M.I.A Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 (edited) Ive just returned from a dusk shoot on the ducks (mallard) Today they have been flying very high, so what carts will i be best to get? I fired at a duck at around 30 yards, the lowest of the day with rc hp steel, 32g no3 shot and it didnt even flinch shot connected well! I do not rate these carts ive used some on the crows and they have never given me a clean kill. Would bb be ok to use for the high ones? But would they do too much damage on the lower ones? Thanks My gun is 3" chambered and hp steel proof Edited November 19, 2011 by M.I.A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 If the bird didn't even flinch,are you sure the shot 'connected well'? I use gamebore super steel 3's in my 70mm chambered 101 through 1/2 choke and those seem to do the trick very well. I don't shoot at high duck,but my nephew can bring down the high ones with his 3.5" chambered Benelli.Perhaps that's the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Gamebore no 3 36g is what I use. I have hit high ducks at 40 yards + and they fell out of the sky:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.I.A Posted November 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Thanks for the replys, dont take the "didnt even flinch" bit to seriously , it just didnt drop :( Would bb be over kill perhaps? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 No 3 to no 5 for ducks anything bigger is more for goose mate. Where have you been shooting ducks is it local Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.I.A Posted November 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Yeah at a local farm would no 3 have enough umph on the high ones? About 50 yards at a guess? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodcock1 Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Yeah at a local farm would no 3 have enough umph on the high ones? About 50 yards at a guess? I aint no expert on steel shot but I would doubt its effectivness at 50 yards. Thats pushing a shotguns range to the limit even with lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.I.A Posted November 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 I aint no expert on steel shot but I would doubt its effectivness at 50 yards. Thats pushing a shotguns range to the limit even with lead. Exactly, hence why i think a bigger shot would be better maybe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 As above that is at max distance I have hit them at 50yrd but came down but not dead. I have all different steel shot cartridges you can try when I take you out. There are a lot of high ducks for you to have a pop at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Thanks for the replys, dont take the "didnt even flinch" bit to seriously , it just didnt drop :( Would bb be over kill perhaps? Thanks Sorry,didn't mean anything by it.Have never used BB so can't really say.Have brought down(dead)Greylags with steel 3's,but they weren't high.Someone with more experience of HIGH duck shooting may be able to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.I.A Posted November 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 No need to be sorry fella What choke woukd i be best using with no 3 shot? I could use my o/u which is fixed at 1/4 & 1/2 but looks like i may need my third shot from the auto Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomaddy525 Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 36gramme no3 tungsten or bismouth. Shot a widgeon on the solway mid october, flat shot over the sand. 56 yards with tungsten. Shot at a 25 yard pigeon with steel 4's, brought it down, just, and with 6 hits to the body. PROOF!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 (edited) If you are going to use steel for high duck use a good after choke of .700 ( full lead choke ) a 36 gr load of no 3 or 40 gr no 2 shot and a 3 or 3.5 inch shell. That combination will kill any 50 yard duck that flies if you hit them fair and square. If you are using a 70mm chamberd gun go for Hevi shot or Tungstun matrix pellets in no 6 or 5 , or Bismuth no 4, but they are expensive. While I would idealy use bigger shot sizes I killed a greylag cleanly this morning at what others estimated at 55 yards using 36gr gamebore mammoths ( unknowingly put the wrong shell in the chamber ). If they will kill a goose at such range they will certantly kill a duck. Edited November 19, 2011 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 ach lead brings them down a wee bit better mind :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodcock1 Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 ach lead brings them down a wee bit better mind :yp: Just been there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 (edited) Just been there! cant beat a bit of late night wind up Edited November 20, 2011 by highseas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washwildfowler Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Ive just returned from a dusk shoot on the ducks (mallard) Today they have been flying very high, so what carts will i be best to get? I fired at a duck at around 30 yards, the lowest of the day with rc hp steel, 32g no3 shot and it didnt even flinch shot connected well! I do not rate these carts ive used some on the crows and they have never given me a clean kill. Would bb be ok to use for the high ones? But would they do too much damage on the lower ones? Thanks My gun is 3" chambered and hp steel proof i have been using RC 32G 3S all season with no problems, i have had some great clean kills with them up to 40 yards only .. through a 1/4 choke , i did some testing with various steel loads before the season started and i found the RC HP steel 32g were the best through my gun (AL391).... