WaterfowlForum.Net

I plan to hunt passing mallards at ranges of up to 50 yards with a 12 gauge pump or semi auto shotgun ( possibly using a 32" barrel on a Winchester Model 12 non vent rib ). I may hunt closer over decoys with a max range of 25 yards. I am 13 so recoil is a partial issue ( I am 'big' ), I would want to use 2 3/4" shells or 3" shells at longer range. I have heard of Black Cloud by Federal Premium and Blind Side by Winchester. These two interest me the most. Has anyone used either ? How did they perform ?

Shooting 2 3/4" go for kent 1 1/8 oz loads 2 or 3 shot. 3" 1 1/8 oz 3 shot

Don't waste your money on guimmic loads. Stick with the basics like kent fasteel or Winchester expert. You will also be a lot more successful if you keep your shots to 30 yards or less. It takes a lot of skill to hit a duck at 50 yards...something a lot of veteran hunters still can do.
A 2 3/4" load of #3 shot will kill ducks stone dead. Just let the birds work and stay well hidden. They will work in and come feet down in your face. You will kill a lot more birds by waiting for them to get close instead of shooting at them passing by. You'll do a lot less missing and have a lot more fun watching the birds work.

2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz #3 or 4

3" 1 1/4 oz #3 or 4

Are the loads I would use. Try to get shells with a muzzle velocity of 1,400 fps or more.

Be careful shooting steel shot in your Mod 12 Winchester, especially if it is a fixed full choke gun. With steel shot, a modified choke preforms about the same as a full choke with lead shot and Mod 12's were made before steel shot was required.

RonE wrote:2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz #3 or 4

3" 1 1/4 oz #3 or 4

Are the loads I would use. Try to get shells with a muzzle velocity of 1,400 fps or more.

Be careful shooting steel shot in your Mod 12 Winchester, especially if it is a fixed full choke gun. With steel shot, a modified choke preforms about the same as a full choke with lead shot and Mod 12's were made before steel shot was required.

he,s telling you true if it,s a full choke it,s not if but what shot you bulge the barrel i have 3 that i got cheap that way and it ain't cheap to fix em.mod you can shoot 2 3/4 kent,s 3inch is risky and even a cheap grade model 12 is a fine gun .do like the guys say and work em close 3s n 4s 2 3/4 kent,s .my girl shoot,s a mossy 835 she,s 115 in waders no problem,s .well her no ,duck,s ya

My vote is 3" bb's. Extended tube way less cripples with bb's. That's all I shoot.

quackhead wrote:My vote is 3" bb's. Extended tube way less cripples with bb's. That's all I shoot.

I use BBs when I shoot my 10. They will drop birds deader than a hammer. Never have shot them out of a 12 though.

My favorite load for mallards when I lived near mallard spots was 2 3/4 BBs. It could reach out and touch them at reasonable ranges and kill them dead in your face without tearing them up too bad, but only if you're targeting big ducks. Teal at 40 yards using BBs can be frustrating.

Now, I shoot 3" #2s for all ducks, which is also a very good load. And I'm with the other guys, don't get the gimmic loads (blindside and blackcloud), sure, they work, but no better than kent, federal blue box and winchester superx

At Jarbos suggestion I bought a Blackcloud choke for my gun. I did not buy their ammo but I did pattern test the tube with my loads.

It worked pretty good out of my gun.

Im not a fan of BB for mallards. Not enough destiny at the ranges where BB would outshine smaller shot. The biggest I would go for mallard is #1 shot. And I feel that is still too big. 2 or 3 shot for mallards is best in my opinion. I use 3 shot and have no problem dropping big mallards out to 45 yards.

I hear 7.5s should do the trick.

Tomkat wrote:At Jarbos suggestion I bought a Blackcloud choke for my gun. I did not buy their ammo but I did pattern test the tube with my loads.

It worked pretty good out of my gun.

Only if you are jump shooting them.

For 50 yards with steel shot, go with #2 steel. 2-3/4" Remington Nito 1-1/8 oz will work with lower recoil.

