Rail shooting with steel shot

roy brewington

roy brewington

Well-known member
I,ve been takeing a look at expected full moon tides in Sept. in anticipation of trying a rail hunt in my area. In checking state regs I discovered I,m required to use steel shot for rail & snipe shooting in Md. Have any of the rail shooters on here had experience shooting steel on rails ? What loads have proved effective? I,m just guessing that a steel trap load would be effective but value any opinions or experiences from others that have used steel for rails.
 
Rails are definitely not hard to kill. #7 steel works great. I use a 20 gauge, and light target loads. A rail is a small bird, typically taken at pretty close range and anything larger than #7's, high speed, or large loads of shot will tear up a lot of meat--and there is not that much to begin with.
 
Thanks Jeff. Was planning on using a 20 myself . I,m guessing Imp. Cyl probably choke enough for the 20 or do you have them getting up a little farther out ?
 
IC or even skeet. At least where I hunt them, it's hard to get the little buggers to fly, and when they do they stay in the air only long enough to find the next thick patch of rice.

I'll be interested in Jode's take on this, as I think he's got a lot more rail experience than I do.
 
Roy,
In South Carolina, we do not have to use steel shot for rails. We use 7 1/2 to 8 low base lead loads. Most guys use lighter guns than 12 gauge. They are a blast to hunt with a kayak or canoe.

Larry
 
Larry, I assumed you could use lead shot here also but was wrong. Haven,t any experience with steel trap or small game loads and don,t think I,ve ever seen them in any of our big bx. stores although the internet says Dicks sporting Gbeen wanting trop tryoods has them. Got plenty of time to try some stuff so starting to look now. As far as the fun I,ve been wanting to give it a try for a few years but dove hunts seem to get in the way of high tide! Going to get it done this year..
 
I have shot a lot of ducks with low brass 2 3/4? 6 and 7 shot without complaints along with dove. I would assume shooting a tail would not be an issue using steel shot. Most of the time I shoot a light mod choke
 
We shoot 7s or 8s in 20 and 28 gauge. Even then,not letting the birds get far enough away will result in " poof". Nothing left. Our local gun store get a few cases in August to keep the rail shooters satisfied. Imp cylinder is fine, ideal shot would be 15-20 yards
 
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Academy down here has #6 & #7 steel dove loads, they should work great for rail & gallinules. I use them for water-swatters when chasing cripples, a cloud of 300 #6 shot does the trick.
 
Tom Modin said:
I have shot a lot of ducks with low brass 2 3/4? 6 and 7 shot without complaints along with dove. I would assume shooting a tail would not be an issue using steel shot. Most of the time I shoot a light mod choke
Click to expand...

Shooting tails is my problem with most game birds. LOL!
 
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