hoggysreels Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 What ideally would be the best size cartridges for Canada Geese, I'm talking a 2 3/4" chambered gun ? Out of interest I've a 1/4 - 1/2 choke Shotgun .. and a 3/4 - Full choke Shotgun ... both 2 3/4" chambered ... Purely out of curiosity .... what would be the heaviest cartridge that could be used, say going through a full choke 12 bore, 2 3/4" chambered shotgun. My full choke Shotgun is a Baikal SBS and apparently are notoriously tight compared with other manufacturers offerings. I checked a site sometime back that had some diameter measurement pertaining to bore size/choke etc for Baikal Shotguns ... not sure if its right but I recall it stating that Baikal 12 bore "open bore" were 0.719" which equates to a half choke for an English Shotgun. I'm thinking if Baikal state an open barrel as 0.719 a full choke Baikal would work out at around 0.679" hence my concern what's the max I dare put through the full choked barrel on the Baikal. I had a phone call this evening suggesting that there my be an option to shoot Canada Geese on a Farm, that apparently, is causing damage. What if anything comes of it, I'm not sure. I've only ever put light loads through my shotguns, I've no experience with the heavier stuff .. any info appreciated ... cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ91 Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 I would not use the full choked gun as you can not put steel trough it, as for carts 3's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted July 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Is it right that legally the use of steel shot only needs be use on or over wetland in England ? I'm thinking if I was to use say No3 lead with a full choke, I'd theoretically need to go down a couple of sizes with steel and my Baikal isnt steel proofed (I'm referring to the steel shot that is encased) ... seem to recall the lowest steel enclosed cartridges usable with full choke would be 4's or 5's and with the lowered mass that would "I think equate ?" to an equivalent lead cartridge mass of a number 6 or 7 cartridge, I think? The Canada Goose shooting offer only came about through a phone call this evening, prior to that I had nothing lined up lol .. till/if it happens I'll just taking it at word value Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Pretty sure in England you have to use steel on wildfowl anywhere. Including inland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 If it is a serious problem for the farmer, you would probably be more effective to snipe them with rifle. I think guidance for min calibre is .22cf. Happy shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler12 Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 (edited) You have to use non-toxic shot on ALL waterfowl species in England, regardless of whether they are shot in inland or on the foreshore. Steel is out of the question, partly due to choke restriction, and partly because you need to use shot size 1, BB or BBB on Canada's, which WILL NOT be suitable in the guns mentioned, they will not have had the appropriate proof test (1370 bar) for HP steel. With that in mind, the heaviest cartridge you could probably use will be a 2 3/4' 36 gram bismuth load, probably in either 1s or 3s. Eley do some good loads (Alphamax/Forest) but expect to pay around £30 per box of 25. EDIT: Just to add, if it was me I would be leaving them until the season opens. If they are causing a big problem there are plenty of non-lethal methods you/farmer could try first. Edited July 4, 2012 by Wildfowler12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 By law you have to use non toxic shot on all water fowl in England. There are other non toxic materials available, not just steel. Take a look at bismuth, and in for the largest pellet size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 You may as well walk up to them and club them over the head at this time of year, they cannot fly . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stirky Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 At least wait untill they have feathers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Every area is different, and the geese are all at different stages of molt, there's loads flying about near me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 You dont need big shot if your close enough and shoot for the head and neck. If the landowner is sufferring real damage i should act. If they fly or not is imaterial as far as true pesting is conserned, rifle or shotgun even grabbing them is acceptable to clear them. for sport then wait for the season and crop the numbers back some with sporting shots from the shotgun. It aint much to get fixed chokes opened up BTW and strangely you dont need non lead from the rifle only "shot" from the shotgun. shooting geese with the rifle is not sport or in anyway sporting and they tend to never return Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Any shooter worth his salt will leave them for a few months until the shooting season starts as at this time of year many will not be flying and many will have goslings. If they are causing real problems , they are very easy to scare off. A bird scaring rocket or two will do the job. If you want to tarnish the image of shooters in the public eye then go ahead and wipe out a few goslings and flightless birds , otherwise leave them until they can provide some sporting shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted July 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 The Canada goose shoot has come about via a phone call, not at all certain anything will come of it, I'm sceptical at the best of times I've got the gist of it now, I'm thinking non lead automatically mean't steel, though it can, I realise it does necessarily have to. I'm aware that the correct cartridges are going to be more expensive but thats as it is, I'd only buy a couple of boxes initially. A while back I'd been on a site that had steel cartridges that are encase ina plastic type tube (I've actually used them) and they are okay to use with a nitro proofed shotgun. It went on to explain that with full choke shotguns you can only go down so far on shot size. Think it might have been a number 4, not certain. Hence my curiosity and confusion thinking if its non lead, then I would have to use steel. Never thought of alternative shot material cartridges. I'll looking in to it, a bit of knowledge gained is always a good thing, me thinks. I'd prefer using the Baikal SBS but I can use my over and under (1/4 & 3/4 choke) anyhow nothing may come of it so will wait and see. My theory was if we got our face known to the farmer he may mention/recommed us to near by landowners, well that the theory. I personally had no great desire to go Canada Goose shooting. I'm more interested in the smaller vermin species. Farmers/Landowner want their vermin problems resolved so I understand it's what they require rather than what I want to do, and not having any permissions presently, I'm not in a postition to be choosey .. anyhow probably nothing will come of it, we'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 Is it right that legally the use of steel shot only needs be use on or over wetland in England ? Hello fella, Just as a matter of interest can I ask if you're a member of BASC or CA? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 Quote "Is it right that legally the use of steel shot only needs be use on or over wetland in England ?" No in England and wales you cannot shoot any wildfowl with lead only non toxic shells be they on field or marsh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitty tree Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 hello fella. i use 32grm 4 good all round cartridge thiry yards no problem half choke . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 (edited) Sitty I would never recomend anyone to use no 4 ( steel I presume ) on canadas. Unless you can hit them in the head no 4 is nowhere near large enough. Its the minimum size i would use on duck let along a huge bird like a canada goose. I have shot a lot of geese over the past 40 years and would recomend No1 shot at the very least and then only if they were close , a big load of BB or BBB is realy needed to ensure a clean kill. Edited July 7, 2012 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted July 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2012 Well it was mentioned prior to me going on holiday and there hasn't been any contact while I was away or since arriving back home ... wasn't that convinced anything would come of it anyhow ... anyhow onwards and upwards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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