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 I shot a mallard flighting this morning about 30 yds up and poleaxed it with gamebore mammoth steel no 3 , it dropped about 10 yds behind me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 36gramme no3 tungsten or bismouth. Shot a widgeon on the solway mid october, flat shot over the sand. 56 yards with tungsten. Shot at a 25 yard pigeon with steel 4's, brought it down, just, and with 6 hits to the body. PROOF!!! What exactly is that proof of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 Steel works the proof is in my dinner you just need to bring the range down a little Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washwildfowler Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 What exactly is that proof of? i have seen many wildfowlers shooting at wildfowl out of range with steel then they blame it on the steel cartridges when the fault is down to them and there judging of distance , if they only took the time to test these different steel loads then!! they will find out that it is very effective at the correct distance ... our wildfowling club runs its own clay ground through the summer for our members and friends, also some public , now dare i say this.... but ... you will find the lads who are really dedicated to the sport of wildfowling trying out different steel loads , some home loads , some factory loads , at different distances and shoot it all through the summer .. that's why we get good results with the correct steel load and shooting at the correct distance ..... also lets not forget its the wildfowlers field craft that plays the biggest part of getting wildfowl close enough to get the cleanest kill for the quarry and not wound it ..... WW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 Ive just returned from a dusk shoot on the ducks (mallard) Today they have been flying very high, so what carts will i be best to get? I fired at a duck at around 30 yards, the lowest of the day with rc hp steel, 32g no3 shot and it didnt even flinch shot connected well! I do not rate these carts ive used some on the crows and they have never given me a clean kill. Would bb be ok to use for the high ones? But would they do too much damage on the lower ones? Thanks My gun is 3" chambered and hp steel proof Its nowt to do with the shells mate, either you didn't hit it good or the 30ys was way underestimated. Forget about high duck the skill is in getting them in close through good fieldcraft then shooting them in the front end not the rear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 Its nowt to do with the shells mate, either you didn't hit it good or the 30ys was way underestimated. Forget about high duck the skill is in getting them in close through good fieldcraft then shooting them in the front end not the rear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 If you are going to use steel for high duck use a good after choke of .700 ( full lead choke ) a 36 gr load of no 3 or 40 gr no 2 shot and a 3 or 3.5 inch shell. That combination will kill any 50 yard duck that flies if you hit them fair and square. If you are using a 70mm chamberd gun go for Hevi shot or Tungstun matrix pellets in no 6 or 5 , or Bismuth no 4, but they are expensive. While I would idealy use bigger shot sizes I killed a greylag cleanly this morning at what others estimated at 55 yards using 36gr gamebore mammoths ( unknowingly put the wrong shell in the chamber ). If they will kill a goose at such range they will certantly kill a duck. well this post is very important so i`d repost / reply to it. i`d recomend up to #2s aswell. shoot faster steel shells. comercial shells are slow. also the average shooter who doesnt know about steel ballistics and steel loadsings will allways compare steel to lead. 5 steel isnt suitable as an all rounder duck cartridge like lead5 is. dont have a heart attack or panic because there is a 2 on the side of the shell. even light steel loads have "magnum" ballistics ie progressively slow powders. the sooner you guys learn that the better you`ll shoot. true US #2 is quite a universal shotsize, can be used on smaller geese, and big /small duck. ideal for waterfowl. steel and lead are so different forget comparing them. #2s work. and work well at 1500fps. in america, it is common for homeloaders to load 7/8oz loads of #2 for shooting decoyed birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinchesterDave Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 3" 36grams 4-3 work well for ducks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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