I'd shoot hevi shot. 2 3/4 just has a few less pellets in the pattern than 3". not sure you'd even notice the difference inside 40 yards at least, maybe 50. Hevi shot on geese is expensive, but worth the price of admission. The stuff is really effective. The best steel can't compare. 3.5" came out when there was no alternative to steel and the F and T shot were the answer to the problem. The 3.5" put enough of the big shot into a pattern to help. However, when hevi shot came along for 3" and 2 3/4", it sorta made 3.5" moot IMHO. People still get infatuated with those long shells, but 3" is all I ever need now days and I could hunt if I just shot 2 3/4". 2 3/4" fast steel works well on decoyed ducks, too, all you'll need for ducks.