20 gauge
Hevi Steel
Kent Faststeel

12 gauge
Federal Speed Steel (blue box)
Migra 2/4

Steel works fine for me. I have used Bismuth in the past and never noticed an increase of kills over using steel. I hit them or I miss them.

 

I’ll be patterning three different makes, all steel shot in #3, #4 and #6 in the 20 with two different chokes. Whatever one has the tightest pattern, I’ll be using that.

 

There are some great rebates from Winchester/Kent/and Hevi-Steel, makes some decent pricing.

I love Hevi-Hammer. I've shot Rio BB and 2. (Ok)
Kent Faststeel BB or 2 (really like the BB&2 stacked)
Hevi Hammer 2's

 

I took advantage of rebates last year and have a few cases of federal blue box #3's. I may have to pick up a box of something bigger for swans this year.

 

Let me know when you’re heading that way and we could have a fun shoot.

There’s myself and two others in the group app that drew. I wouldn’t expect all of us to tag along though. I’ll head up by myself in the middle of the week to try and avoid the crowds.

 

Ammunition choice is a personal thing as can be seen by the replies here thus far. Part of the decision is your hunt methods. If you hunt from a boat and get away from other hunters and use decoys and let the birds work in, then you can use anything you want. I hunt this way and have been successfully taking ducks with my 12 GA, 2 3/4", Win xPert, 1550 fps, #3, steel for as long as it has been on the market. I do guided goose/sandhill hunts (TX & SASK) a couple times a year with a group of 8. We had been using Heavy Shot Speedball for several seasons with GREAT success. When it was discontinued, we switched to Heavy Metal in 3" with #2 or BB shot. Kills them dead when we do our part.

If I had to pass shoot ducks, I would be using one of the 3" mixed tungsten & steel loads such as the newest offering from Heavy Shot - Heavy Hitter in #3 or #2 shot. And I understand shotshell ballistics enough to know what reasonable killing distances are and I would limit my shots to those distances. Unfortunately, MOST of the dike walkers don't have a clue in this regard. And way too many of the boat hunters fall into this category as well.

I like to think that a good number of this forum's members also know what reasonable ranges are and abide by them. I hope all y'all have another great season this year wherever/however you hunt.

 

Federal speed shok #4s are absolute hammers out of my gun. I shoot them at everything. Also the cheapest that I’ve found out there. Never thought I’d see the day where xperts cost more than federals

 

Never thought I’d see the day where xperts cost more than federals.

OH - WOE IS ME. Say it isn't so.😟

 

Federal Speed Shok 2 3/4" #4 is what I have been shooting a lot of recently - they're deadly when I do my part. IC choke.

I purchased a case of Remington Nitro 3" #2's at well below closeout prices recently. I'll take them to MO in February 2026 for snows.

 

I also took advantage of the Federal rebate last year, and ordered 3 cases of "blue box" 3" 1 1/4 oz #2s. I think I paid right around $110 per case after the rebate. I should be good on shells for a couple of years.

I do have a crane/goose hunt in North Texas in December. Since I will be flying with my gun, but not my ammo, I am sure I'll be shooting the 3.5" Walmart specials, probably Xpert.

 

I do have a crane/goose hunt in North Texas in December.

So do I. This will be our 7th year doing it. We will be hunting with an Outfitter (Fowl Plain) out of Abernathy. That's 15 miles north of Lubbock. Great lodge, food, and lots of birds. We'll be there the week after Thanksgiving for a 3-day hunt. I drive to and from. Widowed and retired, I have plenty of time to do that.

From last year; I'm third from the right. UT, TX, CO, VA, & NC all represented here. Family & friends is what its all about. 🥰

 

I can confirm that Boss 2 3/4” #4s absolutely wrecks ducks and geese.

 

I use 2 3/4” Rio #7s (1 1/8 oz) going 1350 FPS for teal. Does the job just fine out of an IC or Mod choke. Just have to shoot them when they are in range.

I have 3” Rio #3s (1 1/8 oz) going 1450 FPS for big ducks. Same as above…kills birds just fine when shot distance and operator use are within parameters.

I can’t afford (and wouldn’t pay anyway) the crazy prices for “premium” ammo. The marketers have done well convincing a lot of people that ducks are flying armored cars that require a modified AA gun and ammo to bring them down.

 

I can’t afford (and wouldn’t pay anyway) the crazy prices for “premium” ammo. The marketers have done well convincing a lot of people that ducks are flying armored cars that require a modified AA gun and ammo to bring them down.

