2.75 inch waterfowl loads...

[3006hollowpoint]

Are they common? i rarely can find em! and my duck/goose gun has a full winchoke in it. and only a 2 and 3/4 inch chamber.
are steel shot loads in this size common/useful?

 

[CBU93]

They will definitely work on tight holes such as flooded timber and slash water in fields if you hold your shots till they are in the decoys...they are also a less expensive option for running down cripples. They are good for woodies and teal early season as well...number fours would be my suggestion in steel for these situations.

I generally see them more on sale after season and during the summer at Wal Mart.

If you are wanting to shoot an older model gun I would suggest spending the $$$ on a better non toxic than steel in the 2.75".

 

[Taylor]

with steel, I really think as the ad slogan says, speed kills. They are faster. I think you will be surprised how well 2 3/4 loads do. I #5 shot in that non-toxic 2 3/4 load patterned crazy-good in my scattergun.

 

[3006hollowpoint]

What are some affordable-ish non-toxic alternatives to steel? I'm a H.S. student and work part-time for a Bridgeman Foods wendy's.

 

[CBU93]

Bismuth, Tungsten, Heavy shot...

Affordable is relative....more affordable than buying a new barrel or shotgun, but much more expensive than steel shot.

 

[rukiddin]

2 3/4" shells are fairly easy to find. Any big name store should have some. Although this time of the year, most places have been picked over.

I shoot everything from 2 3/4" to 3 1/2". As far as success on killin' ducks goes, I can't tell a difference.

If you pattern your gun and find the best steel load, and you shoot the birds when their actually supposed to be shot, steel will kill'em as good as anything.

 

[3006hollowpoint]

Thanks CBU and rukiddin, I was just trying to figure out what's best to shoot when in doubt, and without a fancy, game-specific gun. My new O/U I'm getting has 4 chokes that comes with it but I don't know what they'll shoot, or what they even are.