Best shot for ducks [Archive]

lampe

11-02-2010, 11:08 AM

massbaster

11-02-2010, 12:04 PM

Well IMHO I like to see ducks back peddling when they land before I shoot and I have personally knocked birds backwards horizontally a few feet and watch them fly off....late season migrators with nice thick down feathers. If im using BC which is my norm I like to shoot the #3 for my first 2 shots with my third being a BB. If im shooting Nitro steel or Kent I like #2's with the third being BB.

On a side note I would love to try out those new steel shots from Remington 1700 FPS :eek::eek::eek::D:eek: I read an artical where they say they cut leeds down 8ft at 30 yds I think:eek:

bassassassin8

11-02-2010, 12:55 PM

A buddy and I just started to duck hunt this year we have been out 5 times so far we have had lots of shooting but have only got 2 to 3 ducks each time. we can see feathers falling off of some birds that we shoot at but they keep on flying were using black cloud # 4. We want to try something else looking for some suggestions.

I don't think its an issue with what you're shooting shell wise. I think its either your choke or your lead on the bird. I shoot #4 Federals or #4 Blackcloud for ducks and don't normally have any issues with knockin' off birds. Early season for ducks (esp with teal & woodies around) I shoot a modified choke to open up my pattern more..Then a good lead on the bird should prove to be a good mix to knock that bird down. Later in the year when its just big ducks I'll put in a full choke for a tighter pattern on the bigger ducks..a little more knock down power.. Sounds like you might be catchin the tail end of the bird (no pun intended) & just knockin' off some feathers.

lampe

11-02-2010, 02:53 PM

w8n4adeer

11-02-2010, 04:42 PM

bought a case of rem hyper steel 3" #2 worked well for geese and ducks. noticed that most kills were head shots due to the fact that you dont need to lead the birds as much. i think if i had gotten #4s they would be killer on teal

Jerseybuck

11-02-2010, 04:59 PM

I agree with BA8. Maybe your just shooting to far and if not, maybe your choke is to tight, trying opening it up.
Why not try setting up in the hole where they are landing. If your knocking feathers out, your killing them, just not right away.

massbaster

11-02-2010, 05:03 PM

I bought the Black Cloud Extended choke for Mid Range. I def improved my hit to miss ratio.

bassassassin8

11-02-2010, 05:22 PM

you guys are probably right Im use to shooting rabbits and pheasants. I have the full choke in, how much should I lead them the spot we have been hunting is a stream with cedar trees they fly down the stream into the open bog they don't fly that high but they do move fast.

It's just somethin that'll come with practice, knowing how your gun shoots, & how it patterns. I personally RARELY (if ever, maybe 1-2X a year) shoot past 45-50 yards, especially if I'm shooting a modified at ducks. You're pattern really gets big at that distance. I shoot a full choke when I primarily am after geese. I typically shoot under 30 yards because that way I'm injuring less birds & making more ethical shots. That being said, as I mentioned, leading ducks just takes practice. 30 yards I may lead a cruising mallard 1 1/2ft to fold it but I'll have to lead a teal 4ft..And buffies, I've lead them 6-7ft at 25-30 yards & still shot behind them. It's just a matter of knowing how the birds fly on the wing & as I keep preaching, pratice. The skeet range is a place to really improve those skills, I try to go a couple times of month between hunts to stay fresh.

powerstroke350

11-02-2010, 06:36 PM

IMO. black cloud is way overrated especially for the price. i use Kent 3 '' number 3 shot. i also use remington hypersteel 3'' number 4 shot. both work well. also, look into a patternmaster long range or extended range choke tube. well worth the money. aim for the head too :fight:

FOWLHOOKED

11-02-2010, 07:13 PM

blackcloud #4 or #2 for bigger ducks with improved cylinder or modified if shooting buffies and Bigwater ducks.

tool box

11-03-2010, 11:38 AM

I think most of the guys said it, just takes getting out the more you shoot the better you will get. Different ducks obviously have different flying characteristics and knowing those is a big part of it. I shoot 3.5" #3's in the early season, for bigger ducks towards end of the season I use #2. I think there is something to be said about using shot like Black Cloud and some of the other hypershot's etc. I personally don't use them.

Don't try to outsmart yourself keep things simple, take good shots be patient.

powerstroke350

11-03-2010, 12:21 PM

getting
Don't try to outsmart yourself keep things simple, take good shots be patient.

Exactly. wait for them to start landing, then take em..

Eddiep

11-03-2010, 03:47 PM

I don't think its an issue with what you're shooting shell wise. I think its either your choke or your lead on the bird. I shoot #4 Federals or #4 Blackcloud for ducks and don't normally have any issues with knockin' off birds. Early season for ducks (esp with teal & woodies around) I shoot a modified choke to open up my pattern more..Then a good lead on the bird should prove to be a good mix to knock that bird down. Later in the year when its just big ducks I'll put in a full choke for a tighter pattern on the bigger ducks..a little more knock down power.. Sounds like you might be catchin the tail end of the bird (no pun intended) & just knockin' off some feathers.

I agree-I was hunting with a guy in early season shooting #6 steel at teal and knocking them dead. The distance your shooting at birds is the most important-personally I believe anything over 50yards is really pushing it. Think of a football field, 50 yards is a far far shot.

powerstroke350

11-03-2010, 08:37 PM

bassassassin8

11-03-2010, 09:04 PM

Hey Fellas, i see some of you are talking about shooting steel shot out of a full choke. Check the choke tube to make sure you can, or the manual of the gun. My benelli super nova you cannot shoot steel shot through the full choke. Same with my browning maxus

That's weird your BSN can't shoot steel? I shoot a full choke in my Beretta Xtrema2 quite a bit & have no issues at all shootin' stell. If I recall, the chokes (I think most beretta's do, I'm surprised benelli doesn't) I have have an "sp" on them indicating that they're "steel proof" & okay to use.

powerstroke350

11-05-2010, 03:05 PM

Yea, the super nova says right on the full choke no steel. all other chokes are ok. My maxus says in the book that you cannon shoot steel through the full choke. So if there are any browning owners that have the Invector plus system and use steel shot, check it out.

lampe

11-05-2010, 05:29 PM

I went out thursday it the rain, took the full choke out and put in the mod I got 2 woodies and a mallard only missed 1 my buddy only got 1. I think my problem was with the full choke. thanks for the suggestions.

powerstroke350

11-06-2010, 07:15 AM

take your gun out and pattern it with any different chokes you may use. Also think about getting a patternmaster choke. That way it gives you an idea on where to place your shot when your hunting

avasea

11-08-2010, 11:27 PM

If you are knocking feathers out of ducks and not knocking them down, then they are out of range. Effective range of your gun can be affected by the particular load, the choke of your gun, and your shooting ability. Anything beyond 35 yards with steel is starting to push the limit, and your success rate will go way down every 5 yards out you go from there. By the time you get to 50 yards there isn't much punch and pattern density left, and you are wounding way more ducks than you kill immediately(because if you knock feathers out you are killing them, just not right away). You may also find that a really open choke like improved or even skeet gives you a better pattern with steel than something tighter. When you miss a duck, you are ALWAYS behind it-trust me on this, I miss plenty.