BB vs #2 for geese

Went out Saturday morning goose hunting in a silage field. Wind was not in our favour as we had the road behind us and farms on both sides. We set up to try and draw the birds into the only safe way to shoot Plan worked perfectly however the birds would swing around the spread and land side ways to the blinds but in front this made for hard shooting. Birds where not always stone dead when picked up like previous hunts We where all shooting number 2 s with patterned guns so would going to BB make a difference ? Shooting 3 inch blindside patterns very well but the blindside BB does not so I stuck with number 2 birds are in about 15 yards and are big Canadians very big compared to last hunt so would running a heavier load help or should we work are spreads better for better shooting thanks

going to bbs is not going to make a big diff at 15 yards or less ,you just got to pull little more lead and hit them in the head and neck instead of breaking wings .if anything peter capstick would say go to smaller shot like 4 or 6 to get the best pattern for head and neck shots .he always said think of the gooses head like it is a dove .at 15 yards small shot will work amazing Dutch

For close shooting I would suggest that you might move to #3 or #4 steel. I've used #2 3 inch and they seem to work fine for both ducks and geese for field shooting.

As dutch stated, it wont matter what size of shot hits them if it is a head or neck shot. A bit more lead and you would be golden. I too have noticed the geese I have taken this year were far larger than years past. The #2 Black cloud brought them all down in short order.

You can pattern your gun on paper all you want, but you still have to be able to centre the bird in the pattern! You could shoot dove loads at that distance.

-Nick

Thanks for your input guys never thought of it that way. So we need to lead more. Just for fun what size of shot and brand are guys using?

3 inch #2 steel

I like bb for geese only, i go to #2 if there are ducks also works for me.

I have been shooting bbs and 2s this week Dutch

Going to try patterning the black cloud suppose to have more of a kick

Always shot BB for anything and everything when it was plain steel. Tried the Black Cloud this year and will not look back. Despite the guys that call them gimmick shot I can say it cirtainly made a difference in my season. Switched to #2's and everything seems spot on with my 870 and mod choke.

Ok I have a Carlson blindside choke extended range that I'm going to try

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Originally Posted by jarret

Ok I have a Carlson blindside choke extended range that I'm going to try

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Why shoot an extended range choke when you're shooting geese at 15 yards?

Switch to 3 inch 1's shoot both Geese and ducks and never worry about changing shells again!Attachment 26836

We didn't expect geese so close to be honest were just kinda into our first serious eeason

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Originally Posted by Jo Mcrow

Switch to 3 inch 1's shoot both Geese and ducks and never worry about changing shells again!Attachment 26836

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What brand of shell are you using and that's a nice pile of birds

For the past several years, I've been using Winchester hi-vel xpert 3" in #2,3&4. I've also been jump shooting the ducks and geese usually under 30 yards but sometimes out to 40 or so. Shooting an 870 with modified rem-choke.

i don't notice any difference in killing power between the three shot sizes. I could use BBs, but I feel that I won't get the pattern density needed for ducks. I never know what is going to be in the pond until I get closer, so I don't want to be switching out ammo and spooking birds before I can get shots at them.

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Originally Posted by Sprite

Why shoot an extended range choke when you're shooting geese at 15 yards?

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x2 at 15 yards you could shoot them with #7s.

I personally hate BB's. I find the pattern is sparse at best. I'd rather shoot smaller shot and have a denser pattern myself, and kill plenty of geese with smaller shot. I'd rather put 15 smaller pellets in them, than 3 or 4 BB's any day. Just my opinion.

I generally shoot 3" 1's for geese, only if I"m strictly hunting geese. Any other time my gun is loaded with #3 shot for everything.

Like said, at 15yds, you could kill them with salt!

S.

My third shot is always a BB for a bird that took some at the first or the second and that's getting farther away.

Not as simple as just picking a size, need to find one that patterns well, also.

For myself, 3" #2 kent, at geese and ducks.

good to hear every ones opinions so one more question what about velocity how do you guys feel about fast VS slower shot?

I like the heavier, slower loads. Like I said above, I'm a fan of more shot. A denser pattern is only bad when the birds are too far. Get them close and fill them with holes. Works for me. Really, what is 100fps? The blink of an eye.....or maybe 2" lead on a bird....with more pellets hitting them.

S.

3 inch # 2's. although 2.3/4 # 3's have been working well for me early season. I'm shooting a M2 with an improved choke.

Tree/fence line hunts 3.5" BB, layout 3" BB for geese and 3" #2's for ducks

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Originally Posted by jarret

Going to try patterning the black cloud suppose to have more of a kick

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Remember, with steel shot, speed kills. I was crippling quite a few with 1400fps loads, since I switched to a 1550fps load, I am killing a lot more than crippling. But, speed without a good pattern does nothing for you either.

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Originally Posted by oaknut

Always shot BB for anything and everything when it was plain steel. Tried the Black Cloud this year and will not look back. Despite the guys that call them gimmick shot I can say it cirtainly made a difference in my season. Switched to #2's and everything seems spot on with my 870 and mod choke.

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I bought several boxes of black cloud a few years ago. They were ok, but not really any better than the winchesters I use now and the winchesters are half the price.

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Originally Posted by 35wailin

I bought several boxes of black cloud a few years ago. They were ok, but not really any better than the winchesters I use now and the winchesters are half the price.

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I guess it just patterns better for me. I have tried everything from the Winchester to the Remington hypersonic and have not had the sky fall like it did opening morning. Even the boys were fed up with me because I had my limit long before any of them acheived two birds. I can shoot well but theres no way I improved that much. Lol.

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Originally Posted by jarret

What brand of shell are you using and that's a nice pile of birds

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KENT FASTSTEEL
Jo Mcrow

Got a box of blackcloud snow goose off a buddy I'll pattern supposed to be faster then the f s steel

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Originally Posted by jarret

Got a box of blackcloud snow goose off a buddy I'll pattern supposed to be faster then the f s steel

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That's all a friend of mine uses, and he knocks em down!

So just patterned black cloud fs steel in bb and 2 black cloud snow goose in bb and he I metal 2 all 3 inch out of my weatherby sa-08 and wow the hevi metal for the price was the worst pattern patterned at 30 and 4o yards with the extended range choke and then with a mod choke not great patterns but snow goose was the tightess with hevi the worst and other 2 in between. Tried 30 yards with mod choke all better but hevi still not great snow goose very nice pattern was quite impressed so I'm going to try it if I can find some around me has a little more kick and throws a nice flame out the barrel to lol

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Originally Posted by 35wailin

Remember, with steel shot, speed kills. I was crippling quite a few with 1400fps loads, since I switched to a 1550fps load, I am killing a lot more than crippling. But, speed without a good pattern does nothing for you either.

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I shoot 1 1/4oz Kent 3" #1s at 1425 fps and fold up birds just fine, lol! Like Sinker said, more pellets.

-Nick

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Originally Posted by Sprite

I shoot 1 1/4oz Kent 3" #1s at 1425 fps and fold up birds just fine, lol! Like Sinker said, more pellets.

-Nick

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I shoot the exact same load. I buy it by the case, and the price is reasonable. Birds are usually stone dead unless I wing them. I've tried the snow goose loads and didn't care for them.

i see i got these free so ill shoot them the blindside seems to pattern the best but i always find they dont penetrate the birds like other loads do