Shooting 20 for everything for over 15 years now...I started shooting a 11-87 and have moved on to a A400. In either case I still shoot both guns throughout season but my A400 is shot the most. I have tried Kicks, Patternmaster and Carlson Choke tubes in both guns and have spent in upwards of near $700 over the years finding the right choke to have a closer center mass. In some cases buying several of the same size chokes to pattern my gun to both Hevi-Metal and steel. I have two difference chokes I shoot of the same size choke when I change from steel to Hevi-Metal in my A400. It sounds silly but it works differently on pattern density to center mass even in the same gun.
Worst Cast if I needed shells:
Winchester Drylock is preferred
No. 2, 3 Inch Steel with Improved Modified Choke not matter what time of season. Denser pattern at close ranges help with steel.
Hevi-Metal:
Since Hevi-Metals (pre change to Bismuth when they were loaded with Tungsten). I have shot this round solely since they started being produced:
- No. 2, 3 Inch ( ducks, geese and sandhills)
Extended Carlson Skeet Choke on Decoying birds...Early season choice (use same choke when layout diver hunting)
Extended Carlson Improved Modified for later in season...Though I try to limit my shot distances this handles well into the 50 yard range and up. I certainly don't like taking these shots due to my lower percentage of on target. Downside with this choke is shot density. If like me you left the skeet choke at home when birds are decoying then you might as well let them fly out a little before taking shots or aim for the head. It will decapitate a bird at close ranges or do major damage to the breast.
Hevi-X:
Shot last year a few weekends in a row. I did not notice any difference in performance at ranges within 40 yards over Hevi-Metals. But both loads are more lethal over steel shot. Honestly don't believe it is worth spending $40+ per box. I am not a sky buster during season but I will take a shot at a bird here in there if it is slow. If you choose to shoot at extended ranges it is absolutely deadly. I did take a bet in the blind one day over a pair of snow geese. We were discussing gauges, ranges and shell size. It mainly was just banter on how a little man like myself had too much gun in the blind using a 20 gauge versus his 3.5 Inch loads he was slinging down range. Once the pair started passing over the blind probably in range of 60 to 70 yards and I told him I could kill that bird on the left and he could not kill the one on the right. In 2 shots the bird I shot at was folding out the sky dead. He took all 3 rounds and never even stopped the bird except you could hear the pellets hitting the bird and bouncing off the chest but with no damaging effect. Tungsten is no joke to shoot. But I would have to save in advance to shoot this all season since I go through at least a case prior to Spring Snow goose.
Hevi-Bimuth:
Shot Bismuth in the past with great success. I had never shot Hevi-Metals version until this season, very lethal. Decided to pickup a case of Hevi-Bismuth this year. This year during early goose season here in Kentucky every goose I shot was lights out. All shot within 30 yards.
Now you may think I am hypocritical in terms of speaking of improved alloy loads over steel. Steel does have its place in my tool box of shot shells. Especially when I am in a pinch to buy shells at local stores or flat out short on cash. The one factor difference to me between Steel vs. Bimuth, Tungsten or ITX is the lethality of the loads. In a 30 yard distance I never have to even ring a gooses neck when hit with Hevi-Metal, Hevi-X or Bismuth vs Steel. It is more expensive but to me well worth the ability to have a clean kill versus a crippled bird. I by no means a person to put myself in an ivory tower and if needed I have no problems slinging steel shot down range.
In all, it certainly depends on what you are willing to pay out of pocket. If they were all the same price it certainly would be a Bismuth or Tungsten based loads.
