Ducks - 2 3/4" ??
- Thread starter Rogmatt
- Start date
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charby
Member
I've killed many a duck with 2 3/4" #4 steel shoot.
You could look at other non toxic alternatives that are more similar to lead.
Charby
You could look at other non toxic alternatives that are more similar to lead.
Charby
Kingcreek
Member
Over decoys, with a reasonable setup, 2.75 is fine.
If you feel undergunned go with HeviShot.
I consider 2.75 HeviShot to be equal or better than 3" steel.
If you feel undergunned go with HeviShot.
I consider 2.75 HeviShot to be equal or better than 3" steel.
I'm sure sm will be along shortly. 
When I was hunting a lot of ducks, I found 3" shells were mainly a waste of money. I kept a few in my vest in case we saw some geese.
When I was hunting a lot of ducks, I found 3" shells were mainly a waste of money. I kept a few in my vest in case we saw some geese.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Larry Ashcraft said:I'm sure sm will be along shortly.
When I was hunting a lot of ducks, I found 3" shells were mainly a waste of money. I kept a few in my vest in case we saw some geese.
When I lived in Virginia, right on Cheaspeake Bay, I killed a lot of geese with my 2 3/4" Ithaca Model 37. With more modern developments in non-lead shot, the 2 3/4" shell is coming back into its own.
sm
member
I am a stones throw from the Duck Capitol of the World.
Which just happens to be Rice Capitol of the world too.
Never owned a gun that would take anything bigger than 2 3/4' shells - except .410.
Then again back in the day 2 1/2" .410s felled many a duck as well.
I hate steel shot, I read the NILO (which is OLIN backwards) and at the time...I used steel shot to keeps TPTB happy. Just patterned my gun and roll with it.
I like the Bismuth, acts a lot like the old days, patterns similar, and allows one to use a classic gun without problems.
I had a 3" chamber gun for the first time in my life in something other than .410.
That 870 with 3" chambers, never fired a 3" shell, not sure if I stuck one in there just to see...
That gun is gone, only had it a yearor so . Fella that just had have it -done whacked it up to be tactical. It did not work. I have the end of bbl with muzzle and choke , the wood and such. I mean he ruined the gun. Someone I know is doing with it what I have done before. Though I prefer 20"-23" for this application. *smirk*
I ran that Express hard - bone stock, except for changing out J-Hook. Never failed.
I will get another OLDer 870, prefer to only have a 2 3/4" chamber.
I don't buy skill and targets. I pattern, let the game come to me. I duck hunt in Waxed Coats, wool and such, dont' do this syn camo stuff. I do not even own any camo.
Flooded timber and Resevior Ducks " Hey lookee there! Old sporting goods store down the highway done wrote a big ticket for a fancy camo outfit, uber duck gun, and all sorts of goodies. Lets buzz 'em and let 'em get a sore shoulder slinging lead and missing...".
Yep they sure do. Ducks get a kickback from the Sporting goods shop.
That is why the World Championship Duck Calling Contest is held here. They (ducks) set up booths and take folks monies for other stuff too. Helluva deal...
Ducks know where and whom to avoid.
If I can see it - I will fell it.
Which just happens to be Rice Capitol of the world too.
Never owned a gun that would take anything bigger than 2 3/4' shells - except .410.
Then again back in the day 2 1/2" .410s felled many a duck as well.
I hate steel shot, I read the NILO (which is OLIN backwards) and at the time...I used steel shot to keeps TPTB happy. Just patterned my gun and roll with it.
I like the Bismuth, acts a lot like the old days, patterns similar, and allows one to use a classic gun without problems.
I had a 3" chamber gun for the first time in my life in something other than .410.
That 870 with 3" chambers, never fired a 3" shell, not sure if I stuck one in there just to see...
That gun is gone, only had it a yearor so . Fella that just had have it -done whacked it up to be tactical. It did not work. I have the end of bbl with muzzle and choke , the wood and such. I mean he ruined the gun. Someone I know is doing with it what I have done before. Though I prefer 20"-23" for this application. *smirk*
I ran that Express hard - bone stock, except for changing out J-Hook. Never failed.
