Lead goose cartridge and tips

[Lloyd90]

Off to Scotland next week for 3 days on the geese. 
 

6 of us going.
 

Guide has said minimum 42g 4’s for the geese (allowed to use lead). 
 

Have managed to secure 2 slabs of 42g 4’’s … same energy as steel 2’s I believe so hoping the 4’s will be ok? More pellets for potential head shots? 
 

Also, paying for 6 of us £100pp per flight on geese, and £80pp for 2 nights duck pond shooting… so looking at £460 per person for the 3 days. 
 

Would you also tip the goose guide at the end of the trip?

What would be a fair amount? 

[London Best]

Your 4’s will be fine. 
I have shot the vast majority of my geese with 32 gram 4’s, both lead and steel. 
BB shot was fine for punt gunners with a pound of shot, but I found it useless for shouldergunning with a standard 12 bore. Then tried 1’s but found it no better. 3’s were an improvement. Trying 4’s was a revelation to me and I do not like to use anything bigger. Look at the head, not the body.
If it is the guide you are paying then I wouldn’t tip. If it is his keeper/employee then yes, a tip.

[Lloyd90]

6 minutes ago, London Best said:

Your 4’s will be fine. 
I have shot the vast majority of my geese with 32 gram 4’s, both lead and steel. 
BB shot was fine for punt gunners with a pound of shot, but I found it useless for shouldergunning with a standard 12 bore. Then tried 1’s but found it no better. 3’s were an improvement. Trying 4’s was a revelation to me and I do not like to use anything bigger. Look at the head, not the body.
If it is the guide you are paying then I wouldn’t tip. If it is his keeper/employee then yes, a tip.

Thank you  

Yes I believe paying the guide 👍🏻

[Penelope]

1 hour ago, Lloyd90 said:

Off to Scotland next week for 3 days on the geese. 
 

6 of us going.
 

Guide has said minimum 42g 4’s for the geese (allowed to use lead). 
 

Have managed to secure 2 slabs of 42g 4’’s … same energy as steel 2’s I believe so hoping the 4’s will be ok? More pellets for potential head shots? 
 

Also, paying for 6 of us £100pp per flight on geese, and £80pp for 2 nights duck pond shooting… so looking at £460 per person for the 3 days. 
 

Would you also tip the goose guide at the end of the trip?

What would be a fair amount? 

If a 3" chambered gun, RC50s in 3's or 2's.

[Docleo]

42g of 4s will definitely do the job, especially if you are decoying 👍

[Penelope]

1 hour ago, Lloyd90 said:

Off to Scotland next week for 3 days on the geese. 
 

6 of us going.
 

Guide has said minimum 42g 4’s for the geese (allowed to use lead). 
 

Have managed to secure 2 slabs of 42g 4’’s … same energy as steel 2’s I believe so hoping the 4’s will be ok? More pellets for potential head shots? 
 

Also, paying for 6 of us £100pp per flight on geese, and £80pp for 2 nights duck pond shooting… so looking at £460 per person for the 3 days. 
 

Would you also tip the goose guide at the end of the trip?

What would be a fair amount? 

A tip would depend on how much effort the guide is putting in for you., and if you wanted to. The cost you will be paying will include his wages.

[Lloyd90]

2 minutes ago, Penelope said:

If a 3" chambered gun, RC50s in 3's or 2's.

Have ordered 42g 4’s in Lyalvale Express. 
 

Arriving tomorrow. A bit last minute but one of the lads claimed he had loads and no one buy any, which turned out to be less than 100 carts 🤣

[Penelope]

52 minutes ago, London Best said:

Your 4’s will be fine. 
I have shot the vast majority of my geese with 32 gram 4’s, both lead and steel. 
BB shot was fine for punt gunners with a pound of shot, but I found it useless for shouldergunning with a standard 12 bore. Then tried 1’s but found it no better. 3’s were an improvement. Trying 4’s was a revelation to me and I do not like to use anything bigger. Look at the head, not the body.
If it is the guide you are paying then I wouldn’t tip. If it is his keeper/employee then yes, a tip.

2 1/2" chambered gun for those 1 1/8th oz loads?

