What size shell do you shoot?

[slabchaser]

What size shell do you shoot? I mainly stick to 3 inch shells and prefer 4 shot. Thinking about switching to 2 3/4. doesnt sound like there is a huge benefit to shooting 3 inch.

[Chef]

For shooting Lead, 2 3/4 are a faster load than 3". If your'e shooting Steel, which has horrid ballistic's, 3" will give you more pellets, which I prefer, but I'm not sure about FPS bene's for the 3" Steel.

[Gordie]

I have shot 2 3/4 before and depending on the manufactor I seemed to pattern better with it than three inch but I still shoot three inch shells ussally the first coulpe weekends over decoys I shoot 2 3/4 shell then go to the three inch.

a few years ago I went into the blind with only 2 3/4 6s and 4s it was on the day after opening day and the 6s were awsome It knocked down teal, woodies and mallards over the decoys but I have not bought any since, they were shells that I had laying around and just wanted to use them up I was impressed with how they performed but just cant get myself to get anymore and dont know why.

If you switch to 2 3/4 I would recomend patterning them just as you would with the 3 inch shell and find what works best for you gun.

I'm heading to NoDak next week and I am going to buy a case of 2 3/4 4s or 2s for ducks

[Surface Tension]

Choose what size shot you need for the task. Then look at the oz shot and FPS. You can find some 2 3/4" and 3" that are virtually the same in oz shot and fps. The cheap $8 a box stuff regardless if it is 2 3/4" or 3" is going to have less oz shot and less fps. When you hit Max Drams Equv in either, normally means your getting the max fps and max oz of shot for that shell but for sure your getting the max fps out of that load.

Since pressure is the determining factor, when you get to max oz of shot, the speed(fps)has to come down. Then there are the combinations in between.

In your case 4 shot. Because of the amount of pellets you could go down in oz shot and keep the speed up. That would be a better choice then maxing out oz of shot and suffer on fps. Of coarse patterning you shotgun and chokes is best when making that choice.

On the opposite end, if you were shooting BB shot density is less over 4 shot. Again test patterns should be done but as a rule you'll need to more oz per shot to make up for the size of shot. With that heavier shot speed will suffer. One thing to remember though, velocity at the muzzle is different then velocity down range. BB will carry that speed longer then 4 shot.

[Farley]

Good info S.T.

On opener, in my right jacket pocket I had 3 1/2" BB Black Cloud in the shell holders and a bunch of 3" #4 Black Cloud. The right pocket had #6 steel (2 3/4") in the shell holders.

I use the 3 1/2" BB for geese, the #4 for ducks, and the #6 as a swatter load for those ducks that try to swim away.

[slabchaser]

I really like the idea of shooting 2 3/4 4's out of my patternmaster I dont think I will lose that much. Im begining to think 3.5 inch are over kill with my setup. My gun patterns 3inch 4's very well at 35-45 yards.

[Lunker]

I shoot 3 inch shells. Usually 4,3, or 2 shot. I'll shoot the smaller shot earlier in the season, or I will shoot a sliding scale out of the gun(like my first shot is a 4, then followed by 2's or something like that. There isn't much method to my madness though, and haven't found some great answer. Shoot what you are confident with, that always helps.

[Quackaddict9]

I shoot 3.5" shot BB (early goose) and shot 2 during duck season out of a Ext. Range Patternmaster.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

3.5" or 3" 1's for geese

2 3/4" 6's and 3.5" 3's for ducks. its all about the pattern. find what works best and buy a few cases of it.

[tracker x-2]

3" 2 shot works great for every thing im shooting at and then some.

[mudslinger]

3in threes early then 3.5in 2s later in the year

[onlydrakes4me]

3" 3 0r 4 shot works great for me Dont need 3.5" i used to shot them but not any more you really dont need that big of a shell

[Fred_Bear]

3" 1.25 oz BB for early goose and 3" 1.125 oz 2 shot for geese/mallards/pintails regular season in the field. 3" 1.125 oz 4 shot for hunting smaller ducks on potholes.

[Sergio M]

3.5" #2's for goose and 3.5" #4's for ducks, all out of Kick's Highflyer X-Full choke tube. Works great for me.

[SORNO]

12ga 2 3/4" 3 shot on ducks

10ga 3.5" BB on geese

I always have two guns in the boat with me.

[Rost]

Geese- 3 inch BBB, BB, 1, 2 shot all of which are 1 1/8 or 1/4 oz.

Ducks- 2 3/4 inch 2-4 shot.

[canman]

12 gage 3" #2...works on everything...early and late season ducks. Geese as long as they are in the decoys

[fish4cats]

I really like the idea of shooting 2 3/4 4's out of my patternmaster I dont think I will lose that much. Im begining to think 3.5 inch are over kill with my setup. My gun patterns 3inch 4's very well at 35-45 yards.

I will probably get ripped again, but I shoot nothing but 2 3/4" #2's for ducks and geese. Within 40 yrds it really doesnt matter. The shells I shoot are 1550 fps and the 3 inch are the same fps, so I guess I am just loosing a couple of pellets, but it has worked for me. I am with you on the fact that 3 1/2" is overkill...especially for ducks.

[DRH1175]

I like 3" 1 1/4 oz bb's for geese and 3" 1 1/4 oz 2's for ducks out of my Drake Killer. I have a sbe benelli. I like the 3 1/2" as well. But really the 3"ers kill really well. The only thing the longer shells do is make my shoulder sore faster.