I will get another OLDer 870, prefer to only have a 2 3/4" chamber.
I don't buy skill and targets. I pattern, let the game come to me. I duck hunt in Waxed Coats, wool and such, dont' do this syn camo stuff. I do not even own any camo.
Flooded timber and Resevior Ducks " Hey lookee there! Old sporting goods store down the highway done wrote a big ticket for a fancy camo outfit, uber duck gun, and all sorts of goodies. Lets buzz 'em and let 'em get a sore shoulder slinging lead and missing...".
Yep they sure do. Ducks get a kickback from the Sporting goods shop.
That is why the World Championship Duck Calling Contest is held here. They (ducks) set up booths and take folks monies for other stuff too. Helluva deal...
Ducks know where and whom to avoid.
If I can see it - I will fell it.
Vern Humphrey
Member
You wouldn't wanna trade some duck hunting in the Delta for some turkey and deer hunting in the Ozarks?
sm
member
Mr. Humphrey,
I severed my relationship with some folks - which means I severed some duck hunting. My decison to attend College as an older student cut into some shooting and hunting as well. Sometimes it is best to severe relationships with folks that are NOT Responsible Firearm Folks. Safe shooters all right - just did not give a hoot about fighting Tyranny , gun control, Politics and such.
Matter of Prinicple, and I can be very hard-headed when it comes to my Ethics and Principles.
Tell you what , I would be honored to just shake your hand, thank you in person for your service, and all you have continued to do for Freedom. WE don't have to talk guns, go shoot or nothing.
Ease out on the property with cup of coffee in hand and just take it all in. I spoil dogs, you have been warned. I figure that is okay by you.
You have my email. College starts back on the 14th for me. Not sure when I will have free time. I am hoping to attend Tulsa again. Meeting up with fine folks like yourself - again I'd be honored sir.
Regards,
Steve.
ps
Tulsa
I'll be the fella checking out shotguns and that short guy trying to keep up will be Larry...Sandy his wife will be the one with a frying pan trying to get me.
All I gotta do is outrun Larry.
I severed my relationship with some folks - which means I severed some duck hunting. My decison to attend College as an older student cut into some shooting and hunting as well. Sometimes it is best to severe relationships with folks that are NOT Responsible Firearm Folks. Safe shooters all right - just did not give a hoot about fighting Tyranny , gun control, Politics and such.
Matter of Prinicple, and I can be very hard-headed when it comes to my Ethics and Principles.
Tell you what , I would be honored to just shake your hand, thank you in person for your service, and all you have continued to do for Freedom. WE don't have to talk guns, go shoot or nothing.
Ease out on the property with cup of coffee in hand and just take it all in. I spoil dogs, you have been warned. I figure that is okay by you.
You have my email. College starts back on the 14th for me. Not sure when I will have free time. I am hoping to attend Tulsa again. Meeting up with fine folks like yourself - again I'd be honored sir.
Regards,
Steve.
ps
Tulsa
I'll be the fella checking out shotguns and that short guy trying to keep up will be Larry...Sandy his wife will be the one with a frying pan trying to get me.
All I gotta do is outrun Larry.
duckslayer
Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2004
- Messages
- 497
It depends on the type of hunting you are doing. If it is flooded timber, steel will be fine, as the birds will be close. If you are pass shooting on a lake somewhere, you'd better spring for hevi-shot.
sm
member
Middle of a huge open resevior - one I always find the bar ditch that did not exist...or found another one...
In my waxed cotton Barbour, ugly Hodgen chest waders and ugly wool hat...
I take about 4 or 5 dekes that have bounced around a truck bed, and tie 'em to a few stick up's.
I stand there with a blue shotgun and make like a stump, stick up...one that smokes.
I may do a feed call, then again that messes with smoking...
Let the ducks come to me. I mean I am usually 'damp' from finding a bar ditch or at least one stump hole. I shoot 'em coming at me and try to get them land at my feet...err chest.
Our 'game' was to shoot and try to catch 'em falling. Doves are easier and not near as heavy. Not to mention in a dove field not likely to get wet.
