10 gauge

[MCgunner]

Is there anything, but 3.5" loads made for 10 suitable for ducks? Is there anything made, but 3.5" anything? Some sort of lead field load? Steel low brass, maybe? Just wondering. All I can find is 3.5" Ts and maybe 4 steel for ducks.

 

[romeo212000]

I dont know about 10 gauge but I would think you would be able to find something made by Hevi-Shot or the like.

 

[ArmedBear]

What are you trying to do?

 

[Virginian]

I have not seen anything but 3-1/2" on the shelf for years. Used to be some 2-7/8" stuff but I think that's long gone. Look for some of the lighter payload steel #2s for ducks, unless you want to go to the better stuff like tungsten matrix.
Ballistics Products has a 10 gauge reloading manual that has everything in it.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, I have this H&R 10 I wanted, but the guy can't find it. I'm sitting around thinking that getting a BPS 10 is sort of stupid since the only thing I'd hunt with it is geese, but if I had a lighter load I could use on ducks, might be okay. Otherwise, if the idiot can't get my H&R ordered, I might just get a Mossberg 935 or Spartan 453, more versatile, can buy cheaper loads for it to shoot ducks, lighter loads than 3.5" 10. Ducks fall fine to 2 3/4" number 3 fasteel loads.

I don't know, hoping I can get that H&R since that's what I really want. It's a goose only gun, won't use it for anything else unless I get a chance to hunt turkey. Not likely.

I don't do tungsten anymore, the whole purpose of getting a 10, steel Ts. Ain't no goose flying worth $3.60 a shot.... I'll just go back to crippling 'em with steel BBs before I spend THAT for goose loads. Remington hevi steel is a possibility, I guess.

 

[Der Verge]

10 Gauge is nice, but it does nothing that 12ga 3.5" can't. 12ga shells are easier to find, and so are the guns. Just a thought. If you want a 10, get a 10.

 

[chas08]

10 Gauge is nice, but it does nothing that 12ga 3.5" can't.

Spoken like someone who has never owned one.

MC,
Able ammo out of Houston and Macks Prairie Wings out of Stuttgart Ark. Have a good selection of 10 ga ammo, but I didn't see anything on either site shorter than 3.5 or smaller than #2 steel except for lead turkey loads. They are "Way Overkill" on Ducks. I only use mine for Geese, and will till I'm to old to handle it. Have you tried anyone else for your HR? I've seen one at a Gander Mountain store once last year. Cabelas had a very clean preowned BPS 10 ga in Buda,Tx. last week for $499. Thats about equal to 150 rounds of Tungsten non-tox ammo. How long will six boxes of shells last you? Good luck on your quest and don't give up.

 

[plumberroy]

10 Gauge is nice, but it does nothing that 12ga 3.5" can't. 12ga shells are easier to find, and so are the guns. Just a thought. If you want a 10, get a 10.

I have fired just enough 3.5" twelve gauge loads to know this Any 3.5" shell I pull the trigger on is going to be in a ten gauge I don't shoot much steel but with lead a 10 is has more fps at lower pressure and patterns heavy pay loads better with less felt recoil
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=390721
Mc I made some 1 1/4 oz lead loads like in the link I looked up alliant data for 1 1/4 loads .what I did different is, I cut 10 gauge hulls to 2 5/8ths shortened the shot cup to where 1 1/4th oz of shot filled them and instead of crimping I cut overshot cards and topped with elmers glue add let dry.. It will roll a squirrel out of the tallest hickory with out blowing it to peices. those #2's steel will flat take the wind out of a crow at 50 yards straight up too I was given a box of remington #2 steel
Roy

 

[Gordon]

I shoot a BPS 10 ga. for all my waterfowling. I loaded BBs for geese and 2's for ducks in Ballistic Products wads and Alcan hulls for 10 years+ ,(now) using Longshot powder for best results. This year I loaded up 250 #3's for ducks, which is most of my shooting. All steel of course. I use a steel rated Modified tube and the 3's are throwing even 40" patterns at 60yards, BBs throw 30+" patterns at that range. I have a stash of 2 7/8" #6 lead Remington shells that are used mostly in my old AyA double which is now 20" cylinder. In that format those 6"s have been devasting on pheasant on preserves when I wanted a laugh (but not classy) and you have to shoot fast with the open choke even though the patterns are dense.

