Steel shot question

[Birdistheword]

Need a little input on steel shot loads for 20ga. Took my boys duck hunting and had issues with needing several shots on some wood ducks. One gun is cylinder bore(I know, it's fixed choke but LOP fits him and I didn't have another barrel this season) so he shot first and the birds were right on us, number 7s first then number 4s. Both Winchester, didn't pattern well. Same load in a modified choke for my other boy. Both break skeet well and I had to bat clean up for both more than I thought I should. Suggested loads to try?

 

[wolfkpr]

We use #4’s in steel for ducks in the 20’s. Remember steel tends to pattern 1 choke tighter than lead, so dont be suprised if mod produces a “ full” pattern width.. if you have time shoot a test pattern with the mod and ic on paper..

 

[Okie4570]

There's nothing wrong with a cylinder bore and steel shot as long as the birds are within 25y. Whether 20g or 12g I never use anything smaller than #2 shot. Killed a lot of ducks with a 20g and so have my kids. Always used an IC in my Win SX3 20g.

 

[HoLeChit]

I use this stuff if I get my A400 out. I’m pretty sure I use either an IC or mod choke. Can’t check, the dogs will absolutely lose their minds this morning if I start pulling guns out. But it’s all gonna depend on what works for your particular shotgun.

 

[retrieverman]

I use this stuff if I get my A400 out. I’m pretty sure I use either an IC or mod choke. Can’t check, the dogs will absolutely lose their minds this morning if I start pulling guns out. But it’s all gonna depend on what works for your particular shotgun.

View attachment 430889

How many is in that box for $35?!?

 

[swampratt]

25 yards is pretty close and kudos to those that get them in that close.
Decades ago when i hunted ducks steel shot was not required and I began with a single shot 20 gauge.

#4 lead and I was so sad every time I pulled the trigger.
It just did not get the job done as well as my buddies 12 gauge he always had to shoot my duck.

2 years later I got a 12 gauge and used #4 lead and it was amazing.
Quick kills.
Many years past and I decided to hunt again for birds and steel was mandatory and I got #4 steel.

It reminded me of the days using the 20 gauge.
Today I feel if it is Heavi- shot in #4 it may work (I have not tried it) but for me I will never send anything at them less than #2.

But I do not get 25 yard shots either. Actually measure 25 yards that is darn close.
Ours were usually a bit past 40 yards and I hear new steel loads are way better than what I was using many years ago.

Everything I typed is probably outdated.
Heavi-Shot was not even made yet.

 

[HoLeChit]

How many is in that box for $35?!?

25. It’s a standard box. It’s considerably cheaper than Federal Premium Black cloud, which last time I looked was $54 for a box of 10.

 

[dlbleak]

I was hunting waterfowl when we switched to steel. I promise you that more birds were lost to crippling than lead poisoning in the early years. The performance just wasn’t there.

 

[retrieverman]

I was hunting waterfowl when we switched to steel. I promise you that more birds were lost to crippling than lead poisoning in the early years. The performance just wasn’t there.

I’ve probably told this story before, but back in the late 70’s when lead was still legal, we had permission to hunt a spring fed pond on my Dad’s cousin’s place south of Jet. The pond was in a bowl, so when you crawled over the bank, the ducks had a ways to fly up to get to eye level. It was a honey hole where we always killed ducks. On one hunt, I took a Hail Mary shot with my old bolt action full choke 20 ga and killed a duck at close to 100 yards, and it is still the only banded duck I’ve ever killed.

 

[Birdistheword]

We use #4’s in steel for ducks in the 20’s. Remember steel tends to pattern 1 choke tighter than lead, so dont be suprised if mod produces a “ full” pattern width.. if you have time shoot a test pattern with the mod and ic on paper..

Thank you sir, I had not thought about that, I'll try that.