Light Steel Loads for Decoying Ducks?

Carl

Carl

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Staff member
Anyone using steel dove/game loads for decoying ducks with good success?
Local store here has 12 gauge, 2 3/4", #6, 1350 FPS, game loads for $6.00/box.
I usually use these loads for water swatters on cripples but I am thinking that the first couple of weeks of the season when the birds decoy well, 320 pellets at 1350 fps would be the ticket for decoying birds under 30 yards.
Any thoughts?
 
Anyone using steel dove/game loads for decoying ducks with good success?
Local store here has 12 gauge, 2 3/4", #6, 1350 FPS, game loads for $6.00/box.
I usually use these loads for water swatters on cripples but I am thinking that the first couple of weeks of the season when the birds decoy well, 320 pellets at 1350 fps would be the ticket for decoying birds under 30 yards.
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...


Those loads hit very hard out to 30 yards, but drop off soon after.
 
I think they will work great. You might try playing around with choke selection and see what that brings to the party. Bring your decoys close to your blind. When I went to a 20 ga. exclusively I started bringing my spread in close to minimize long shots - worked so good that my percentages stayed the same as when I used a 12 ga. Maximum distance to farthest decoy is 25 yds. and the ducks don't seem to care.
 
Anyone using steel dove/game loads for decoying ducks with good success?
Local store here has 12 gauge, 2 3/4", #6, 1350 FPS, game loads for $6.00/box.
I usually use these loads for water swatters on cripples but I am thinking that the first couple of weeks of the season when the birds decoy well, 320 pellets at 1350 fps would be the ticket for decoying birds under 30 yards.
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...


Those loads hit very hard out to 30 yards, but drop off soon after.
Click to expand...


You will notice the number of pellets in the birds, both because there are a lot and because they don't go through like a #2 or #3 would.
 
Decoy distance is not an issue, my old partner used to fuss at me like hell cause he thought I always put the decoys too close to the boat!
Unless I have a long string of divers out, most of my decoys are within 20 yards of the boat.
 
Yep, that'll work. I used to be one to have a long string of divers out to have the birds follow them in to the spread. More often then not the birds would swing wide of the long line and never come within shooting distance. Nice thing about close decoys is that even if they swing wide, they are still within range.
 
One trick I use it to nose the bow up against the blind and then drop a decoy off the side stern and start backin' down wind.
When the bow gets over the last decoy, drop another.
This puts decoys in a line about every 5 yards.
The 4th decoys I drop is just under 20 yards from the blind and gives me a reference distance to place the rest of the decoys.
 
That sounds like it will work! I'm not sure if you can get them where you live but a local store here often has Rio Bluesteel 2 3/4" #5 steel for about $11 a box. That may give you a touch more range than the #6's and still throw a dense pattern.
 
When I am hunting my own blind, I use #6 through cylinder chokes almost exclusively, because I get to call the shots. I get very few cripples while striving for 25 yd decoying shots. so much so, that another guy near me has switched to the exact same gun/choke and load, with good results.

If you ever pattern your gun, you'd be amazed at how far a 45 yard shot really is. I'll shoot doves (lead) to 55 yards or so, but I rarely purposely pull up on waterfowl over 35. Assuming a 10 ft ceiling and two ft floor on each floor of a commercial building, walk outside and look up to just above the 11th floor of your building. that is a 45 yd overhead shot.

I have no doubt that magnum loads of alternative non-toxic shot can be absolutely devastating through tighter choke packages. I pattern for, and shoot turkeys with a 3.5" 5/6/7 heavy blend out to 60. However for ducks, I really prefer shooting the loads with less kick, taking closer shots, and getting few cripples. When I am invited to other places, I often shoot 3" magnum #4's. not because my loads are less effective in other locales, but because people often pull up while ducks are still approaching and often it is beyond 25 yds.
 
That's what I always use for teal, and it typically carries over into the season as well. I know several others that use similar loads exclusively with very good results. I think Schupp was the one that brought it up here several years ago.

