Snow Goose Loads

[Duck-o-holic]

Just curious what loads you are all using out there to shoot snows, as much of the time they are harder to get into "in your face" range? How many are using 3 1/2" shells? Anyone spending the big $$ for tungsten, bismuth, or Hevi-shot?? I know some people who swear by 3" number 2's.

Duck-o-holic

[IceHawk]

I use winchester supremes in # 2 shot and BBB. I usally shoot 3 inch if I use my Rem 11-87. If I shoot my Benneli then it's 3 1/2 inch all the way. I do bring a couple of boxes of Hevi- shot with for extra punch. I have a friend who reloads Hevi-shot for me so the cost is way less!!!

[JerknPerchSD]

Pretty much Federal Premium #1's and #2's....all in 3" I own a 3.5" gun but the shells arent worth the extra cash

[Nova]

I use 3.5" all the time for geese, snows and Canadian. I like them to come down dead for sure. I don't want to waste time running them down. I usually shot BBB, but some times BB on snows. The BBB do seem to have quite a bit more kill power to me, but that's mostly on Canadians.

[Finlander]

I use Federal Speed-Shok 3.5", 1550fps, BB"s!

They seem to have the oomph and pellet count going thru my 11-87 with a Hastings xtra full choke. (.678)

I also found some 2 3/4", 1oz. 1450fps, heavy shot at GM store on clearence for five bucks a box!

Shot great patterns at 50 yards with the Hastings choke!

Great patterns kill!

[Tour. Pro 175]

Winchester Supreme 3 1/2 BB 10 Ga.

[JerknPerchSD]

Dont try to tell me 3.5 has more power than a 3" 1500 fps is 1500 no matter how long your shell is. All you get is a few extra pellets. I have no problems killing geese dead with 3 inch shells. Shot January honkers dead with 2 3/4 inch 4s. 3.5s are a waste of money

[Nova]

I can water swat geese with a pellet gun, but if your shooting birds that have seen pressure and you have to reach out a little the 3.5" shells do that. I agree that 3" shells are just more shot than 2.75", but the 3.5" have more of everything. Shot a couple boxes and tell me you don't feel it in your shoulder.

[Rost]

I don't care if guys want to shoot 3.5 inch shells. It just bothers me when 3.5 guys make it sound like you can't kill anything with 3" shell! I have a buddy that shoots 3.5 inch shells. He is always chirping in my ear about what an advantage he has over me out in the field. In fact, last year he was yelling "Love those 3.5 shells" as a goose he shot was dropping. - Yeah, funny! The goose was telephone pole high.

With a properly choked 3 inch gun, you can kill a lot of birds.

[LABS4ME]

It's been my understanding that max load 3" and max load 3.5" have the same amount of powder... you are just increasing your pellet count. That will cause the gun to "kick" a little more as you have more mass to begin moving down the barrel. I too gave up on 3.5", I'd rather spend the same money on 10 3" #2 or #4 hevi-shot.... that is a killing load!

It's funny when I listen to buddies say that 3.5" is the only way to go! Won't even consider shooting 2 3/4" or 3". What's even funnier is that guys were able to kill birds 50 years ago with 2 3/4" shells with sub-standard powder, and paper hulls! but we seem to think we need cannons out there! I understand they used lead as opposed to steel, but that is why I am switching to hevi-shot... inside 45 yards there is no water swat! Back in the late 80's early 90's before Canada went fully to steel, we used lead 4's on geese (both 2 3/4 and 3") and killed em' clean and #6 or AA #7 1/2's on ducks in the Netley marsh, awesome to 30 yards which is the farthest we ever shot. Ithink the reason most guys want "more shell" is to compensate for not always being able to decoy them in closer... not ripping on guys ability to use decoys, sometimes it's pressured birds, but I know guys who think because they are shooting 3.5" they can continually take 50-55 yard crossing shots at ducks... I'd rather let them fly and wait for the next group to decoy... that's the fun of the sport.

Good Luck!

Ken

[Nova]

back in the good old days they use to use cow chips for decoys...the birds were that thick and dumb. With the pressure now day and the ducks and geese getting smarter it's not that easy to get them at 20-30 yards. Duck hunting this year in this state;for us at least, was awful. If I waited for a shot at 30 yards or less this year I would still be waiting and have about 2 empty shells next to me. I'm not saying I shot at ducks and geese at 70 yards, but 50 yards is very hittable for a 3.5" shell. Maybe there isn't more powder, which I doubt, but if you get more pellets in them (especially with steel) they come down dead more often. As far as the price goes, I bought 4 cases of 3.5" BBB for $7.80 a box. Tell me you are buying 2.75" or 3" for that! If you guys don't buy them there will be an overstock at the end of the year, then I can get a deal on them again.

[MattKeller]

My opinion is that the 3.5 inch shell and all the non-toxic dump is just encouraging most (notice I said MOST) guys to take longer shots, wounding more birds, and educating them as well. A 50 yard shot is a killable shot with 3" shells but I'm not going to take that shot.

If you can't get 'em within 40 yards, hey, they won.

[Nova]

Yet another reason to use 3.5"...A SURE KILL. even if you don't judge your yardage correcly. I'm not saying I skybust, cause I don't. It's early, you see them coming and get excited, you jump up amd dawg gawn, that's 45 yards not 25 the way it look coming at me.