Ammo choices

[fishuhalik]

Stopped by Scheels a couple days ago. They had a bunch of em in stock. Asked the sales guy what he thought of em. He said they patterned really good so I bought a box of 3" #2s to see for myself. They patterned almost identical to the 3" #2 Kents. Also bought a box of bc snow goose, regular bc & the cheap Winchesters, can't remember the name, I think Xperts? all in 3" #2. All of em were pretty darn similar at 30 & 40 yards but at 50 the Kents and Fiochis consistently held the best pattern. Since Fiochis were $4/box cheaper & shoot at the same 1550 fps, I'll probably end up switching. I still have 1 1/2 cases of Kents left so I'll use those up first. Oh and those results were out of a Beretta 391, 24" barrel & imp mod factory choke

[Feathers Rainin]

Those BC Snow Goose are the bees knees! Too bad they aren't a little cheaper. Last year we sailed a goose and it went down about 60 yards out. I put three crip shots on it with some cheap stuff and it didn't even phase it. My bro put in one BC Snow Goose and rolled it. It was pretty impressive.

One thing to keep in mind about fps is it is just the muzzle speed. Out at 40 yards the fps will be very different for each type of load that have the same muzzle velocity-fps. It would be nice if the industry had another measurement of fps 30-40 yards out. I would take a decent quality load with 1400 fps over a cheap load with 1550 fps. This is why the phone book patterning is important.

[walleye18]

good post feathersrainin.....

Ultimately, the shells one chooses lies with the data they get from patterning their gun and the price they want to pay....and also what shoots best out of the gun....let me explain.

The best shells to date out of my SBE2 are the Federal Supremes.....the maroon ones with the gold lettering. I don't think their made anymore.

Nonetheless, the Federal Shells (All of them) hang up from time to time and cost me some easy follow up shots at birds that were close or lit in the decoys.

With the Winchester Experts that I shoot now, that is never a problem.....the Kents, BC, etc...all shoot great too.

For the price and my "confidence", the Experts are my choice. Everybody has a reason on why they do what they do....that is mine.

[bobbymalone]

All I said is kents seem to kill ducks dead (vs crippling) better than the cheap stuff.

I thought Kents were the cheap stuff.

[Feathers Rainin]

I thought Kents were the cheap stuff.

Everything is relative.

[fishersofmen]

I thought Kents were the cheap stuff.

Me too lol. The place I go to for ammo they are the last ones on the shelf. I bought a couple boxes last year only because I had to.

[Feathers Rainin]

If I shot shells more expensive than Kents I think I would be broke by the end of the season. How many cases do you guys shoot a year?

$15+ a box is expensive in my book but I used to shoot the cheap Estates, Federals, and Winchesters at $8-10 a box. Like I said everything is relative.

[walleye18]

I'm fortunate to hunt Ark, MN, ND, ID and WA. I just started hunting WA 2 yrs ago....all I can say is "holy cow"!

I go thru about 3/4 cases per year. Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less....and if my buddies/relatives mooch from me.

If I go wack snows in the spring the amount changes.....

Looking forward to this year. My chocolate is getting up there in years....and cant wait to watch him do his stuff. He's got alot of water between those webbed feet and ground on his pads.

[fishuhalik]

If I shot shells more expensive than Kents I think I would be broke by the end of the season. How many cases do you guys shoot a year?

$15+ a box is expensive in my book but I used to shoot the cheap Estates, Federals, and Winchesters at $8-10 a box. Like I said everything is relative.

Too true feathers!! After all the $ I've spent in the last year (11 dozen assorted dekes so far, 2 berettas, a small boat & trailer, a layout, about 5-6 cases of skeet loaded and a mess of clays to help my poor wingshooting etc) I need to start cutting back my spending where I can. I really like those bc snow loads and have heard they pattern awesome with the Carlson chokes, but by the end of the season that's at least $300 more than if I shoot Kent's, and about$420 less if I go with the Fiochis. I don't think an extra 5-10 yards is worth that kinda $, IMHO.

[Gordie]

How many cases do you guys shoot a year?

All depends on how good I shoot each time out

I took three cases out to NoDak several years ago with my two sons and it was just one of those times we all were on. I think we use 7 boxes of shells in three days of hunting.

Now I not gonna say that happens all the time but it did then. first morning 7 shots six birds on the water next day same thing. the following week two boxes for 6 birds you know it happens.

Like I posted earlier I'm done playing the shell game, I found what works in my gun and I don't change.

[Bryce]

Just ordered a case of 3 shot on Sunday. Waiting on the doorstep when I got home tonite. Have heard from two different sources to get your favorites early. Worse shortages than last year.

[Kettle]

It's all how it patterns through your gun imo, I would opt for a good choke like Tyler says over good ammo and a poor choke/pattern. I try and shoot the heaviest stuff I can hevimetal is great but well expensive. I normally shoot federal premiums little more expensive than the blue boxes but they pattern better for me. Tough to find I normally order them.

Kettle

[Bryce]

Got a call about a load I hadn't heard of. Fiocchi Steel Max or Max Steel. 1 1/5 oz @ 1550 fps. Odd payload size but sounds deadly. Looking forward to trying it out. Scheels in Eau Claire is where the call came from. Under $11/box.