Duck Hunting Questions

6mm

New member
Been invited to go this fall in Missouri. I have only gone duck hunting once in North Carolina about 18 years ago.

I have two choices to take for a shotgun. A Remington 1100 and a Benelli Nova. I was given the Nova as a wedding gift since my wife's family are duck and goose hunters. Problem, in all honesty just don't care for the Nova. Would I be undergun using the 1187, or even pick up a 870 fro the trip?

What 12ga loads should I use for ducks? Is steel fine, or some other type?What size load? I remember using BB's back in Carolina and the worked fine.

Thanks for the help.

6mm
 
Brent-
By standard 2-3/4", I meant I do not shoot 3" magnums. Of course, use non-toxic shot (steel, bismuth, hevi-shot, whatever)
 
I think most all steel loads shoot about the same velocity. The only difference is in the payload. Shot size has no effect on recoil. A lager size shot in steel must be used to get the same effective kill range of lead shot you used to use. Steel shot is much faster than lead and will require less leading on pass shooting. I like to run both the #4 over decoy and #2 on pass shooting ducks. The 3 inch loads in the 1187 are not bad because the Remington is gas operated and so heavy. The 3 1/2 inch loads in the Benelli is not for the weak of heart. John
 
The 11/87 is fine. I am liking Federal Black Cloud on ducks these days . . . 3" #4's if in flooded timber, #2's if hunting fields.
 
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