Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Hunting Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-11-2013, 02:39 AM
ashNflame ashNflame is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2
Default Your choice of choke and shot size for waterfowl

Whats is your favorite choke tube and shot size when it comes to ducks over the water? Ive been shooting Modified with #2.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-11-2013, 06:11 AM
catnthehat's Avatar
catnthehat catnthehat is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ft. McMurray
Posts: 38,585
Default

Most of the stuff i shoot is either #2 or #4 with chokes on the more open side.
A couple of my guns are cylinder/cylinder and kill very well over decoys .
Cat
__________________
Anytime I figure I've got this long range thing figured out, I just strap into the sling and irons and remind myself that I don't!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-11-2013, 06:25 AM
BuckCuller's Avatar
BuckCuller BuckCuller is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,672
Default

Been doing a lot of testing this year and so far my new A5 likes the Kicks vortex full choke with Black Cloud 3" #2s. And factory improved modified with Heavy Metal 3" #2s or BB. And Kicks high flyer X Full with WinXpert 3" #2s or BBs for the shy ones or pond jumping.
__________________
As long as there is lead in the air there is always hope.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-11-2013, 08:13 AM
Ranch11 Ranch11 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,129
Default

#4 with improved cylinder
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-11-2013, 08:19 AM
super7mag's Avatar
super7mag super7mag is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Vermilion ab
Posts: 2,289
Default

Once again I can't figure out a link to post here but this is a good read and a different perspective.

Get Your Head in the Clouds - Shooting Times
www.shootingtimes.com/.../longgun_revi...
by Terry Wieland • September 23, 2010 • 1 comment. Seeing shot patterns from a new angle may help ...
__________________
Bring on the Anarchy already !
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-11-2013, 08:20 AM
slough shark slough shark is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Airdrie
Posts: 2,377
Default

I'm using a 3 inch # 2 shot out of a modified choke, it does pretty good IMHO.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-11-2013, 08:26 AM
Dick284's Avatar
Dick284 Dick284 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Dreadful Valley
Posts: 14,621
Default

Choke is irrelevant as no two are exactly the same, and no two loads will pattern the same out of different chokes.
Go out and pattern a few loads and make up your own mind.

FWIW: I have been having great success with Winchester Expert 3", #2's, for so long most of the other stuff gets used up as finisher loads. I run a tight modified tube in my 11-87, and they work good out of a not as tight modified in the kids 870. Both are rem chokes but some precision measuring showed about 5 thou difference in the final restriction, don't get me going about the abruptness of one chokes leade vs the others. Again no two chokes are the same!
__________________


There are no absolutes
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-11-2013, 08:32 AM
WildCanuck WildCanuck is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Airdrie
Posts: 124
Default

been running this set up for as long as i can remember with winchester or kent fasteel shells. my choke is a remington modified choke as well.
WildCanuck
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-11-2013, 09:01 AM
Pudelpointer Pudelpointer is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Back in Lethbridge
Posts: 4,647
Default

For ducks I have gone to 2 3/4" #4 steel @ 1500+. Just found that #2 isn't required to kill ducks.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-11-2013, 09:09 AM
greylynx greylynx is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 12,078
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by catnthehat View Post
Most of the stuff i shoot is either #2 or #4 with chokes on the more open side.
A couple of my guns are cylinder/cylinder and kill very well over decoys .
Cat

x2
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-11-2013, 09:10 AM
Okotokian's Avatar
Okotokian Okotokian is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Uh, guess? :)
Posts: 26,739
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ashNflame View Post
Whats is your favorite choke tube and shot size when it comes to ducks over the water? Ive been shooting Modified with #2.
Same
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-11-2013, 09:16 AM
Big Daddy Badger Big Daddy Badger is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 12,558
Default

I've been using IC and either BB or #2 for geese... if its mainly ducks I have been using the same choke with #4.

Seems to work pretty good but then again my experience with hunting waterfowl is limited.
It might be that over time...I'll find that a different combination is actually better for me.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 10-11-2013, 09:41 AM
joshcat's Avatar
joshcat joshcat is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Deadwood
Posts: 626
Default

Carleson full choke and bb. 2 words birds down
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 10-11-2013, 09:49 AM
JRsMav JRsMav is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 514
Default

Modified and been using #2's generally for geese. 4's for ducks
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 10-11-2013, 10:54 AM
pointer's Avatar
pointer pointer is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: lloydminster
Posts: 1,205
Default

Mod choke for everything #2 shot for ducks and geese on land and #3 shot for ducks on water later in the season the last week of oct into october I will switch to 3" BB for geese on fields
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 10-11-2013, 11:38 AM
NSDucknut's Avatar
NSDucknut NSDucknut is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Calgary
Posts: 472
Default

