steel or hevi-shot


Guest hookedonhunting

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Guest hookedonhunting

i have always been around wing shooting but am new to waterfowl hunting. i have only hunted waterfowl twice but have killed 1 drake woodie 2 mallards and 2 geese. now at doves i usually shoot about 75-80% but on ducks i am shooting about 60-65% is that good? what do you guys shoot? i havent shot anything but steel but am wondering if i was to use hevi-shot i might do better? also 2s or 4s for woodies?

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Re: steel or hevi-shot

I don't think I've ever shot at a duck with hevi-shot. I use to use hevi-shot for turkeys but not anymore. I typically pick my shots anyways so steel does the job most of the time. smirk.gif Personally, I would save the money and stick with steel...but that's just me. Regardless of the shell...you still have to hit'em. grin.gif

As far as #2s or #4s for woodies, either one will work but I would probably go with the #4s. I've killed big ducks with #4s so they'll be more than enough for woodies.

Best of luck.

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Re: steel or hevi-shot

Not that I advocate it, but yes, it can be done.

In the days of lead, I saw lots of geese taken by some of the old timers in our camp at extreme ranges usually with 4-buck. I've even brought down a few gese at extreme ranges with steel. Some times, even though you know it's too high, I've taken a shot "just for the heck of it" and connected. All it takes is one pellet in a vital spot or to break a wing bone. You always hope not to kill 'em dead that high, because when they hit the ground dead you can kiss any decent meat goodbye.

But once again I add my disclaimer:

I do not advocate skybusting.

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Re: steel or hevi-shot

[ QUOTE ]

Not that I advocate it, but yes, it can be done.

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Without question it can be done...those 'golden' pellets do happen.

But if you shoot at ducks or geese with steel, even if it's an old fishduck like an eider, at 60 to 70 yards, you're a 'slob' hunter....period...end of story...no question.

I've shot too many ducks and geese with lead, and steel, and hevi-shot to be sucked into that BS. If you're attempting to make those shots, I would venture to guess you're crippling 5 : 1 retrieved.

Next spring, when the new phone books come out, walk your old one out to 60 yards and fire a load of steel at it...then tell me the pattern density and how many pages it penetrates...come back and tell us how effective it is (not!) as a long range load.

If you wanna cripple ducks and geese by shooting at them out that far, that's your choice...but don't ever try to make a case, in my presence, that steel is typically effective at those ranges.

Bob mad.gif

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  • 1 year later...

Re: steel or hevi-shot

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Kills them dead 60 or less yards.

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Steel at 60 yards?!? shocked.gif...on a goose?!? shocked.gif

Never seen it happen...that's even marginal for lead.

Bob

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me and my buddies have killed geese out to about 75 yds, get a xtra full choke with some BB, not saying we do it consistently but its been done around here

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Re: steel or hevi-shot

hevi shot rocks!!! it is alot better than steel in my opinion.. it must give u about 8-10 extra yds. of range!!! it is definitely better, and anyone who has shot it will agree!!!.... never take a crack-shot at ducks hoping to kill one, because most of the time you will only injure the bird many times leading to its death!!! ...make sure they are in range (preferably 45yds. and in) and shoot straight!!! -JASON

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