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Hey Guysss
Just a qucik question i have a over under i would like to use for opener tommorw instead off my semi but my over under takes 2 3/4 only what do you think will #2 shot 2 3/4 be ok for geese and duck never used my o/u for waterfiwl i have a winchester and yes it shoots steel of course Thanks Boyss
If you center them in your pattern they will die!
Some will say that a bit small for geese, but if your shooting is fine i doubt you would have a problem
Depends what your shooting. #2 tungsten matrix or bismuth might be good over decoys maybe out to 30 -35 yards. If its steel #2 would do the job on ducks again watch the range but in my opinion a bit light for geese would go to a BB.Quote:
Originally Posted by BrowA5
Lot's of folks still hunting with 2 3/4 only shotguns. Just gotta know you're limitations and let them come in a little closer.
Aim for the white patch and you'll do just fine. I use 3" #3 for geese and have no problems.Quote:
Originally Posted by BrowA5
.............X2Quote:
Originally Posted by FamilyMan
It depends on the situation. Are you pass shooting or decoying? Pass shooting, I would think #2 2 3/4" would be a bit light for what you expect. Decoying should be fine if you shoot for the head. I think body shots will end up with a lot of cripples you will have to chase.Quote:
Originally Posted by BrowA5
lots of folks kill lots of birds with 2 3/4". IMO if you have the gear to use bigger and better shot than do so, but whatever your reasons you will still be able to kill birds with your setup, with some limitations of course. the best thing to do would be to setup a patterning board and see what patterns it spits with each shot, range and type, but i wouldnt go any less than BB for geese in that shell size, and make sure theyre in pretty close. just my thoughts.
good luck and shoot straight!!
My dad owned a Browning Auto 5 that he bought in the 60s. He shot pleany of ducks and geese in his day. The only thing you need to remember is a 2 3/4 shell has a shorter range.
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2 3/4 will do just fine. That is all I shoot. Kent 1/16th, # 1 @ 1550 fps. If you have patterned your gun/shell/choke, they will kill out to 35 yds easy. If I was just chasing ducks, # 3.
Identical pellet energy, just less pellets.
If you hit the bird it will die, 1/8oz difference, that is 9 pellets if you are shooting BB, very little difference there.
I know that some people say the 3 1/2in shell gives you more range, unless you are going to a larger shot size that is total garbage. The same pellet size at the same speed gives the same energy at the same range but you do have fewer pellets which, depending on your gun, may or may not give you a thinner pattern.
Take notes boys and girls, this is real information.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
2 3/4" shells work just fine, as long as you do your part.
- N.
Thanks guys i think it will be good i ususlly shot blind side BB 3 inch but will give the u/o a try
Get'm in close and shoot them in the face :)
Good luck
They work just fine, don't worry about it and have fun.
#2 are fine thats what I use for both duck and goose. Like others said know your distances and shoot them a bit closer
Well said.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
While I agree with most of this, you do have a longer range with a 3 1/2 of the same shot size as you maintain pattern density quite a bit farther than a 2 3/4 inch. Yes the pellets have identical energy at the same distance but a 2 3/4 inch does not have enough pellets to make it effective at longer ranges. If I was using 2 3/4 inch I would probably drop a pellet size or two to have even better pattern density at shorter ranges since I would not really utilize the energy contained in larger shot size since I do not have enough pellets to maintain pattern density :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
Buy shells with more powder, price will double however, but the shot will go further. Just use what you have and have fun, as was mentioned. Buy a 10 ga, omg some of those shells are $$$.
Pattern density is far more important, its no good to have all kinds of killing power at 60 yards if your pattern is not adequate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hunterbob
The problem is that guys take BB steel in a 2 3/4in and say 20 yards then take BB steel in a 3 1/2in and say 50 yards, no way is it ethical to do that.Quote:
Originally Posted by skeeter1
The reason behind the original 3 1/2in 12ga shell was to keep the same number of pellets as the lead version while holding the same energy too, this was why they used to say you would have to go up 2 shot sizes but that was with steel shot around 1050-1200fps, now we are shooting steel at 1500fps, that extra speed on the smaller pellet maintains the energy to about the same distance as the slower steel shot.