#2 or 3. Start with IC or switch to mod if the ducks don't quite want to lock up right in the decoys. Worked well this morning. Never had a use for a full choke really
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 10-11-2013, 02:30 PM
nube nube is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: In a house
Posts: 7,778
Default

#3 3 inch for duck #BB 3 " for geese and for specs and snow hunts I run 3.5" # 3 shot
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 10-11-2013, 06:41 PM
7 REM MAG 7 REM MAG is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,155
Default

#2's or 3's 3" for ducks and geese sometimes 3.5" depends on what im shooting, have an extended range pattern master in my extrema 2 that really hits the birds hard
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 10-11-2013, 08:07 PM
Nait Hadya's Avatar
Nait Hadya Nait Hadya is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Red Deer
Posts: 2,163
Default

3-3.5 BB's for geese with an IC choke,over water,no decoys.
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 10-11-2013, 08:38 PM
Fish along's Avatar
Fish along Fish along is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Camrose county
Posts: 3,492
Default

31/2inch ten gauge number 2 and bb for geese. Number 2 -12guage for ducks,Kent fasteel.
__________________
If people concentrated on the really important things in life,there would be a shortage of fishing poles.Doug larson. Theres a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot. Steven Wright.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 10-11-2013, 09:47 PM
Redneck Tommy Redneck Tommy is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 334
Default

Rem modified choke shooting federal 3" bb or bbb for geese which is all that I hunt anyway
__________________
Guns have only two enemies; rust and politicians.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 10-11-2013, 10:47 PM
ramonmark's Avatar
ramonmark ramonmark is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: St Albert
Posts: 848
Default

Patternmaster long range and #4.
__________________
"It's better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it."
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 10-12-2013, 09:16 PM
Canuk Canuk is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 319
Default

Choke, whatever is in the gun i'm using. So, Skeet.... Mod, or extra full. and whatever shell is on sale.

I've never patterned a gun, as i'm afraid of what I might see!!

ignorance is bliss.
__________________
"A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with 2 watches is not sure"
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 10-15-2013, 07:43 AM
Juggernaut's Avatar
Juggernaut Juggernaut is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Redcliff, AB
Posts: 247
Default

Directly linked to this topic was my last duck of the past Saturday.

Birds weren't coming in as close as I would have liked, so I put in my Carlson ER (full). I almost always shoot 3 inch #2s in case a goose flies by...

5 minutes after after I put the full choke in (and of course forgetting I even changed the choke)... a rocket duck (teal), comes bombing across in front of me about 6 feet off the water....

I got it... about 20 feet off the end of my choke...

Blew it apart... and felt like an ass in the process.

Still able to salvage some meat out of it, but a swift reminder to choose the right shots based on whatever setup you are using.

Also sank the one decoy that was behind the duck on the water.
__________________
Yes, I DO have a beard

No, I'm NOT "trying out for Duck Dynasty"...
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 10-15-2013, 10:35 AM
sjemac sjemac is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,168
Default

Extra full and #6 steel (when I can find it).
__________________
Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity.

Marshall McLuhan
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 10-15-2013, 10:41 AM
citori's Avatar
citori citori is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 169
Default

Just curious how some guys are shooting steel shot through full choke...do the new guns allow you to do this?
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 10-15-2013, 10:46 AM
Juggernaut's Avatar
Juggernaut Juggernaut is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Redcliff, AB
Posts: 247
Default

You just need to make sure you don't exceed the maximum FPS for the choke. My Carlson ER choke is nothing bigger than BB and no more than 1550 FPS.

Quote:
Originally Posted by citori View Post
Just curious how some guys are shooting steel shot through full choke...do the new guns allow you to do this?
__________________
Yes, I DO have a beard

No, I'm NOT "trying out for Duck Dynasty"...
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 10-15-2013, 11:00 AM
BuckCuller's Avatar
BuckCuller BuckCuller is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,672
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by citori View Post
Just curious how some guys are shooting steel shot through full choke...do the new guns allow you to do this?
These are aftermarket chokes made for steel. The restriction measurement is more like a modified or improved modified for lead.
You should not shoot steel out of a full lead rated choke.
On all the aftermarket choke makers websites such as Briley, Carlson,
Patternmaster or Kicks they will tell you the shot size and speed restrictions of their chokes.
__________________
As long as there is lead in the air there is always hope.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 10-15-2013, 11:26 AM
citori's Avatar
citori citori is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 169
Default

Thanks! Appreciate the informative replies.
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 10-15-2013, 11:56 AM
Pudelpointer Pudelpointer is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Back in Lethbridge
Posts: 4,647
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Juggernaut View Post

Also sank the one decoy that was behind the duck on the water.
LMAO.... that counts as a "double" in my book!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
choke, ducks, geese, shotsize, waterfowl


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:49 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.