--
Now these resevoirs - some are BIG. I hunted a lot alone. Like doves they come in low and tight near shores, or swoop down from tree coming over you.
Most times I did not take dekes or a call. I mean this was dove hunting with bigger birds and it was wet.
So I pop one or two, and depending on whether I was wearing hip boot or waders...and how much time before work.
Time and waders, ease out, stick the dead duck bill onto a stick up and instant dekes. Draws ducks.
Then again just taking some cord and doing slip knots around necks and tossing dead ducks near shore - draws them too. Ducks come in, and shoot 'em right , land on the shore. I did have one get in a tree once. Had to shoot a limb to get 'em down...worked and stayed dry.
My take - some folks work too hard on some of this hunting stuff. Work smarter - not harder I say.
--
Mentors that taught me to shoot and hunt - well times were hard. I was NOT taught to sky-bust, or to shoot long ranges. See back in the day it was legal to use a .22lr on ducks and geese. Being hungry and poor, "one shot- one bird/critter". One watched critters and learned habits.
I started duck hunting before non-toxic shot. In fact some places had rules just like Bing Crosby did - 28ga was the biggest gauge to use on ducks. I am serious and Bing Crosby's rule is fact.
So we patterned guns and learned to note how ducks did what they did. We watched and postioned ourselves. Felled many a duck with a .410 or 28 ga.
Non Toxic and I get pissed. My old plain bbl 870 2 3/4" with fixed Mod bbl did great with Win #1. I mean folks spent more monies on buying choke tubes - not to mention entire guns...I paid $80 for that 870 and it patterned better than most anything anyone "set up" or 'bought" for non toxic.
My '74 SX1, well it only has 2 3/4" chambers. One bbl has Nu-Line chokes - I competed with this gun, over 200K rds thru it and still running. Most times I just left the .735 choke in I shot skeet with, and felled ducks . Then drop off the duck at the pickers and shoot some skeet. Too lazy to change chokes.
Now in lead days...and backing up folks. My reload of 1 3/8 oz of #5 was deadly for cripples - some folks just can't shoot. The old Win AA 1 1/2 oz of grex buffered shot worked well for cripples , like Geese playing back up.
Still I had my regular loading of 1 1/4 oz of #5 lead, and one of 1 1/8 oz of #5 lead [Copper plated hard shot with a buffer...my reloads] that I preferred.
20 ga in 2 3/4 I had my reloads...
28 ga...helluva recipe with #5 too.
.410...*grin* 2 1/2" shells with copperplated, malto meal for buffer #5 was a duck getter for sure.
Often done with a single shot .410 with fixed full choke. *smirk*
I have dupicated this load using bismuth...and boy did that ever surprise folks one morning. Took two ducks , two shots, and had to leave.
Rules "say" non toxic. Does not say one "has" to use a repeater, in a min gauge, of a certain shell length. Hunting is about getting out, the folks, taking it all in, and the dogs. Taking game just a bonus. I was having fun - because I wanted to, and I can shoot.
The skeet field was my world. Station 8 for instance, I can walk halfway in and break birds for instance. So -I let 'em birds come to me, then let fall at my feet/blind/shore.
I just like to be different and have fun. Labgrade, now passed, used to say "when hunting with guns I pretend I am bowhunting".
Something to be said for having skills, one cannot buy skills and targets. Nothing wrong with guns and equipment, there is a place for such.
Then again my Mentors were hungry, had other mouths to feed, only had one, maybe two guns and only one kind of ammo for that gun.
One Mentor showed me the spot, he had a single shot .410 and 3 shells his momma got out of coffee can from the market. "We are hungry, we have no meat, your younger sibs need meet, do not miss".
He took 2 geese brought these home and that one extra .410 shell. Might have need for that one shell around the house.
No wonder this guy was cool under pressure when competiting. He had skills and focus. He learned and earned his skills.
In my waxed cotton Barbour, ugly Hodgen chest waders and ugly wool hat...
I take about 4 or 5 dekes that have bounced around a truck bed, and tie 'em to a few stick up's.
I stand there with a blue shotgun and make like a stump, stick up...one that smokes.
I may do a feed call, then again that messes with smoking...