I just hate the "longer range" argument as a blanket statement but what you said here is very true, more pellets in the core of the pattern but I do know some 3in and 3 1/2in loads that pattern worse than a 2 3/4in load in the same gun, in that case the 2 3/4in shell would have an effective pattern further out than the heavier loads.
The funny part is that with how we hunt geese in layout blinds and how close they get in I have no problem with #2 2 3/4in shells on up to 3 1/2in T steel shells, the speed does not matter at 10 yards, the pellet size does not matter and the number of pellets does not matter.
I actually have a couple boxes of 16ga steel to bring out for ducks this year, maybe geese too :)
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/...psgqhhhrmd.png
Haha. There has been tons of birds shot with 2 3/4 in the past and sure there will be in the future. Get them in close and have fun!
This morning I put down a goose and three mallards with 2 3/4 Blackcloud #3. Aim good, and they will drop!
Id worry less about the length of the shell and more on appropriate shot size and choke combo.
I shoot whatevers cheapest and have 6 different shotguns that shoot from 2 3/4" up to 3.5".
The two guns i shoot most are an older Auto 5 Mag which cycles 3" or a cynergy that handles 3.5 "
My fave for woodies is 2 3/4" in 5s or 6s. less recoil improves accuracy when shootin ducks that fly like bats. woodies come screamin in in waves and shootin is fast between trees etc. A large pattern thats easy to swing through for next shot works for me and doesnt tear up the birds too bad.
Mallards 3" number 3s get the job done as they are slower flying with consistent flight path. although weve shot many with 2 3/4"... I dropped a mallard stone dead saturday with one shot of #3 at 40 yards that the guy beside me had missed with 3 3" shells.
as for geese shot many with 3" but just dont bother shootin sky carp anymore, and im not paying 35$ for a box of shells.
Worry more about centering the birds in your pattern than your shell length.
I will take more shot over speed any day of the week. I shoot slower loads with the most shot I can get in them. Speed doesn't kill, pattern density, and number of pellets on target does.
You can shoot the biggest, fastest shells ever made, but they don't do squat if your not on target.
All that said, yes, you can kill birds with 2 3/4" shells.
S.
Even though my gun is chambered for 3 1/2" shells, I shoot 3" 1 1/4 oz steel on both geese and ducks. They pattern very well in my gun and are far less expensive than 3 1/2" loads.
2 3/4 " 1 1/8 oz steel loads have the same velocity as 3" 1 1/4 oz loads but fewer pellets as others have said. I doubt you would notice any difference in pattern density with BB's but you might with # 4's for example. I doubt that it would make a practical difference except for small ducks like teal at longer distances.
2 3/4" 1 1/4 oz steel loads have the same number of pellets as 3" 1 1/4 oz loads but have a lower velocity. However there is really very little difference in pellet energy between the 2 loads at 30 yards. So there is really no practical difference in the knock down power between these 2 loads.
That is why others have said there is really no difference between 3" and 2 3/4" loads. What matters is whether the person's gun throws a good pattern with 2 3/4" loads and whether the person shooting can put the pattern on the bird.
go for it! one of
my favourite guns to take to the duck blind is my grandfathers old 2,3/4" wingmaster and it knocks em Down just as good as any other.... I'd stick to BB for geese though I've found even #2 were too light unless they're right in the decoys
My semi is 2 3/4 only..and kills em dead if you don't over reach on distance. 30 yds is my limit.Quote:
Originally Posted by FamilyMan
Test your patterns. You may be surprised to see a 2 3/4 shell patterns almost as dense as a longer one. If you shoot that O/U well then it will outperform heavier loads every time.
What are the chokes on your O/U? I, M, F?Quote:
Originally Posted by BrowA5
If your top barrel is a full choke you could reach quite far with it.... As other mentioned, pattern it!