Scott
 
Anyone using steel dove/game loads for decoying ducks with good success?
Local store here has 12 gauge, 2 3/4", #6, 1350 FPS, game loads for $6.00/box.
I usually use these loads for water swatters on cripples but I am thinking that the first couple of weeks of the season when the birds decoy well, 320 pellets at 1350 fps would be the ticket for decoying birds under 30 yards.
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...


Some good thoughts on this, Carl. I happen to use #7 shot Dove loads all season long. I have patterned it at 20 yards, 25 yards, 30 yards and 35 yards. By the way, my first decoy is at 20 yards and farthest one from me is at 30 yards normally. If I have to move to a different spot sometimes I will stretch my last shot to 35 yards especially if it is a single.

If the birds do not come in just right the first time, I wait for them to make another circle or just don't shoot at them. Things need to be right for me and I'm ok with that. If not, I'll normally think that I'll see them later or perhaps on my next trip out. I would rather not try and take a long shot for fear that I might be crippling a duck or two.
Al
 
That's mostly what I use (in the 20 ga version though) for ducks most of the season. Teal, ringnecks, mottled ducks, gadwall, widgeon, pintail....they all fell. The whistling ducks though....doesn't seem to work on them as well...little buggers fly away a lot....
 
It's a chorus, but I'll add that in a pinch I had a kid I was hosting for youth day run of shells for his 20, and I had a box of 20 gauge 7/8 ounce #7 steel in the boat for rails. They killed teal close over the decoys just fine.
 
Carl, I gave up shooting decoying dabblers 20 years ago with anything except 2 3/4 #6. Density kills. Pattern your gun, know the range and you can kill anything in your kill zone reliably. Once you understand your pattern at 30, 35 or 40 yards and you shoot at those distances you will have fewer cripples and more fun.
 
We had great success with #4 steel when hunting in Saskatchewan last month. I won't hesitate to use it in the future. It carries a little farther than #6 and gets great penatration. One of the guys commented that he felt like he had been lied to about shot size.
 
Carl,

I use nothing but 6s, low brass, 2 3/4" for my 20 gauge with an IM extended Briley Choke...It's $90 a case, kind of a no brainer in my book...For teal season and diver hunting out of layout I use the same load with IC (Skeet) Briley choke system...I have patterned my gun at several increments when I switched my chokes ten years ago...Core pattern still stays near 85% in 30" circle with IM chokes out to 35 yards, 105 roughly pellets out of 140...The difference in high and low brass is the actual foot pounds of knock down power due to speed of shot, high brass...Winchester Expert Low brass will shoot at 1350, Winchester, Estate, Federal or Remington High Brass shoot at 1425 to 1450...I always shoot 2 3/4"...Have not changed in 15 years...

Once the snows start showing up I switch to 2s, high brass, 2 3/4" through mid to late season and shoot a Patternmaster Long Range Unported for the 20....Hunted many season for divers, puddlers and geese with the same load...Now I will not lie when the snows start to linger over head 40 yards and not commiting I switch to Hevi Metal 2s or 4s...The SP10 comes out with a Patternmaster Long Range Unported, for snows only when I start having to snap necks...Same speed as the 20 gauge for shot selection 1325 to 1450s out of the 10, the only difference is roughly 50 more pellets from 20 gauge 2 to 10 gauge 2, swing does not have to change...Of course I pass a lot of birds with my 20 instead of taking long shots...

The one aspect of physics that no one can argue against is that speed is speed what ever gauge you shoot...The only difference is the payload, so if you shoot 1 3/4" payload down to a 3/4" payload 1400 fps is still the same...The core density of your pattern is the only thing that needs to be understood by patterning your gun...Once it is patterned the only other problem is then in the shooters hands...

Regards,
Kristan
 
Try setting out one odd decoy 25-30 yds on the outside of your rig as a yard stick. I use mostly 2 3/4 inch 4's or 5's. Try 7 steel trap loads for cripples, hold a little high on the head. Lots of shot...
 
I hunt a friend's slough where shots are all tight due to the creek channel and trees. I've started using 7's there and love 'em. Mostly woodies early but also mallards and they are just as dead. Good luck.
 
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