[DecoySlayer]

When shooting waterfowl at ranges of 30-45 yards (and sometimes farther), they are just not needed. Some people really like these things. I am just not a fan.

What about shooting at ranges of 20-35 yards, and sometimes closer?

 

[John Singer]

What about shooting at ranges of 20-35 yards, and sometimes closer?

Again gimmick shells are not needed.

Like you, I engage waterfowl at close range.

I do most of my hunting with 16 gauge steel shot.

 

[DecoySlayer]

Again gimmick shells are not needed.

Like you, I engage waterfowl at close range.

I do most of my hunting with 16 gauge steel shot.

I mainly shoot a 20GA. I do wish I could throw out the "lead wall" like in the old days. I know that will never happen, for good reason, but, I do miss that 1 1/4OZ loads of lead 7 1/2 shot, at 1330FPS, almost 440 pellets, thems was the days.

 

[cruiseplanner1]

I shoot Black Cloud 3's now for the past few years. Have had great success with them. However I am not shooting long range. If a duck works and comes to the decoys we shoot. We choose not to pass shoot. Most ducks will work if you let them.

 

[BFG]

Like all Federal ammo, you need a powerwasher, Gum-Out, and about 4 toothbrushes to clean your gun once you are done hunting with it. I've shot a few thousand rounds of Black Cloud and it patterns well in my guns (870 and X2) but dammit if it isn't the dirtiest stuff next to Estates that I've ever shot. I've also had plastic buildup in the receiver.

All that...leads to jamming issues in the autoloader as well as the pump.

 

[Far Beyond Driven]

I just drop the BPS in the water every couple trips and it evens out. Stupid ditches at Fish Point.

The red box Federal are marginally better than the blue box, but both are nasty. But they kill birds at any range I care to shot, even pass shooting geese with the 20 once last year when the woodies didn't want to play but the geese were coming over too low for their health.

Ended up taking gas and a wire brush chucked into a cordless drill to finally clean the wad residue out of the 20 last year.

 

[craigrh13]

Like all Federal ammo, you need a powerwasher, Gum-Out, and about 4 toothbrushes to clean your gun once you are done hunting with it. I've shot a few thousand rounds of Black Cloud and it patterns well in my guns (870 and X2) but dammit if it isn't the dirtiest stuff next to Estates that I've ever shot. I've also had plastic buildup in the receiver.

All that...leads to jamming issues in the autoloader as well as the pump.

I wouldn't say all federal ammo. Old bc and blue box is dirty stuff. Red box? Never an issue and never anything an air compressor can't get off.

 

[jduck]

Black cloud rebate is $75 a case now and it's also on sale at cabelas

Sent from my SM-G955U1 using Tapatalk

 

[lefty421]

Again gimmick shells are not needed.

Like you, I engage waterfowl at close range.

I do most of my hunting with 16 gauge steel shot.

Where do you find 16ga steel shells? Or are you loading your own?
My first shotgun was a 16ga that I still have and would love my son to start using, but I have never been able to find 16ga steel shells for it.

 

[John Singer]

Where do you find 16ga steel shells? Or are you loading your own?
My first shotgun was a 16ga that I still have and would love my son to start using, but I have never been able to find 16ga steel shells for it.

I now load my own. Published load of 7/8 oz at 1550 fps.

Best commercial loads for 16 gauge that I know of comes from Sporting Ammo II.

They have a 15/16 oz load of #3 steel at about 1400 fps that performs very well for me. You should be able to find them on Face Book.

I did not like Federal steel loads and have no experience with the Remington loads.

 

[John Singer]

Where do you find 16ga steel shells? Or are you loading your own?
My first shotgun was a 16ga that I still have and would love my son to start using, but I have never been able to find 16ga steel shells for it.

Here is a link with the recipe for my 16 gauge steel shotshells. See load #50204.

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/VP80 data.pdf

Here is the link for Sporting Ammo 2: https://www.sportingammo2.com/

Their 16 gauge steel has a published velocity of 1450 fps. I do not know their prices as it has been several years since I last purchased from them.

 

[DecoySlayer]

If you are looking to find Sporting II ammo check them out at the Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival and 70th Michigan Duck Hunter's Tournament!! Remember, they are a Michigan company, nothing better than using local products for our state's economy!