Ladies and Gentlemen:

My research is inconclusive concerning 12 gauge steel shot loads for waterfowl: Does higher speed above 1400 fps kill waterfowl more effectively?

Does it make more sense to lighten the steel shot payload to 7/8 ounce in a 2 3/4" shell or 1 ounce in a 3" magnum shell, and get the muzzle velocity up to 1500 - 1700 fps using Alliant Steel powder?

Or do I keep the steel shot loads in the 1 1/8 ounce range for 2 3/4" and 1 1/4" ounces for the 3" magnum at around 1390-1450 fps?

At what muzzle velocity does steel shot effectiveness out to 45-50 yards become compromised, meaning causing a high number of crippled birds even with a good pattern?

I am assuming a shot size of BBB-BB for geese and #1-#3 for ducks.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

What I've always found works real well for ducks over decoys - http://www.winchester.com/prod...1233&use=13&gauge=12.

For geese and ultra high flying ducks this gets good results - http://www.winchester.com/prod...23BB&use=13&gauge=12.

Both are 1265 fps. With 1 3/8 oz of steel in 12 ga 3" magnum, that is all the velocity necessary in my opinion. Many use either #2 or #4 shot but I prefer #3 because I think it more resembles the #5 shot pellets I used in lead. In any event I would not recommend less than #4 for waterfowl.

And of course, no matter what you use you still have to put it on 'um.

Dear Shack:

Thank you for your advice.

Unfortunately, I am limited to 1 1/4 ounces in my 3" reloads, but that should be pretty close.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

I thought the name of this thread was "Steel Shot and Saeed"......

And thought.....but they only use lead over there.

"My research is inconclusive concerning 12 gauge steel shot loads for waterfowl: Does higher speed above 1400 fps kill waterfowl more effectively?" -- That's plenty of velocity.

"Or do I keep the steel shot loads in the 1 1/8 ounce range for 2 3/4" and 1 1/4" ounces for the 3" magnum at around 1390-1450 fps?" -- As i said, that's plenty of load velocity for steel if you are using the right pellet size for the type of duck and at the distance you are wanting to shoot'em.

"I am assuming a shot size of BBB-BB for geese and #1-#3 for ducks." -- Yes, those are good steel shot sizes for geese and ducks can run from steel #4s to #1s depending on duck type and distance. Oviously, teal at 30 yards is a different load,choke,shot size proposition than mallards at 50 yards. You have to reach a balance between pellet size, load weight, pattern density, etc. See CONSEP/Roster's Nontoxic Shot Lethality Table for minumum shot sizes, load weights, pattern counts, etc. for different types of ducks at different distanes.

Remember, if you can't put the pattern on the frront end of the ducks then little else matters!!!

Good luck.