 

[plumberroy]

What I would like to do, if I ever get back to work is get another H&R 10 have it cut to 18.5" threaded for chokes lengthen and polish the forcing cone and load 1 1/4 loads for most of the time and the have the heavies if needed did I mention federal makes a slug 1 3/4 oz lets see you launch that out of a 3 1/2 12 ga
Roy

 

[Dave McCracken]

Ballistic Products has components for the 2 7/8" 10, and MEC will sell you any of their presses set up for it.They may also have loaded ammo as does Gamebore.

A classic 10 gauge load from days of yore was 1 1/4 oz of shot at about 1150 FPS. A soft but tight patterning and effective load.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, damn, I guess I might have to get back into shotgun reloading if I get this thing just out of necessity.

Cabelas had a very clean preowned BPS 10 ga in Buda,Tx. last week for $499. Thats about equal to 150 rounds of Tungsten non-tox ammo. How long will six boxes of shells last you?

Damned good point. Well, I have longed for a BPS in the past. I might just put it on the Visa if I can't order the H&R. That goes way against my nature, though. I like to keep the balance on my card ZERO. I use it mostly to order parts for customers. I'm one of those old farts that likes CASH. LOL I don't think I'll be happy with another 12, though. I want a 10. I'm convinced it is superior for geese. I might find a MEC reloader on Ebay or something. If I get a BPS, I WILL probably start reloading shotguns again. All I have now is a Lee Load All in 12 that I retired 20 years ago. I reload rifles and handguns, but shotguns cost about as much to reload as to buy at the store and I don't get into the ballistics and accuracy like with rifles and handguns. But, the ten would give me a good reason to start reloading for it. One thing, though, cases don't last me long in the salt marsh. Even if they don't get fired, they have a way of rusting up even though they don't get dunked. The salt marsh is a corrosive place. Now, my goose hunting is usually on dry ground, though I hunted an upland pond last season.

 

[chas08]

I'm one of those old farts that likes CASH. LOL

Me too

Yeah MC, 10 gauges are mostly "Mission Specific" guns. I used mine in the 80's for Duck also. And with #2 steel it was deadly at ranges most folks won't shoot. But as steel improved, I gravitated back to the 12 ga. Which I still use. I tried a benelli sbe1 for a few years. It had a tendancy to break firing pins with the 3.5 inch loads. I went back to my 10 ga BPS, sold the benelli, and have never looked back. A few of my 12's are 3.5" capable but if I'm going to use that much gun I'd rather shoot a 10.

 

[berettashotgun]

I haven't seen any short loaded 10ga ammo in a long time.
Fairly easy to "roll your own".

 

[Virginian]

I find it easier, more effective, and more satisfying to shoot $4.00 a shot non-toxic shot in my 12 than than to use a 10 anymore. Actually I think I am averaging about $2.20 a shot, and I shoot the 12 better, too.
I have owned five 10 gauges, and the BPS was the best handling of the lot to me, but it was far from agile. With steel shot it was without peer on geese and swans, but as the better non-toxic shot came along, I went back to my 3" 12.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

I pretty much stick with TT's on ducks or geese. It sometimes gets hard to find though.

I sure do miss lead though. I gave up the 12 ga when steel became the law. Haven't really looked back, the 10 does all I need it to do.

 

[chas08]

I find it easier, more effective, and more satisfying to shoot $4.00 a shot non-toxic shot in my 12 than than to use a 10

If your annual income allows that, I'm happy for you, mine doesn't.