Looking to get back into waterfowl this year and wanted to pick up more shells. Between these loads would you go for more shot 1 1/4 @1400 or more speed 1 1/8 @1550?
More shot or more speed?
- Thread starter SteveHazard
- Start date
You can get 1-1/4 loads that are faster than that. Hevi Metal $$ and Hevi Steel $ are 1500fps, many others @1450. I've shot a ton of the cheap blue box Federals over the past 5 years or so that are 1-1/8 1550fps in 3's. They kill everything at distances we should be shooting if I do my part. Last year I mixed in a bunch of the replacement for them which is 1-1/4oz @ 1450 but those were 2's. Not sure how speed difference there is after 20, 30 or 40 yards but my brain didn't notice a difference. Roger's has them for $69 a case after rebate right now if you want to ship to an FFL.
Kent 3" 1 1/8 3's...1550 fps…..Speed kills.
Used to love Kent 3" 1 1/4 3's....1450 fps ain't slow, but I am....Hence, the faster upgrade.
ps....Plain old Benelli modified choke.
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Used to love Kent 3" 1 1/4 3's....1450 fps ain't slow, but I am....Hence, the faster upgrade.
ps....Plain old Benelli modified choke.
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Actually I like speed but heavy loads or more volume of shot and speed kills. I tend to agree with Aeon 3” #3 Hevi Metal will definitely reach out and kill em. I’m old fashioned and shoot mostly 2 3/4” shells. For for flooded rice puddler ducks I shoot Hevi Metal 2 3/4” #3 and occasionally #2. For divers in the bays (divers are harder to kill) I shoot 2 3/4 #2 and often 3” #2. I personally don’t think it makes much difference whether I use 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 oz. I think the key to shooting and killing ducks is to learn to gauge their distance from you and learn the max distance you can consistently knock them down a kill em and don’t shoot beyond that distance. And secondly practice practice practice to be a good wing shot.
Damn that is a good price... even better if I were not to ship to an FFL. My only hesitation with rebates is I've been screwed by them in the past. Either they've not made it or somebody mistook it for junk mail and tossed it. And by the time I recall I don't think I ever got my rebate it's too late. I definitely got shafted out of a tire rebate a couple years ago that was a least $100 or $150 I never got.
I've shot the blue box Feds many times...Same load as Jeff...3" 1 1/8 3's...1550 fps...Hell of a price rebate or no rebate.
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My thoughts is 100 fps isn't big enough difference. . But I prefer more powder.
But I just buy what ever my Mossy likes and is reasonable. Never really gave it much thought one vs the other.
It all works and kills.
I believe the size and weight of the shot is more important.
To me I like using a size Larger than necessary. You know the whole debate
Kinetic energy vs velocity.
If 6 shot is recommended I use 5 or 4
If 7 shot is recommended I use 6.
Less pellets but one pellet will kill it.
And less to dig out if the meat.
But I just buy what ever my Mossy likes and is reasonable. Never really gave it much thought one vs the other.
It all works and kills.
I believe the size and weight of the shot is more important.
To me I like using a size Larger than necessary. You know the whole debate
Kinetic energy vs velocity.
If 6 shot is recommended I use 5 or 4
If 7 shot is recommended I use 6.
Less pellets but one pellet will kill it.
And less to dig out if the meat.
At the risk of being accused of encouraging skybusting and a variety of other sins there is one other option if your gun (and you) can handle it. You could always go with a 3 1/2" load which would give you about the same speed with about 1/4 oz more shot. Just an option I'm throwing out there for you to consider.
Eric,
That's a great option and I shot them for many years (still do in Canada for geese)...Kent 3 1/2" 1 3/8 2's gives you just about the same amount pellets as 3's in an 1 1/8 oz load...You get the same speed, 1550 fps too....You also get the better down range kinetic energy the bigger ball gives you...Win/win
First fish dog I’m not accusing you of anything, I understand you are throwing this our as food for thought. Just my personal opinion but I personally don’t use 3.5“ shells. Sounds like a cannon going off, don’t even want them in my blind. I started as a kid with 2.75” and still mostly use them today. I’ve shot hundreds or thousands of ducks over the years with them and still mostly use them today. I’ll shoot 3” occasionally for geese and hunting divers in the bay but otherwise 2.75“. I find that many people who shoot 3.5” for ducks are either sky busters or aren’t very good shots and think they can make up for that with the big 3.5” loads. Don’t misunderstand me I am not saying or accusing anyone here of that, just my personal observation from hunting with and around people who shoot the 3.5”. Even though I don’t shoot them I can see using them for big honkers. Just my 2 cents worth.
Pussy!......
ps...The older I get the bigger pussy I become...I've killed a lot of ducks with Stefanie's Benelli M-2 20 gauge...Kent 3" 7/8 oz of 3's...
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