Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Your #1 Waterfowl ammos.


Recommended Posts

Just wondering what everyone in here thinks is the best Waterfowl ammunition out there or the brand they trust,carry,have used, is using or will try.

Last year shot the Hevi-Shot loads.

This year i'm gonna try the new Federal Black Clouds FS Steel Waterfowl shots. Been hearing great things about this one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been able to get Winchester 3.5in 3 shot for ducks for $11.00 they have been good the last few years. Picked up some 3.5in Winchester double B at Wal-Mart this winter for $9.00 a box so that is what I'll start with.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN

I prefer Hevy steel #2 shot for ducks another fav is kent faststeel #3 for ducks. Geese I prefer Winchester supremes BB.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Winchester 3.5" supremes all the way for me. 2's for ducks and BB for geese. I like to shoot the same brand and velocity shells all the time. I think consistency is important when trying to become a good shooter. Pick a quality shell and try and stick with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Well i am going to use Federals Black cloud shells as well and 2's for ducks and BB's for geese.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm with hanson. Only difference is I'll use a little smaller load earlier in the season. This is when we get mostly teal and woodies. After a couple weeks I'll switch to #2's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Federal 2 3/4 inch 2's and 4's. 4's early on and then I switch to all 2's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

kent faststeel 3" BBB for geese

cheap remington shells 2 3/4" #4s for ducks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The last few years I have used winchester supremes with great success, but last year on 2 seperate times I heard the pellets hitting geese at 35-40 yds. max and were not dropping. also had a few more cripples last year then in the past. I know that could a poor shot on my part and/or a bad pattern but I think I will start to shot hevi-steel for geese. I have read in other forums that guys are using hevi steel #2's for geese and love em. that would help out with pattern density.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

since hevi-shot broke away from remington, ive been able to find many places in south dakota this summer with the old remington hevi-shot on good discounts. #4's for ducks and B's for geese.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Federal blue box shells are my choice. We tore open a number of different shells this spring while hunting snows. The blue boxes had uniform shot and the wads after being shot were in real good shape.

Kent also had uniform shot........but the wads after being shot looked horrible. There was definetely shot scraping the barrel of the person shooting Kent. They were litterally tore to pieces.

I was shooting some Winchester X-perts that I got dirt cheap. I'll never shoot those again unless birds are within 20 yds. Looking at the shot is like looking at the moon. Craters everywhere, it was unreal they even sell the stuff looking like that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

I was shooting some Winchester X-perts that I got dirt cheap. I'll never shoot those again unless birds are within 20 yds. Looking at the shot is like looking at the moon. Craters everywhere, it was unreal they even sell the stuff looking like that.


I shot that as well for awhile and my shooting sucked with it. You can blame it on the shooter but I tend to think I wasn't "that" bad of a shot. So whether it was me or the shells, I didn't have much confidence in my shooting with those loads in the gun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, being a college kid on a budget I demand something that patterns well and hits hard, but doesn't damage the pocket book. That's why I have been shooting Federal Speed Shock. 3" BB for Honkers, and 3" #2 for ducks. I shoot through a Carlson Choke tube in my Browning BPS, mostly modified, but on certain occasions I switch to Full.

I have shot all brand with some success, but the Federal stuff patterned better in my gun last year when I tested my pattern.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kent faststeel whatever size needed for the specific job... and winchester has not given me any problems either...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kent fasteel #2 is all I will ever shoot. I have been shooting it basically ever since it came out. I love that stuff. I tried Winchester expert and you would probably kill more birds if you threw the whole shell at em. Bad stuff.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like Winchester Supremes! 3" BB's for range honkers and snows and 2's for decoying honkers. Ducks I will go with X-perts and Drylok 2's for big water divers, 4's for early season puddlers, and 2's & 3's on field mallards. I generally try to get the 3" in all the shells and look for something 1 1/4oz or higher just to have that extra umph!! Seems to "Stone Cold" them rather than crippling.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another vote for Fasteel, I love that stuff. Might try a box of Black Cloud just for something different, but a case of Kent is always on the top of my list when it's time to go shopping.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fast Steel works fine for me; the Heavy Steel - well I can not hit the broadside of a barn if I am standing in it. Also, it seems that shooting Heavy Steel with my Moseberg PUMP results in a jam - the shell will not fully dislodge. Weird.

With my Berretta it just does not pattern right. I miss the Tungston-Iron shells from Federal - I could not miss with those.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My choice is Winchester X-perts 3 1/2" #2 for ducks and BB for geese. I have also shot Kents, those are a good shell also. I will never buy federals again!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Any one try Estate? I've had good luck with them, and just bought a case of #4 for ducks, and go BB with geese.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I buy Estates for dove hunting and have been pleased

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been a Winchester guy for many years. You can't beat the supremes but they are spendy. I tried the 3.5 experts and couldn't figure out why nothing was dropping. Then I shot a cripple on the water. Those loads had the worst blown pattern I have ever seen. I tried a few more to be sure. I sent them back to Winchester and they agreed they were bad and sent me a new case of different loads. Now I always pattern my gun when trying new loads.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My Ben SBE2 shoots 3.5 fed #3 the best with a mod. choke. Good solid 40yd pattern and the 3.5 does make a nice shot string for pass shooting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used to only shoot Winchester #2 drylocks for ducks. Had great succes until they jumped up the price. I've shot Kent FastSteel since and have been pleased. Xperts are straight up junk. We had some leftovers with them and did a test. One guy shot normal DryLocks the other Xpert. The guy using the Drylocks always did better. I finally burned up the last of those Xperts on cripples and they struggled at that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fiocchi 3 1/2inch 1525fps or kent fast steel 1550 with the patternmaster choke tube. I would never leave home without the patternmaster for ducks and geese.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Depends on the gun. It makes a HECK of a difference. I've patterned most everything bismuth,faststeel,xperts,highvelocityexperts,drylocks,federals,kentmatrix,HD,etc. and each gun is different. Often the High Velocity loads have terrible patterns especially the experts. Some loads had holes bigger than your hand every shot That said my BPS loves the old expert 2's 1 1/4oz 1325fps extremely tight patterns to 40 yd.s the ducks either dead or I missed and after 4 cases trust me I know too bad you can't get them any more, the 870 likes federal 2's and BB's, the new Nova I won throws Kent Matrix real nice. I've shot boxes of shells at paper with choke after choke and it's a real eye opener I don't advise any shell for anyone they NEED TO FIND OUT FOR THEMSELVES what choke and shell combination works for each gun they own.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.