Fast Steel!

[Gordon]

A couple years backI was asked to leave the old ugly 10ga BPS behind when going as a guest to the EXPENSIVE duck club I go with a rich guy to about 6 times a year. They said it was "Booming too much " which my sponsor said was snob BS because they didn't like me getting my limit before they did! I was shooting reloads of 1 1/2 Oz of #3 for the ducks with a few 1/5/8 BBs in my pockets for the odd goose.
Everybody else shoots a 12ga 3.5" Benelli or Beretta or Browning Gold backed up by a same make 20 ga. when the action is close in or they "get bored".These clubs cost $200000+ buy in + $3k+ dues per year ! Out of my league!
So I took my old but cherry Browning A-5 20 Ga.3" magnum and had a True Choke installed on it's 28" ribbed barrel. I shoot Kent Fast Steel 1550 fps 7/8oz #4 thru an extended modified Hunter choke tube. The gun swings like it is on rails and the choke prints 80% at 40 yards very evenly distributed and right on center! It has been doing the trick form me and my sponsor is bragging me up to the "flatlander snobs from San Fransisco".
I also have a nice old mid 80s 1100 Remington 3" 12ga SP 28" with True Choke made modified hunter extended tubes installed that is even MORE deadly with Kent Faststeel 1 1/8oz #3 1550 fps loads. It gives me another 20 yards over the 20 ! But I love my old cowboy sponsor chewing on the gentry class about "his" old boy with his Square back 20 ga.At cocktails He asks if they will want me to bring a .410 NEXT season .
I see hope in this fast steel stuff! I really catch the crossers better than my 1200 fps twice as heavy 10 ga loads. The leads are real short and it folds the birds better! That 300 fps really helps steel loads! I like it!

 

[MCgunner]

Fast steel hits hard. I started using it about 3 years ago and it's made a lot of difference. It really carries out there a ways. I shot a rosses goose with 3 steel, Xpert 2 3/4" 1 1/16 ounce, hi speed at about 45 yards and I didn't expect much on him at that range, a high passer and just a prayer shot. I'll be damned if that thing didn't fold up! Got me to wondering if I might should have switched to BB fast steel before getting a 10 gauge last season for geese. I dont' know, that 10 knocks 'em down with T shot WAY out there, though. I'm really happy with it for goose hunting, but I shoot nothing, but 2 3/4" Winchester Xpert Hi Speed now, about 8 dollars a box at Wallyworld, on ducks. I prefer 3 shot, but 2s works fine, too. I, too, have a MEC for the 10 gauge to keep costs down. The 10's weakness is it works at lower pressures, but its strength is it tosses a LOT of BIG steel. Besides, I always wanted a 10.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Gordon,

The fast steel loads may help, all right, but if you weren't puttin' 'em where they needed to go, you'd be missing (just like the snobs).

Truth hurts, don't it???

lpl

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

Wait wait wait, $200,000 to buy into a club?

Maybe the snobs should pay the ducks and geese to stand still!

Way to show them how it's done!

 

[Hunterdad]

I could never get Fast Steel to pattern worth a poop in any of my guns.

 

[MCgunner]

It patterns TIGHT, fantastic in my Mossberg 500 shooting through a modified choke tube. Same in my Winchester 1400.

Yeah, for once a Texan can brag about the great hunting he has on PUBLIC land. Man, that's unusual, eh? I don't need no stinkin' high brow club!

 

[berettashotgun]

Fast loads work great. #3 shot is what I use, along with a LOT (34-36gr.) of "STEEL" powder and 1oz. of shot in a federal G.M. hull with a Ballistic Products CSD unslit wad.
Crimp is everything with this load.
BP also sells pre-slit wads, but being the tightwad I am----
Doves season gets a slight download - 32gr powder and a felt on the bottom of the cup, along with #7 shot.
Funny how Federal came out with a revolutionary "flightcontrol" wad. hahahaha
Snips or a modified broadhead and die make cutting the slits in the wad fairly quick, if not painful is you let your mind start wandering.
Wow - 3.5" guns for ducks, those guys really know what they're doing.................

 

[ArmedBear]

If they're shooting non-toxic shot, it's not a high-end club.

 

[MCgunner]

Ya know, AB, you're right. I'd expect 'em to all be shooting antique LC Smiths with Bismuth at five bucks a trigger pull....

 

[Gordon]

I don't know what they shoot out of the high end Benelli and Beretta auto loaders they all seem to use. I don't know how they shoot either,just that they have their noses straight up in the air! BTW the membership is more like $250 K and the "gentry class" including my sponsor own multiple memberships to get more "voting rights". My benefactor is looking into buying a major stake in a club up the street that is more friendly. Seems the 4th generation Rancher who takes me doesn't have much in common with the CEOs that have bought into "his club" in the last 10 years.
Now I just lead the fast crossers about 3" or 4 " while keeping swinging of course. I used to lead them a length of duck with the 10 ga. with steel at 1200 fps. I have no complaints with the 20 ga 3 " results wise and the 20 gauge magnum A-5 weighs 7 pounds 3 oz so the recoil is not bad. It has NO recoil pad but I have a "strap on" if not wearing heavy garments.

 

[chevyforlife21]

thats a joke a 600 dollar bps isnt good enough

 

[MCgunner]

BTW the membership is more like $250 K

GOOD GOD! Sheesh, and I was sweatin' 300 a year for a dove/goose lease a few years ago. I just e-mailed that guy to see if he has any spots for next season, sure was good. 250K I could buy my own property. Actually, I deer and hog hunt on land I bought for 11K. LOL!