Brent Mason
Member
Kent or Challenger 3", 1.25 oz. 2 through a WW or PM choke. 1450ish fps.
Steel Shot performance question
- Thread starter Joe Friday
- Start date
KThompson
Active member
If someone didn't mention to you... now is the time to try out Remington Nitro or Hypersonics... they have a "Black Friday Rebate" going on now that gives u $10/box up to two cases! Rogers Sporting Goods has the best prices with free shipping. It's been a long time since I paid $6.90/bx for steel shot.
Sorry... I didn't answer your question but I'm little help. I always shoot the cheapest I can find with my 1991 model Mossberg 835, factory full accu-choke. Only time I notice a difference is when i'm shooting bad or have an errant bad shell.
Sorry... I didn't answer your question but I'm little help. I always shoot the cheapest I can find with my 1991 model Mossberg 835, factory full accu-choke. Only time I notice a difference is when i'm shooting bad or have an errant bad shell.
Thank you everyone for the replies! I've been reading everyone's thoughts on the matter. Its this type of feedback and conversation that makes this such a wonderful forum. Thank you all, again!
As I mentioned in the initial post, i have been shooting Federal (blue box) and sometimes Winchester (drylock in the silver box.), always in #2 shot. The reasoning there is similar to what many here have stated--its less expensive and its readily available.
I've never had good performance with #4's. I rarely shoot beyond 30 yards unless its a third follow-up shot. The one exception is that i use hevi-shot on tundra swan here in NC. One box will last me 4-5 seasons, since the limit is one bird per year, by permit only.
My shotgun is the Remington 11-87. I typically shoot a full choke, but I should probably switch to a modified, I think. I am not a skybuster and am fortunate to have learned my duck-hunting from some very good sportsmen here in NC. I publicly thank them all--Billy Daniels, Jay Wheless, and Jay Johnson.
In anticipation of an upcoming hunt, I recently purchased 1 box of the new Federal "Black-cloud" shotgun shells with the "flite-control" wad. Like someone wrote, "I drank the kool-aid." But, having some experience with that wad in 00-buckshot, I will attest to its effectiveness in keeping a pattern very, very tight. We'll let you know how I like it when the hunt is complete.
I will go and pattern my shotgun using the new stuff and the standard loads I've always used in order to get a good feel of where it shoots.
Thank you all, and happy (and safe) hunting to each of you.
As I mentioned in the initial post, i have been shooting Federal (blue box) and sometimes Winchester (drylock in the silver box.), always in #2 shot. The reasoning there is similar to what many here have stated--its less expensive and its readily available.
I've never had good performance with #4's. I rarely shoot beyond 30 yards unless its a third follow-up shot. The one exception is that i use hevi-shot on tundra swan here in NC. One box will last me 4-5 seasons, since the limit is one bird per year, by permit only.
My shotgun is the Remington 11-87. I typically shoot a full choke, but I should probably switch to a modified, I think. I am not a skybuster and am fortunate to have learned my duck-hunting from some very good sportsmen here in NC. I publicly thank them all--Billy Daniels, Jay Wheless, and Jay Johnson.
In anticipation of an upcoming hunt, I recently purchased 1 box of the new Federal "Black-cloud" shotgun shells with the "flite-control" wad. Like someone wrote, "I drank the kool-aid." But, having some experience with that wad in 00-buckshot, I will attest to its effectiveness in keeping a pattern very, very tight. We'll let you know how I like it when the hunt is complete.
I will go and pattern my shotgun using the new stuff and the standard loads I've always used in order to get a good feel of where it shoots.
Thank you all, and happy (and safe) hunting to each of you.
Last edited:
roy brewington
Well-known member
Last edited:
roy brewington
Well-known member
Yes, by the case is the way to go deffinately. When i want to try a new load i,ll pick up a single bx. but if your patient you can pick up those $22 a bx shells in the range of $16 a bx with free shipping.
Kristan
Well-known member
On your question of steel and no other inquiries: If all you expect in your hunting situation are decoying birds over a water/field spread or green timber hunting the standard run of the mill 2 3/4" or 3" loads in either #2, #4 or #6s is more than adequate for decoying birds in 12 gauge. If you are shooting a 20 I would stick to 2 and 4 shot because of the FPS slows 100 to 200 fps in the same shot load from 12 to 20. I have layout hunted many of seasons with a 12 gauge O/U and 20 gauge with skeet choke to modified chokes using 2 3/4" and 3" in 2s, 4s, or 6s steel shot.
