Question for avid duck and goose hunters

[MCgunner]

MC, even back in the day, it was easier to find 3s in 16 gauge hulls than 2s. I preferred 2s, and had some Winchester 1 1/8 oz loads. Are those the ones you mention?

Shoot, man, that was back in the 60s and I was a kid. I don't remember, just remember they were 2s and I got 'em in town at a Western Auto. (them was the days) I still hve that old single shot 16, 30" full choke, kinda worthless in a steel shot world, but it has memories.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I forget sometimes that not everyone here is ancient,MC.

And a 16 gauge single is far from useless, though its utility for waterfowl is nil.

My 16 with those loads should have been called Instant Karma. I got the goose, but the pain was immediate and severe.

 

[wlewisiii]

We kill them nicely here in Kansas with 2 3/4" steel loads!

rc

+ 1 here in Wisconsin.

 

[6x6pinz]

notice a pattern anyone. Those of us in the southwest where the birds have been educated by every hunter from Canada to Mexico like the 3.5" shell. I have never hunted in a flyway but the number of birds we get an opportunity to shoot at is pretty small. I like any advantage I can get. I usually only get out around 70 of the 107 day waterfowl season. In most cases seeing a limit is very tough let alone getting a shot at them. Just about the time the birds start arriving here in numbers the season comes to an end. At the local bass pro and cabelas there is really not that much difference in the 3" and 3.5" shells (in 12ga steel anyway). The 2 3/4 is some what less expensive and not as available as the 3 and 3.5.

 

[MCgunner]

Jeez, those fancy stores are high on everything, usually. Now, not so much for 10 gauge, seems a dollar a shot is the norm. I still buy a box now and then to build up my empty case supply and maintain it.

I haven't bought ammo, yet, this season, but last season at Walmart, 2 3/4" Winchester high speed number 2 or 3 was running 8 bucks a box and 3' same brand/shot size was running 10 bucks. I'm not sure what Wallyworld was selling 12 gauge 3.5s at 'cause I don't have one and don't know if I even looked, prefer my 10, but everywhere else they were around 22 a box, only a few dollars less than 10 gauge. Anyway, if you shoot a lot of high flying geese, they're worth it, at least the 10 is. I'm reloading it now and that's saving me a lot.

 

[oldwheelieguy]

I'm 52 years old. I started hunting ducks and geese in Louisiana when I was 8 (1967). lead 6 on ducks worked all day. 4 mag 2 3/4 on geese was great. Those days are gone forever. We moved to 2 3/4 or 3 using 2-4 steel on ducks and worked fine. On geese just went to steel T's in any length we could find and would do the job. 3 1/2 is best on super long shots but holy crap you will need some advil or bayer or something to kill the pain from the massive kick. Also the buruises will go away in a week or so. IMO 3 1/2's are rarly needed. They are super strong and will get out there and touch someone however!!!!!!!

 

[303tom]

I load my own 3in. steel BB`s now !