Let the ducks come to me. I mean I am usually 'damp' from finding a bar ditch or at least one stump hole. I shoot 'em coming at me and try to get them land at my feet...err chest.
Our 'game' was to shoot and try to catch 'em falling. Doves are easier and not near as heavy. Not to mention in a dove field not likely to get wet.
--
Now these resevoirs - some are BIG. I hunted a lot alone. Like doves they come in low and tight near shores, or swoop down from tree coming over you.
Most times I did not take dekes or a call. I mean this was dove hunting with bigger birds and it was wet.
So I pop one or two, and depending on whether I was wearing hip boot or waders...and how much time before work.
Time and waders, ease out, stick the dead duck bill onto a stick up and instant dekes. Draws ducks.
Then again just taking some cord and doing slip knots around necks and tossing dead ducks near shore - draws them too. Ducks come in, and shoot 'em right , land on the shore. I did have one get in a tree once. Had to shoot a limb to get 'em down...worked and stayed dry.
My take - some folks work too hard on some of this hunting stuff. Work smarter - not harder I say.
--
Mentors that taught me to shoot and hunt - well times were hard. I was NOT taught to sky-bust, or to shoot long ranges. See back in the day it was legal to use a .22lr on ducks and geese. Being hungry and poor, "one shot- one bird/critter". One watched critters and learned habits.
I started duck hunting before non-toxic shot. In fact some places had rules just like Bing Crosby did - 28ga was the biggest gauge to use on ducks. I am serious and Bing Crosby's rule is fact.
So we patterned guns and learned to note how ducks did what they did. We watched and postioned ourselves. Felled many a duck with a .410 or 28 ga.
Non Toxic and I get pissed. My old plain bbl 870 2 3/4" with fixed Mod bbl did great with Win #1. I mean folks spent more monies on buying choke tubes - not to mention entire guns...I paid $80 for that 870 and it patterned better than most anything anyone "set up" or 'bought" for non toxic.
My '74 SX1, well it only has 2 3/4" chambers. One bbl has Nu-Line chokes - I competed with this gun, over 200K rds thru it and still running. Most times I just left the .735 choke in I shot skeet with, and felled ducks . Then drop off the duck at the pickers and shoot some skeet. Too lazy to change chokes.
Now in lead days...and backing up folks. My reload of 1 3/8 oz of #5 was deadly for cripples - some folks just can't shoot. The old Win AA 1 1/2 oz of grex buffered shot worked well for cripples , like Geese playing back up.
Still I had my regular loading of 1 1/4 oz of #5 lead, and one of 1 1/8 oz of #5 lead [Copper plated hard shot with a buffer...my reloads] that I preferred.
20 ga in 2 3/4 I had my reloads...
28 ga...helluva recipe with #5 too.
.410...*grin* 2 1/2" shells with copperplated, malto meal for buffer #5 was a duck getter for sure.
Often done with a single shot .410 with fixed full choke. *smirk*
I have dupicated this load using bismuth...and boy did that ever surprise folks one morning. Took two ducks , two shots, and had to leave.
Rules "say" non toxic. Does not say one "has" to use a repeater, in a min gauge, of a certain shell length. Hunting is about getting out, the folks, taking it all in, and the dogs. Taking game just a bonus. I was having fun - because I wanted to, and I can shoot.
The skeet field was my world. Station 8 for instance, I can walk halfway in and break birds for instance. So -I let 'em birds come to me, then let fall at my feet/blind/shore.
I just like to be different and have fun. Labgrade, now passed, used to say "when hunting with guns I pretend I am bowhunting".
Something to be said for having skills, one cannot buy skills and targets. Nothing wrong with guns and equipment, there is a place for such.
Then again my Mentors were hungry, had other mouths to feed, only had one, maybe two guns and only one kind of ammo for that gun.
One Mentor showed me the spot, he had a single shot .410 and 3 shells his momma got out of coffee can from the market. "We are hungry, we have no meat, your younger sibs need meet, do not miss".
He took 2 geese brought these home and that one extra .410 shell. Might have need for that one shell around the house.
No wonder this guy was cool under pressure when competiting. He had skills and focus. He learned and earned his skills.
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