20 Ga. Waterfowl Round

[SouthernWake]

What size/type/make of shot do you recomend for shooting over decoys at about 30 yrds. Shooting smaller ducks no mallards or geese, currently shooting 3" steel #4 and am not seeing the best results. I cant tell if I'm not getting enough range for birds on the outter limits of my effective range or/and not dense enough for the close birds. I am shooting out of a browing BPS fixed modified choke.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

How much shot are you using in your load? I have seen 3" magnums that only launch an ounce, while another brand that is 2¾" and launches 1¼ ounce.

You also might want to pattern your barrel. Your gun may simply not like the brand of shotshell you are using, and going to a different brand (different shot cup, different velocity) might make all the difference.

Finally, I have found that many of us shotgunners, especially when waterfowling, lift our heads a tad when shooting live birds. I mean folks shoot skeet, in warm weather, and the clay birds are at set angles and distances for safety and competition. Add a winter coat and hat, and have birds doing evasive movements, and it's different, and guys often lift their heads off the stock a bit, which means when you hit, you are only hitting with the bottom portion of the pattern, for lifting the head makes you shoot high. It can be danged frustrating, and often tough to detect as it only take a little lifting to mess stuff up.

LD

 

[Gunnerboy]

As a youngin my favorite load was winchester 3in #2s in the 20ga they lauched at 1550fps and i killed everything from mallards to buffleheads with that load.

 

[newbuckeye]

A mod choke will give you average results no matter what size shot you use. For ducks, #4 should be plenty, but with a pay load as small as a 20 ga, you really need to pattern your gun. You will be amazed how different weight loads of the same size pellets will give you different sized patterns. The speed, size pellets, choke, even barrel length all factor into what your pattern looks like.

You will need a paper target 30 inches across, and start at 15 yards, go to 20, then 30 yards. Aim for the center of the paper, use a rest, like a shooting stick and aim center mass. Measure the MAIN part of the pattern. You will have flyers, but dont count them.

This may seem like a lot to do just to hit a duck, but I promise you, it will teach you a lot about your gun. I have a CZ 720 I use for doves. The first time I took it out, I couldn't hit anything with it. After patterning it, I found out where my point of impact was at given distances, where my point of aim needed to be and that at 35 yards, my pattern was only about 20" across.

 

[MCgunner]

Number 2s and 3s are what I use in 12 gauge and they should be available in 20. I've not found a 20 gauge 3" round that patterns for squat, but I haven't tried that many brands. The fast steel stuff is what works great. If it'll pattern, a 3" 20 should work as good as a 12 gauge 2 3/4" which works excellent in 1550 fps 3 or 2. I just use my 12s on ducks. Hell, that little 20 weighs nothing and hurts about as bad as a 12 in my Mossberg and more than a 12 in my Winchester 1400 gas gun. Sure is quick on teal, though.

 

[John Peddie]

I've been shooting teal and other smaller ducks with a 20 ga, 2 3/4" 1 oz steel # 3 (4 if I have to), imp cyl choke, for several years.

Works fine, over decoys, out to about 30-35 yeards max. Actually, works on Canadas about that far too, but I wouldn't push it beyond that.



Overall, I haven't found much difference in effectiveness between 2 3/4 and
3" 20 ga shells, lead or steel.

2 3/4 " # 6 lead works fine on pheasants out to about 30-35 yds.

But pattern it with a variety of loads. Results may surprise you.

Estimating the true distance of a variety of waterfowl over water is tricky, and they are usually farther than they look, especially the larger birds.