples lots of ducks!

[blacktailbustr]

I been shootin estate 3" #3's for years and work great

[bk_tradguy88]

I have experimented with several over the last two seasons. I will quickly say to actually get out and pattern your shells and see what is really happening at various ranges. Seeing what is going on makes a difference.

I was using just the factory modified choke with my franchi affinity and was shooting Winchester Blind Side #1's. I had ducks that I knew I made a good shot on keep flying, and sometimes ducks I knew I shouldn't have hit ball up and crash. When I finally put my shells on paper to see what was going on I started to experiment.

First I got away from blind side and went to smaller shot sizes. Didn't hurt my feelings to stop paying those prices either. Shot sizes just look like numbers for most because they don't know what they really are. If you cut open a 4, 3, 2, 1, and BB it is really interesting to see. I was using 1's for an all around shell. Mostly we stayed on teal, ring necks, gadwall, and some mallards. 1 was overkill, and that became apparent when the shells were cut open. I found my best patterns were with Winchester Super X 1 1/4 oz 3" #3 out of my factory improved cylinder choke. My percentages went way up with this combination.

I purchased a Benelli Super Vinci this year and opted for a Patternmaster Extended Range. I played with one on a buddies Beretta A400 and really liked the choke. It is a very versatile choke. They claim it to be good for up to 70 yards. Now what shells they base that off of I do not have a clue. And I honestly would like to see that. I have no need to shoot that far, but am curious. This choke allows you to play your load to suit the pattern you are looking for. I can throw a faster round like a kent Fast Steel #3 at 1550 fps in there and have a great pattern for 20-35 or a little slower #3 around 1400 fps and still pattern great at 40. Then I can go to around a 1400 fps #2 and carry a better 30-50 pattern. It also patterns great from 20-40 with 7.5 lead for dove and clays.

Back to shells, this year I am currently debating between Federal 3" #3's and Kent Fast Steel 3" #3's for my go to. Generally have no problems getting the birds in good range, though there are some days. The #3's have treated me well as far as knockdown and good kills, without tearing up birds. I was unhappy with 4's. I tried them quite a bit on a small pond and on 20-25 yard shots on wood ducks I had too many wounded birds. In what I have tried 3's were the best combination of power and good patterns I have found.

I have shot mostly Winchester Super X the past 2 seasons, but am getting away from them due to shot quality. When you cut into them the shot looks like crap, and just doesn't compare to others in a close price range. The federal rounds are $1 per box cheaper and the Kent's are $2 higher. Either way I see better shot quality. Don't spend a small fortune on gimmick shells, trust me. Heck I still have close to a box of the blind sides if you wanted to learn that the hard way. I have tried those shells in Several steps from Cylinder to Modified and they never look good. Plan on $11-$15 a box and do some research. I highly suggest patterning multiple shells and trying various chokes. It is quite revealing. And you can usually ask around and get a few shells here and there from people to test out so you don't have to buy 8-10 different boxes.
B

[Kjones05]

I have experimented with several over the last two seasons. I will quickly say to actually get out and pattern your shells and see what is really happening at various ranges. Seeing what is going on makes a difference.



I was using just the factory modified choke with my franchi affinity and was shooting Winchester Blind Side #1's. I had ducks that I knew I made a good shot on keep flying, and sometimes ducks I knew I shouldn't have hit ball up and crash. When I finally put my shells on paper to see what was going on I started to experiment.



First I got away from blind side and went to smaller shot sizes. Didn't hurt my feelings to stop paying those prices either. Shot sizes just look like numbers for most because they don't know what they really are. If you cut open a 4, 3, 2, 1, and BB it is really interesting to see. I was using 1's for an all around shell. Mostly we stayed on teal, ring necks, gadwall, and some mallards. 1 was overkill, and that became apparent when the shells were cut open. I found my best patterns were with Winchester Super X 1 1/4 oz 3" #3 out of my factory improved cylinder choke. My percentages went way up with this combination.



I purchased a Benelli Super Vinci this year and opted for a Patternmaster Extended Range. I played with one on a buddies Beretta A400 and really liked the choke. It is a very versatile choke. They claim it to be good for up to 70 yards. Now what shells they base that off of I do not have a clue. And I honestly would like to see that. I have no need to shoot that far, but am curious. This choke allows you to play your load to suit the pattern you are looking for. I can throw a faster round like a kent Fast Steel #3 at 1550 fps in there and have a great pattern for 20-35 or a little slower #3 around 1400 fps and still pattern great at 40. Then I can go to around a 1400 fps #2 and carry a better 30-50 pattern. It also patterns great from 20-40 with 7.5 lead for dove and clays.



Back to shells, this year I am currently debating between Federal 3" #3's and Kent Fast Steel 3" #3's for my go to. Generally have no problems getting the birds in good range, though there are some days. The #3's have treated me well as far as knockdown and good kills, without tearing up birds. I was unhappy with 4's. I tried them quite a bit on a small pond and on 20-25 yard shots on wood ducks I had too many wounded birds. In what I have tried 3's were the best combination of power and good patterns I have found.



I have shot mostly Winchester Super X the past 2 seasons, but am getting away from them due to shot quality. When you cut into them the shot looks like crap, and just doesn't compare to others in a close price range. The federal rounds are $1 per box cheaper and the Kent's are $2 higher. Either way I see better shot quality. Don't spend a small fortune on gimmick shells, trust me. Heck I still have close to a box of the blind sides if you wanted to learn that the hard way. I have tried those shells in Several steps from Cylinder to Modified and they never look good. Plan on $11-$15 a box and do some research. I highly suggest patterning multiple shells and trying various chokes. It is quite revealing. And you can usually ask around and get a few shells here and there from people to test out so you don't have to buy 8-10 different boxes.

B

Lots of good info here.

Thanks everybody.