I know you spoke about the steel shot listed and do not want any inquiries about other shot. But, I stopped shooting a 12 gauge all together and almost have removed myself completely from shooting my 10 gauge late season by switching to hevi-metal out of my 20 gauge. I did get some chuckles at first from hunting buddies but the clean kill rate has significantly improved versus shooting just steel. I shoot nothing but 3" #2 shot Hevi-Metal for ducks and geese now. I have used a Carlson Extended Choke in Skeet 2, IC, Modified, and Improved Modified without any pattern issues out of my Remington 11-87 20. I bought a patternmaster extended range choke for my last year for this gun and it showed no significant difference between the Carlson improved modified on paper nor cleaner kills. This season I have purchased a new A400 in 20 gauge with a Carlson Extended choke in Skeet 2 for early season, Carlson Extended Choke Improved modified for mid to late and have only shot Hevi-Metal through it during the duck and goose season thus far. It literally folds a bird from bill to breast (Lights out) whether your decoying or extended pass shooting at birds within reason. Two different 20 gauges with similar chokes systems still had very dense patterns at 35 yards on paper. I do limit myself to roughly a 40 yard range when shooting snows and specks. A few of my hunting buddies have switched to the Hevi-Metal in 3 1/2" BB loads for geese and are shooting birds well out of ranges I even think about shouldering my gun. In some cases I would not shoulder my 10 gauge with steel T shot. The guys have told me they are in the 10+ foot lead range on birds if you would like to equate that to distance shot. Not taugthing any measure of saying I am the greatest shot with my shotguns but my clean kill ratios have drastically improved over the last three season of shooting Hevi-Metal versus the other 27 years of shooting steel in you name it loads. Honestly if I could gut the cost factor of Hevi Shot I would shoot nothing but 3" #4s out of my 20 for ducks and geese. Dead, dead, dead on impact, no ringing necks or chasing birds around as the dive with the boat.
Regards,
Kristan
I know you spoke about the steel shot listed and do not want any inquiries about other shot. But, I stopped shooting a 12 gauge all together and almost have removed myself completely from shooting my 10 gauge late season by switching to hevi-metal out of my 20 gauge. I did get some chuckles at first from hunting buddies but the clean kill rate has significantly improved versus shooting just steel. I shoot nothing but 3" #2 shot Hevi-Metal for ducks and geese now. I have used a Carlson Extended Choke in Skeet 2, IC, Modified, and Improved Modified without any pattern issues out of my Remington 11-87 20. I bought a patternmaster extended range choke for my last year for this gun and it showed no significant difference between the Carlson improved modified on paper nor cleaner kills. This season I have purchased a new A400 in 20 gauge with a Carlson Extended choke in Skeet 2 for early season, Carlson Extended Choke Improved modified for mid to late and have only shot Hevi-Metal through it during the duck and goose season thus far. It literally folds a bird from bill to breast (Lights out) whether your decoying or extended pass shooting at birds within reason. Two different 20 gauges with similar chokes systems still had very dense patterns at 35 yards on paper. I do limit myself to roughly a 40 yard range when shooting snows and specks. A few of my hunting buddies have switched to the Hevi-Metal in 3 1/2" BB loads for geese and are shooting birds well out of ranges I even think about shouldering my gun. In some cases I would not shoulder my 10 gauge with steel T shot. The guys have told me they are in the 10+ foot lead range on birds if you would like to equate that to distance shot. Not taugthing any measure of saying I am the greatest shot with my shotguns but my clean kill ratios have drastically improved over the last three season of shooting Hevi-Metal versus the other 27 years of shooting steel in you name it loads. Honestly if I could gut the cost factor of Hevi Shot I would shoot nothing but 3" #4s out of my 20 for ducks and geese. Dead, dead, dead on impact, no ringing necks or chasing birds around as the dive with the boat.
Regards,
Kristan
Frank Lopez
New member
Joe, I realize I'm a little late to the party, but here goes, anyway. Steel ammunition for waterfowl has come a long way in the last 35 years. Initially, it was pretty bad. Most velocities weren't as advertised and you could smack a bird with the center of the pattern and all it would do is loose a few feathers. Today, we have every manufacturer and start up telling us that we need velocity and lots of it, or some new shaped pellet or some tungsten based pellet. If you stick with what's tried and true for the last hundred or so years and apply it to steel, you won't have any problems.
First select a load with standard round pellets of a size that is adequate for your quarry and hunting range. Tom Roster's chart is a good starting point. Then, try and find a load that is in the 1350 to 1450fps range. I've found that most guns will respond favorably with these velocities. Then pattern your gun. If you stay in that range, nice round shot at modest velocities, your factory IC or M tube should deliver what you're after. There is no need to spend a fortune on exotic chokes or shells. Shotgunning just isn't that complicated.
Frank
First select a load with standard round pellets of a size that is adequate for your quarry and hunting range. Tom Roster's chart is a good starting point. Then, try and find a load that is in the 1350 to 1450fps range. I've found that most guns will respond favorably with these velocities. Then pattern your gun. If you stay in that range, nice round shot at modest velocities, your factory IC or M tube should deliver what you're after. There is no need to spend a fortune on exotic chokes or shells. Shotgunning just isn't that complicated.
Frank