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What's your favorite factory steel duck load, if you just have to use steel?

Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 863 Location: NoDak

Hi, I use 12ga, Estate Mag. Steel, 2 3/4", 1 1/4oz (and yes, they are 1 1/4oz), #2 at 1400fps. Deadly for ducks over decoys.

Best!

Greg

Member Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 451 Location: La-Tx

Sporting ammo sells the only 16 gauge steel worth buying.

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

I've patterned fed and remington the last few months. Decided until I start reloading myself to stick to 12ga. Having good pattern success from a fiocchi product only offered at scheels - #2 & #4. It's 1 1/5 oz at 1550 fps.

As far as #7 for dove hunting rio bluesteel was much better at patterning then winchester in 1 oz.

This patterning was through a 2014 12ga 870 wingmaster w/ 28" barrel and both mod & ic choke.

The 16ga patterning was done with 2013 bps upland w/ 24" barrel and both mod & ic choke.

Can't wait to start reloading next year!

Charlie, what did patterning with the BPS Upland 16 tell you? That's the gun I'll be using. Not too impressive, apparently.

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

I'm not saying it was horrible or that I am not going to do it myself with fed or rem steel loads this year, but in comparison to 12ga it was noticeable.

But hey, I think we over focus on patterns and perfection. If your going to carry a 16ga on public lands and use factory loads you can't do better! People kill birds every day of the season with the same get up.

My best pattern in 16ga for pheasants was fed #4 with IC at 25-30 yards and the rem loads in MOD at 30-35 yards. So, (and I am a novice here) I was thinking feds in early season and rems in late season.

A buddy did let me pattern a few of his reloaded bismuth #6 in 1 1/16 shells for 16ga. They out patterned any 2 3/4 steel I have tried in 12ga!

(Sorry wrote this above the next morning after realizing we were talking about waterfowl the night before I wrote below).

For waterfowl I was going to give fed #2 in MOD a try during at least 1 trip on ducks this season.

My long term plan is reloading 1 1/8 oz of bismuth, 21.0 of 800x, fed 209a primer, with a rem wad, and in a fed shell. FPS is about 1220. Figure I'll be able to match the price of purchased steel in 15/16 oz and have a turkey load for public land to boot.

For doves on public land I'll stick to buying some steel #7 for reloading and use that. My long term plan is reloading 7/8 oz of steel, 18.5 of 800x, fed 209a primer, with vp-80 wad, 20ga 1/8" felt wad under shot, and in a fed shell. FPS is about 1240.

I ran into someone with 24 pounds of 800x unopened and 5,000 fed 209a primers for a total of $485.00 so even though I don't have a reload machine I stocked up for the shortage as I get into the process next year. That's the reason you see my loads sticking with 800x powder and 209a primers.