[Lloyd90]

2 minutes ago, Penelope said:

A tip would depend on how much effort the guide is putting in for you., and if you wanted to. The cost you will be paying will include his wages.

Absolutely, and all the unpaid work running around scouting and prepping I imagine.

 

[Penelope]

Just now, Lloyd90 said:

Have ordered 42g 4’s in Lyalvale Express. 
 

Arriving tomorrow. A bit last minute but one of the lads claimed he had loads and no one buy any, which turned out to be less than 100 carts 🤣

100 squibs for 6 over 3 flights will be ample.

Just now, Lloyd90 said:

Absolutely, and all the unpaid work running around scouting and prepping I imagine.

 

Don't forget that will all be factored in to the per flight cost.

[London Best]

21 minutes ago, Penelope said:

2 1/2" chambered gun for those 1 1/8th oz loads?

Actually, no, a 2 3/4”. 
The lead loads were 2 1/2 inch cartridges but the steels were 2 3/4 inch Express Hunting Steel. Unfortunately, those were plastic wads, now long gone.

Edited January 9 by London Best

[shakin stevens]

2 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:

Off to Scotland next week for 3 days on the geese. 
 

6 of us going.
 

Guide has said minimum 42g 4’s for the geese (allowed to use lead). 
 

Have managed to secure 2 slabs of 42g 4’’s … same energy as steel 2’s I believe so hoping the 4’s will be ok? More pellets for potential head shots? 
 

Also, paying for 6 of us £100pp per flight on geese, and £80pp for 2 nights duck pond shooting… so looking at £460 per person for the 3 days. 
 

Would you also tip the goose guide at the end of the trip?

What would be a fair amount? 

Depends on how the trip goes over the 3 days , usually find you won’t get 3 good days , one might be steady unless they have lots of land to go at .

watching them at Kinross shooting a harvested potato field , Monday sounded great and the geese was in before light , today they wasn’t as keen but they got a bit of shooting later ,I'm sure you will get the feeling with a guide whether you have had a great experience. 

[Penelope]

6 minutes ago, shakin stevens said:

Depends on how the trip goes over the 3 days , usually find you won’t get 3 good days , one might be steady unless they have lots of land to go at .

watching them at Kinross shooting a harvested potato field , Monday sounded great and the geese was in before light , today they wasn’t as keen but they got a bit of shooting later ,I'm sure you will get the feeling with a guide whether you have had a great experience. 

Happy memories of shooting around there with Sandy Aitken and Mal Kempson.

[Lloyd90]

34 minutes ago, shakin stevens said:

Depends on how the trip goes over the 3 days , usually find you won’t get 3 good days , one might be steady unless they have lots of land to go at .

watching them at Kinross shooting a harvested potato field , Monday sounded great and the geese was in before light , today they wasn’t as keen but they got a bit of shooting later ,I'm sure you will get the feeling with a guide whether you have had a great experience. 

All 6 of us, first time going up, we are realistic however that they’re wild birds and nothing is guaranteed! 

[Smudger687]

10 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:

Off to Scotland next week for 3 days on the geese. 
 

6 of us going.
 

Guide has said minimum 42g 4’s for the geese (allowed to use lead). 
 

Have managed to secure 2 slabs of 42g 4’’s … same energy as steel 2’s I believe so hoping the 4’s will be ok? More pellets for potential head shots? 
 

Also, paying for 6 of us £100pp per flight on geese, and £80pp for 2 nights duck pond shooting… so looking at £460 per person for the 3 days. 
 

Would you also tip the goose guide at the end of the trip?

What would be a fair amount? 

Lead 5's are more effective than steel 2's at 50 yards. Lead US 4's (0.14 inches) are something like BB steel. 

These naughty blokes in Canada are using 1 3/4 ounce 4's in the 12 and 1 ounce 4's in the 20 on Canada geese and they're absolutely smoking them. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jgg4ASJPV0

[harkom]

9 hours ago, London Best said:

BB shot was fine for punt gunners with a pound of shot, but I found it useless for shouldergunning with a standard 12 bore. Then tried 1’s but found it no better. 3’s were an improvement.

Well, if you expected BB or 1s to give a half decent killing pattern through a standard 12 bore choked cylinder and 1/4 you were delusional.