I like to use cheaper stuff for most waterfowl hunting, but I have found that the premium ammo is worth it and makes a huge difference when I am hunting geese in areas with consistently high winds (+15mph sustained, often +30mph).

 

I have two cases of 20 gauge 2.75” #4’s being delivered from Rogers this morning.
Should last me a few years.
I usually shoot cheap 20/2.75”/#6 from Walmart but could not pass up the deal from Rogers.
Unfortunately these new offerings, including their advertising tactics as mentioned by MWScott, are having ‘duck shooters’ taking 100+ yard shots.
We need to make ‘duck hunting’ cool again by taking close, one shot kills.
Due to water levels in Utah, I think we are in for a rough duck season this year.
Don’t get me wrong, there will be some very good days but I think they will be few and far between.
I pray I am wrong though….

 

[QUOTE="MrShane, post: 2304930
Due to water levels in Utah, I think we are in for a rough duck season this year.
Don’t get me wrong, there will be some very good days but I think they will be few and far between.
I pray I am wrong though….
[/QUOTE]

Agree! After hearing and reading about yesterday’s youth hunt, I think the same thing.
The bottom line is the GSL has got to get back to normal water level or we are going to have mediocre seasons.

Oh! Anyone know why unit 2 at Farmington is bone dry?

 

Unit 2 has water in it today. It's filling up but not quite full. Teal lake has some water.

FYI horseflies can fly 19 1/2 miles per hour.

 

I bought a case of 20 gauge 2 3/4" #6 7/8 oz. Kent Dove Steel last year. I had decent success using it on ducks. I still have 5 or 6 boxes left so I will be burning through those this year too.

 

Oh man, you’re not kidding about the horse flies Jerry. I drove out there yesterday and they were terrible. The worst I’ve ever seen in my memory. I was going to launch a new little boat I got and try out my motor, but I got bit three times walking from the driver seat to the back of my truck, and there were literally hundreds of horse flies swarming my truck already. So I rapidly changed my mind and hopped back in the truck. The swarm followed my truck down the road towards Turpin for quite a while and I was surprised at that speed they were still pacing me.

Water levels look rough. 2 and Teal lake were barely puddles like others have said, with water dumping into them as we speak. So hopefully they get up to usable amounts of water sooner than later.

Back on topic, I also stocked up on a few cases of steel with the rebates and stuff going on. I’ll mostly be shooting 3” 20 gauge 4 shot Winchesters this year that I got a good deal on. I also have a case of those same Winchesters in 2’s, and just picked up a case of 2 3/4” 6 shot steel that I think will be wicked on decoying birds. And for late season geese I bought some TSS 7 shot that I’ve been trying my hand at the reloading game.

I will say that for most of what I do, steel shot is fine. But the TSS pellet performance is out of this world. I wish it was feasible to shoot on a regular basis. I will also say that I recently acquired my grandpa’s old Browning A5 sweet sixteen, and it is not steel shot safe. I bought some bismuth 4’s to shoot out of it, and had it an a goose hunt already. Holy cow that stuff hits harder than steel. We had a 3 pack hit the decoys on the opposite side of the spread from me, and I let everybody else shoot first. They killed two of the honkers, and the third one was peeling out still after everyone had finished shooting, so I pulled up on its butt going away at about 45-50 yards for what felt was a bit of a Hail Mary shot. The bird crumpled, like absolutely pillow cased, dead before the dirt. I was quite impressed.

I hope everyone has a safe and great season. And I hope to run into many of you out in the field!

 

This is the “launch” at 2 yesterday. It was about 80 yards to the water line, and I can’t imagine that water is enough to float any boats.

 

I saw one of my spots about a week ago and it made me want to shed a tear. The water is WAY down. If we don’t figure out how to get more water into the GSL and surrounding marshes sooner than later, duck hunting as we know it may not look even remotely similar in 10-20 years time.

 

I'll be shooting up the rest of my bismuth stock and what little TSS I have left in the 28 gauge. Then it will be back to hand loading and experimenting with steel! Probably will buy a box or two of Boss's new copper loads to try as well.

 

I always believed copper was toxic and a no-no during waterfowl season?
Please correct me if wrong?

