[herm1984]

Black cloud snow goose loads

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[Rick Hall]

Our geese are primarily specks and snows/blues, and after three decades of getting to hunt them virtually daily in season, I find myself preferring 1 1/4oz 3" 1s.

 

[noweil]

I'm having a hard time finding #1s in store, where do you guys get them?
Do you ever have trouble with 1's chewing up small birds?
I have always used 4s for woodies, 2 for mallards and bb for goose (when planning on that specific species) but I'd love to just run one shell so the 1s interest me

Smaller shot sizes usually put more BB's in your birds and tear them up more than bigger BB's from what I have seen.

A friend I met back in college took me hunting years ago with his dad. His dad is a big waterfowl hunter and was a biologist for the state. His dad had been involved in testing steel shot before it was required by law. He took a brand new fixed choke BPS and had a polychoke put on the end of the barrel. The best shooting all around combination he had come up with was 3" 1.25 ounce 12 gauge #1 steel with the polychoke set at improved cyli.der. This is what he shot everyday of regular season and killed 6-7 different species of ducks and little geese up thru giant Canadas. The only time I knew him to shoot a different size of shot was #5 steel in early teal season before we had an early goose season. I watched my buddies dad shot a triple on rising ducks and jam a 4th shell in that BPS pump quick and drop a 4th bird. He killed giant Canadas just as well as those ducks with #1's. They always worked their birds and had them in range and often in your face.

I tried duplicating his success with 3" #1's and they work ok for me and if I don't want to be shucking shells between duck and goose loads they are great. However, I like BB's better on geese and #2 on ducks. Just my own observations.

 

[Minneguy]

The nice thing about shooting one load, is getting used to how they perform, knowing how far to lead with them and never having to swap shells. All pluses if you ask me.
Although I'm still worried about big shot tearin them up in close. Ask the grouse I accidentally splattered to a tree last year with a 3" #2. It was in my pocket and got loaded when I was supposed to have an 8...

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[KyFowl20]

I always hunt over decoys these days, and that means out of a blind where I can have both my ten gauge, and the A400 Xtreme.
The Ten loaded with BBs, and the A400 loaded with #3 shot for ducks.
But if I have to choose between one or the other, then the A400 will do double duty with #2 shot for both decoying ducks and geese.
Finishing geese can be drawn down on for head and neck shots in most cases.
I just tell myself I'm lining up on a clay bird with low base #7 1/2 shot and bear down on the goose's head. Seems to work quite well. But I also have a couple of boxes of 3 1/2" #2s for the A400 in the blind bag if I can convince myself they're needed.

Your overthinking this. I shoot Expert 3" BB for everything from teal to geese. I shoot a full choke so my shots are always tight. I do this because it makes me a much better shot by staying consistent. I can't imagine taking two guns, and shooting several different shot sizes and lengths. That's just overkill. Keep it simple, and it will pay off.

 

[razorrt5]

for all geese 3in BB, all ducks I mix 3in #2 and #3 I only use black cloud

 

[Arkansas Swamper]

I hunt specks and ducks in the same places, so I shoot 3 1/2 in 2s for both.

 

[DMBgoosehunter13]

3 1/2" #2's for every situation. Don't care if ducks/geese are 10 feet away or 60 yards.

 

[Manitoba outdoors]

I decided to go 3 1/2 BB

 

[Bull Can]

#2's are all I've ever needed. Most universal shot IMO. I like to use BB from time to time but never BBB I just don't see the point with how little of shot you get. I've folded honkers CLEAN with IC shooting 4's at 30 yards but overall I have most confidence in 2's for honkers to greenbeans.

 

[SPatrick]

Hevi Metal 3 1/2" BB or Hevi goose 3 1/2" 2's. Just my personal preference.

 

[brentbullets]

Been shooting Heavy Metal 3.5", 2's for a few years now for everything. Most important is to pattern your shells and shot gun.

 

[Arkansas Swamper]

Been shooting Heavy Metal 3.5", 2's for a few years now for everything. Most important is to pattern your shells and shot gun.

That's my preferred load, but I can't bring myself to pay 30$ for a box of shells.

 

[brentbullets]

Been shooting Heavy Metal 3.5", 2's for a few years now for everything. Most important is to pattern your shells and shot gun.

That's my preferred load, but I can't bring myself to pay 30$ for a box of shells.

I don't pay anywhere near that especially after rebates.

 

[Arkansas Swamper]

How much do you pay? I might switch from kents!

 

[Honkerblaster]

Been shooting Heavy Metal 3.5", 2's for a few years now for everything. Most important is to pattern your shells and shot gun.

That's my preferred load, but I can't bring myself to pay 30$ for a box of shells.

I don't pay anywhere near that especially after rebates.

Do they give you a discount for pro staffing?

 

[brentbullets]

I don't Pro Staff.

Mack's Prairie Wings has them for $259.00 a case free shipping and no tax, before $25.00 rebate from Heavy Shot. I bought mine last year from Rogers for $249 no tax or shipping and got $25.00 rebate also. Shop around.

 

[Arkansas Swamper]

That's not too bad, but I like buying shells for 150$ a case.

 

[waterfowlhunter]

I like BB or #2 for geese but last year I took several with #4 and not one got away but they were well within 40 yds with wings out and feet down.

If field hunting and they are working I like #2 if I am pass shooting at 40 to 50 yds I use BB.

Kent Fasteel or black cloud 3.5"

If I did not have so many cases of #2 and BB I would probably try a season of just shooting #1 for everything.

 

[GunNRun]

3 1/2" BBs cause they don't make 4" BBs