[islandgun]

Give them plenty of lead, (that's leed) Have fun and enjoy your surroundings

[Lloyd90]

1 hour ago, harkom said:

Well, if you expected BB or 1s to give a half decent killing pattern through a standard 12 bore choked cylinder and 1/4 you were delusional.

1/2 choke with the 42g 4’s on a 12 bore sound alright? 

45 minutes ago, islandgun said:

Give them plenty of lead, (that's leed) Have fun and enjoy your surroundings

Thank you  

[islandgun]

14 minutes ago, Lloyd90 said:

1/2 choke with the 42g 4’s on a 12 bore sound alright? 

Thank you  

Sounds good to me

[Smudger687]

3 hours ago, harkom said:

Well, if you expected BB or 1s to give a half decent killing pattern through a standard 12 bore choked cylinder and 1/4 you were delusional.

If it doesn't work for LB, then it's wrong! Surely you know this by now? 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

6 hours ago, Smudger687 said:

If it doesn't work for LB, then it's wrong! Surely you know this by now? 

Hell yes................

[Dave at kelton]

Assuming you are going to be shooting over decoys if the guide does his job and the geese come in those cartridges will be more than enough. These will be 25 to 30 yd birds so make sure you open your chokes up to no more than half and preferably a quarter. It is all about the patten! One of the best old boys I shot with over decoys used 30 gm fives but never took long shots. Anything below a 3 lead won’t give pattern in the loads you talk about.

I look forward to hearing were you went and how you got on.

enjoy

[Penelope]

14 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:

1/2 choke with the 42g 4’s on a 12 bore sound alright? 

Yes, over decoys, up to 35yds or so.

4 hours ago, Dave at kelton said:

Assuming you are going to be shooting over decoys if the guide does his job and the geese come in those cartridges will be more than enough. These will be 25 to 30 yd birds so make sure you open your chokes up to no more than half and preferably a quarter. It is all about the patten! One of the best old boys I shot with over decoys used 30 gm fives but never took long shots. Anything below a 3 lead won’t give pattern in the loads you talk about.

I look forward to hearing were you went and how you got on.

enjoy

My dad often used 2 1/2" 1 1/8oz 5's thorough his cross over Hellis at decoyed pinks to good effect.

[Krico woodcock]

Hopefully you will have successful trip away Lloyd90. I was over in Scotland twice. Around Perthshire.  In 2004 and 2007. Guide was  a aul lad called sandy in 2004,  contrary enough type of a chap. And guide called scott 2007. We shot a few geese,  had one good duck flight,  was it worth the trip? Mmm I'd say probably not.  Every one crammed into a hide, trying to get very decoy shy birds to commit.  Not allowed to read the situation,  and  being able to spread out to other side of field etc. Basically being told to stay there and don't move.  ( wouldn't be use to that).  The very first pink i shot over in 2004, was a ringed bird.. It was a bit of crack but always seemed this type of atmosphere   and the feeling of being led on a " wild goose chase". And hearing every excuse when maybe not one goose comes into pattern.. They are very much wild birds your after, and alot of things can dictate if you will get some shooting or not,  weather,  moon etc. But in my eyes it's how  hard the area is being shot. Wild birds or not when you get up that far you will want a bit of sport, and if it come your way or not,  it  is highly commercialised, your guide will have to be paid.. so for that, I would say not worry about tips. When we were with sandy he had us feeding ponds for him in afternoon,  he got his money worth out of us 😁.. as for shooting them,  as said lead 4's. No problem.  I used lead 2's as well. Put the shot in right spot,  is all you have to do.  Again enjoy your trip away 👍

[London Best]

18 hours ago, harkom said:

Well, if you expected BB or 1s to give a half decent killing pattern through a standard 12 bore choked cylinder and 1/4 you were delusional.

 

14 hours ago, Smudger687 said:

If it doesn't work for LB, then it's wrong! Surely you know this by now? 

It was nearly sixty years ago and I was mid-teens.  
BB was what all the ‘experts’ that wrote about it more than they did it were using in their books and ‘Shooting Times’. 
Unlike many others, I have learned something through experience.