 

You can see ALL of the approved, non-toxic materials approved for use on waterfowl in the USA at this link: Nontoxic Shot Regulations For Hunting Waterfowl and Coots in the U.S. | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

As to copper specifically, here are the approved uses of copper:

Copper-clad iron: 84 to 56.59 iron core, with copper cladding up to 44.1 of the shot mass

Corrosion-inhibited copper: ≥99.9 copper with benzotriazole and thermoplastic fluorescent powder coatings

Tungsten-bronze: 51.1 tungsten, 44.4 copper, 3.9 tin, and 0.6 iron, or 60 tungsten, 35.1 copper, 3.9 tin, and 1 iron

Tungsten-iron-copper-nickel: 40–76 tungsten, 10–37 iron, 9–16 copper, and 5–7 nickel

*Coatings of copper, nickel, tin, zinc, zinc chloride, zinc chrome, fluoropolymers, and fluorescent thermoplastic on approved nontoxic shot types also are approved.

 

Thanks Bob.
I will just stick with my sub $14/box 2.75” 20 gauge steel and keep on having fun.
I also shoot cheap Wally World 100 packs at the 27 yard line and get mocked for not shooting STS or AA’s.
Maybe I am just a cheapskate?
I would rather buy worms than spend my money on premium ammo! Haha.
Want to bring your boat down and join us at Yuba Thursday?

 

I got an update today from BOSS that compares their old copper plated bismuth against their new solid copper shells. It shows that the penetration of both are VERY close to identical. The video is just shy of 10 minutes long. Again, the cost is going to be a stopper for lots of folks, but for those that can afford the freight, it looks like you will not be disappointed. I still have about 170 rounds of their bismuth, so it may be a year or two before I try their new copper loads. I will be using the 3s mixed with 5s in a 20 GA, 3" hull.

Boss Shotshells - Boss Copper Shot Ballistic Gel

 

Salt Creek Ammo, duh 😏 Utah company. Trying out our new steel line and TSS for geese and pass shooting.

 

Pretty penny for those them there shells. Better post some dead duck pics this season.

 

Here is a cost comparison based on prices shown on Rogers Sporting Goods website except Sal Creek - that price is direct from Salt Creek website. Local (Utah) prices should be close plus tax. Y'all might think that the brands costing the most might be better, but I've been killing ducks dead with Winchester Xpert, 2 3/4", 1 1/16 oz, #3 or #2 shot bought at Wally World for over 10 years now. Buying them in the store right after the season closes will get you even better prices. If spending $1.00 to $1.40 per shell works better for you than spending $0.68 per shell, then go for it.

Brand	Gauge​	Shell Length​	Load​	Velocity​	$/Shell​
Rio Blue Steel MGN	12​	3"​	1 1/8​	1550​	$ 0.65​
Federal Speed Shok	12​	3"​	1 1/4​	1450​	$ 0.67​
Winchester Xpert	12​	3"​	1 1/8​	1550​	$ 0.68​
Fiocchi Flyway Series	12​	3"​	1 1/8​	1550​	$ 0.80​
Hevy Shot Heavy Steel	12​	3"​	1 1/4​	1500​	$ 1.00​
Kent FastSteel 2.0	12​	3"​	1 1/8​	1550​	$ 1.20​
Remington HyperSonic	12​	3"​	1 1/4​	1700​	$ 1.20​
Salt Creek Ammo	12​	3"​	1 3/8​	1250​	$ 1.40​

 

Excellent recap. I've had good luck with Rio also.

 

Well I got 3 cases boss 2 3/4 inch 3/5 bisthum also 2 cases of federal 3 inch 1 1/4 oz #2 in steel

 

Is that going to be enough to get you through this season?

 

During the Covid days I bought a case of Federal Speed shok, and a case of Fiocchi. I would have been better off throwing the shells at ducks. For some reason I couldn’t hit sh!t with the Federals and had more FFF or half poof/half shoot from the Fiocchi. They were absolutely garbage. Used the rest of them for crippled birds. There were 3 of us using the two different brands and my son and I both agreed the Feds were no good out of our matching guns. My brother shot them decent. Found some Rio 3” #4’s and haven’t looked back. I shoot them in the 20 and 12 gauge and they’re not just good for the price. They’re good. For our guns anyway. If I still have some Feds I’ll gladly donate them.

 

If I still have some Feds I’ll gladly donate them.

I would be happy to get those shells.😃

 

For rifle deer, I’m using federal terminal ascent

Edit: I didn’t see this is for waterfowl

 

duck...buck... Same same