Favorite shot loads??

[Cody Gruchow]

well i know this is a touchy subject for some...last time there were arguements  but what is your prefered load for goose/ducks seperate...and together....? from super expensive(hevi-shot) to super dirt cheap(winchester xperts) which do you prefer?

my preference for Ducks from large to small is Black Cloud #3 3inch duck commander edition  i get great distance with the knockdown power when i need it, on those shy birds that flare out at 40yards they arent super expensive(22$)

For Geese, i know im going to catch some heck for this i liked Hevi-shot #2 goose loads and BB now these are probably the most expensive you will find(34$ box of 10) which makes me be alot more diciplined on letting the birds decoy because thats 3.40$ a shot. i always keep black cloud BBB in the shooting bag just in case i want to do some pass shooting.

for both i would say the black cloud 3inch #3's again. i just love those shells!

anyone else?

[Tyler Rother]

I normally go with 3" #4 shot Federal Faststeel for ducks, and 3 1/2" BBB Federals for geese.

I like Federal, and when I can afford it, I am going to switch over to HS, because I shot some last year, and loved it, but a tad out of my budget right now.

I may try Black cloud this year, maybe it's in between Federal and Hevi Shot in quality? Opinions Cody?

Tyler

[Go Big Red!]

I prefer Kent.

#2, #3, and #4 for ducks, all 3" shells and BB 3" for geese.

You're right Cody, this can get touchy.  I remember the banter from a previous post on something like this.  Nothing like stirring up the pot.....

[Cody Gruchow]

well black cloud really does knock them dead, i dont really have to chase many cripples when shooting that load. as for HS it really is a amazing shot but its to  expensive, they did come out with something that is just the same price as a box of black cloud but when you take a high quality product and cut some stuff down to make it cheaper it unfortunatly ruins the shell in my opinion.

[corny13]

Cody I only did one waterfowl hunt last year but it was up in Kodiak Alaska.  On a dream trip like that I only took Envirometal Heavy Shot #4 and #2 and a box of #6 for cripples.  I got great specimens of Old Squaws, Harlequin, Barrow's goldeneye, and two types of Scoter's.  Here is a pic of what the HS did...

[Cody Gruchow]

that would be some hunt 

[snow]

Cody,shoot me a PM the next time you head out to purchase Hevi Shot,someone put the screws to ya,Joe's had'em for $19.95/3"hevi duck loads all season plus we had a $20 coupon per house hold,we should see more of the same rebates this season starting in august,.

Also don't forget about the new "hevi metal" loads that came out last season,if ya like BC you'll love hevi metal plus it'll get ya another 10yds in effective range and they cost around $21/box of 25rds.

Shoot whatever ya want and is in your budget~

Just remember,"talk to anyone that has shot hevi shot and you'll here a story~

PS~ Hey corny,nice trophy's,I always wanted an old squaw for the wall and the harle would be cool to,beautiful birds~What did ya do with the scoter's? can't eat them can ya?

gotta love this hunting talk,6 weeks and counting.

[Cody Gruchow]

dont think of i have ever heard of Joes? is that in the west metro?? snow you convinced me to try HS last year and like i said i loved it, just makes ya think twice about shooting at a questionable bird  i have my tukey shot that i bought and sent in the rebate you sent me. like i said im not quiet sold on hevi-metal but willing to take it for round 2 to see if it was just my shooting.

[Tyler Rother]

This be the one snow?

Right in Saint Paul off 94.

http://www.joessportinggoods.com/

They are fair priced.

Tyler

[thunderpout]

Joes is a great store... always have had great service there at both the old store and the new updated version/location....AND they aren't a chain store and are owned by MN folks! Gun shop guys are awesome.... only gripe would be sometimes their clay and upland loads can be a little thin supply-wise.... Bought a few shotguns there over the years and when I bought my 45-70 there last year the owner walked by and I asked him if he'd get a little closer to the Gander Mtn price he said how bout I beat it by $30?  Where else would that happen?  Good people there....

[snow]

Tyler,yup thats the place...actually just West of I35E on hwy 36/rice st..Took the owner under my wing years ago,good friends today,got him hooked on waterfowling (field hunting) and shooting sporting clays,now he's an animal and still finds time to hunt big game,that full mount kodiak you see at the front door he took 5 years ago,quite the story behind it,but whats not to like about waterfowling? the good days makeup for the slow days~

Thunder,I here ya on target loads,they tell me that  the folks that shoot targets these days are few,so it does'nt pay to stock huge inventory like years past,heck back in 2003 thru 2005 the target shooting business was booming,heck I would order a pallet of winchester AA's at a crack,thats 10k rounds and burn thru'em in 3 months and order more,then the fuel cost jacked up the price of delivery in 2006,then the chinese and the gov't bought up all the lead for the war and the pricies kept climing,so we bought whatever was the cheapest,hell from the 16yd line anything works for $3/box,today we shoot maybe 2 or 3 flats on sporting clays.