Eric Haynes wrote:

Tomkat wrote:At Jarbos suggestion I bought a Blackcloud choke for my gun. I did not buy their ammo but I did pattern test the tube with my loads.

It worked pretty good out of my gun.

Only if you are jump shooting them.

Eric

Have never used it on a jump.

NuffDaddy wrote:Don't waste your money on guimmic loads. Stick with the basics like kent fasteel or Winchester expert. You will also be a lot more successful if you keep your shots to 30 yards or less. It takes a lot of skill to hit a duck at 50 yards...something a lot of veteran hunters still can do.
A 2 3/4" load of #3 shot will kill ducks stone dead. Just let the birds work and stay well hidden. They will work in and come feet down in your face. You will kill a lot more birds by waiting for them to get close instead of shooting at them passing by. You'll do a lot less missing and have a lot more fun watching the birds work.

This^. Very well said. No waste spending $25 for a box full of gimmicks and maybe only hit 5/25 shots with them. The cheap stuff knocks them hard.

Jrhunter25 wrote: mallards at ranges of up to 50 yards with a 12 gauge pump or semi auto shotgun

Back up...
50 yards? FIFTY?

I would concentrate on setting up the decoys in such a way as to get the ducks to attempt to land as close as TWENTY FEET.
Once you get to where you can actually call and decoy mallards, you can use 2.75¨ steel in #7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2, #1, or BB.
Practice shooting, work on your decoy setup, and calling skills.
FORGET about the magic 50 yard loads.
I am serious. You can not afford that high dollar ammo and it fucks up shotguns.
Them 1700 fps hypersonics are literally ruining semi-autos.

A 13-year-old should not be trying to extend his range limits.
I, Betty, have spoken.


Good luck son. Practice shooting a LOT!!!

You might get lucky and kill one duck at 50 yards but you will scare off a bunch of birds and waist a lot of shells in the process. If its a old gun make sure the barrel can to shoot steel. I have had good look out of Kent 2 3/4 #4. I shot Hevi Metal 3" #2 & 3# this year and was real pleased with how they preformed. Let the bird work in closer and you will kill mo ducks. Guaranteed

But if you let the birds work in close you definitely won't need hevi-metal 3" shells, save those for the 50 yard shots.

3legged_lab wrote:But if you let the birds work in close you definitely won't need hevi-metal 3" shells, save those for the 50 yard shots.

I regularly load me up some magnums and they are deadly out to 80 yards about 5% of the time. Want me to load you some?

AKPirate wrote:

3legged_lab wrote:But if you let the birds work in close you definitely won't need hevi-metal 3" shells, save those for the 50 yard shots.

I regularly load me up some magnums and they are deadly out to 80 yards about 5% of the time. Want me to load you some?

Ya buddy! Make sure they're T shot, has better down range energy.

I kill mallards with my web slinger.

3legged_lab wrote:

AKPirate wrote:

3legged_lab wrote:But if you let the birds work in close you definitely won't need hevi-metal 3" shells, save those for the 50 yard shots.

I regularly load me up some magnums and they are deadly out to 80 yards about 5% of the time. Want me to load you some?

Ya buddy! Make sure they're T shot, has better down range energy.

Done.

AKPirate wrote:

3legged_lab wrote:

AKPirate wrote:

3legged_lab wrote:But if you let the birds work in close you definitely won't need hevi-metal 3" shells, save those for the 50 yard shots.

I regularly load me up some magnums and they are deadly out to 80 yards about 5% of the time. Want me to load you some?

Ya buddy! Make sure they're T shot, has better down range energy.

Done.

Bet she always gets nervous right before it blows

3legged_lab wrote:

AKPirate wrote:

3legged_lab wrote:

AKPirate wrote:

3legged_lab wrote:But if you let the birds work in close you definitely won't need hevi-metal 3" shells, save those for the 50 yard shots.

I regularly load me up some magnums and they are deadly out to 80 yards about 5% of the time. Want me to load you some?

Ya buddy! Make sure they're T shot, has better down range energy.

Done.

Bet she always gets nervous right before it blows

Did you notice the nipple gauge said it was cold in that room?

Try the Hevimetal Shells....I love the 3" BB's or 2's