Just to expensive these days to shoot alot~For me anyway~

Here's ole Jim (from Joe's) after I gave him a pocket full of hevi shot duces over dekes,early season honkers,I think he showed up that day winchester supremes,did'nt take long for him to catch on,next time at his store ask him what he thinks about Hevi shot...

Tim



[attachment deleted by admin]

[thunderpout]

Yep, thats Jim... Snow, is it Co rd B just off Rice & 36?  I always thought Jims dad was a great guy.... I used to go to the old store quite a bit, kind of miss that place but the new digs have alot more room for good stuff... & the gun dept. is 10 times larger than it was before.

[Dan R.]

I remember that store back in the early 60's on Dale St in St.Paul it was just a little bait shop
back then with a little ammo & a few gun's for sale. The family did a great job building the
business that's for sure

[Go Big Red!]

Cody stirred the pot alright....

Look, we can debate all we want on shells this, cripples that, # of pellets at "X" amount of yards etc.  The fact of the matter is, and snow said it and I said it before, shoot what you're comfortable with both in the field and financially.  I won't shoot at anything out of my comfort zone yet I'm sure I could if I shot something other than Kent.  But, is it really worth it?

To me, no.  And yet the debate continues......

[Cody Gruchow]

but red, its about the cripples lol 

[Benny]

I also like the Black cloud #3, I use them for ducks at most all ranges. For geese I like the #2, BB's in 3-1/2 just to have a little edge.

I also use the Fast steel and the Winchester high speed cheap stuff for close in decoy shooting.

Benny

[Go Big Red!]

but red, its about the cripples lol 

   Still stirring the pot I see.........  If you have cripples, either the bird was wearing Kevlar or you need to join a sporting clay league and get better....

[Cody Gruchow]

  what if its both options lol

[Go Big Red!]

what if its both options lol

If it's both, we just head to the bar.....

[Cody Gruchow]

thats the night before  nothin like getting back to camp at 330 and being back awake at 530

[PJ Maguire]

You can order Hevi-Metal online from Rogers Sporting goods for 199.99 a case. Plus free shipping! It was just 179.99 a case for awhile and I saw it for 179.99 a case at Cabela's.

ps. I just shoot Xpert 3 inch 2s for everything. 

[snow]

Hey guys~

FYI,For those who have herd about Hevi shot but think its to expensive to shoot,the rebates are out,retailers don't have'em yet but you can down load one (one per house hold)

$10/for (1 box of hevi duck or goose) or $50 back on a flat~

Game is just around the corner,"are you ready?"

[HD]

Just my opinion here......

I shot a mixed bag of black cloud, heavy shot, kent and winchester loads this year.
Just to see how each performed.
I personnally did not see a difference in the loads....but, that was me....

I could knock my geese down with a rock if I had to. 

Not bashing any particular brand, but when your on.....your on. 

Again, it just my opinion.

[Tyler Rother]

I bought a box of the Remington Supersonic 3 1/2" BB. Love it.

New favorite goose load.

Kinda blows the ducks in half...

Gonna stick with Federal 3 & 4 shot for them.

Excited to try the Rem SS's on Pheasants Saturday.

[Cody Gruchow]

i tryed those for ducks 3 inch 4shot and they do the trick haha but man are they rough on the shoulder.

[Cody Gruchow]

Just my opinion here......

I shot a mixed bag of black cloud, heavy shot, kent and winchester loads this year.
Just to see how each performed.
I personnally did not see a difference in the loads....but, that was me....

I could knock my geese down with a rock if I had to. 

Not bashing any particular brand, but when your on.....your on. 

Again, it just my opinion.

didnt seem to  be very on at the sporting clays fun shoot

[HD]

Just my opinion here......

I shot a mixed bag of black cloud, heavy shot, kent and winchester loads this year.
Just to see how each performed.
I personnally did not see a difference in the loads....but, that was me....

I could knock my geese down with a rock if I had to. 

Not bashing any particular brand, but when your on.....your on. 

Again, it just my opinion.

didnt seem to  be very on at the sporting clays fun shoot

hhhhmmmm.... as I recall.....I was shooting a 20 gauge gun that I don't normally shoot, and you shoot sporting clays all the time...and you didn't fare that well..... 

(ouch...that one will leave a mark)

[Cody Gruchow]

42-50 on the last course seems pretty good to me hahah 

[Tyler Rother]

Yeah Cody those Rem's kill if you shoot a box or two.

[Cody Gruchow]

the one box was enough for me haha, those things kick like a mule, its unbeleivable(sp) you expect that outta a 3 1/2 inch BBB shell not #4 shot haha