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This year will be my first waterfowl hunt. In the mean time, I am buying a 12ga shotgun specifically for steel (3" chamber) and I will work up some loads over the spring and summer. I'm in Upper Michigan right by (2,000 yards away) from Lake Superior and I will see more Canadian geese than ducks. Is there a good shot size that will work effectively on both? I plan to load a moderate 1 1/8 to 1 1/4oz load in a 12ga 3" shell to ~1400-1450fps for 35-40y shots at the longest.

Reading magazines I gather that BB is great for all around geese and #2 is great for all around ducks. What about a good for both shot size? Should I just buy a bag of each size from #2 to BB and pattern?

There are many better loaders out there than I but I would choose #1's. I shoot 2's all season on ducks but we don't see geese. Your speeds are spot on for getting a fast enough load but still retain pattern density. You have any loads in mind yet?

All 4 of the geese I shot this year fell dead as a hammer when hit with 2's.

Flightstopper wrote:There are many better loaders out there than I but I would choose #1's. I shoot 2's all season on ducks but we don't see geese. Your speeds are spot on for getting a fast enough load but still retain pattern density. You have any loads in mind yet?

Still looking into loads. I have the Lyman, Rick Sapp's book, and the Alliant manual. Powder will likely be from Alliant, being Blue Dot or Steel. I'm looking for a simple load without a lot of fancy inserts. Under/over cards are acceptable. Hulls are going to be the main issue, as I only load 2 3/4 lead for 12ga and 20ga, so I will have to buy some 3 inch hulls. I think a solid 1 1/8oz at 1400-1450fps is what I would be happy with.

Hammer you killed something

2's would be my suggestion for all around

Stick with steel powder, no need for blue dot or any others now days.

Lots of people really like the LBC 43 and the CSD wads. You can get the CSD's from both ballistic products and precision, although at precision they go by the name B&P and come pre slit. Another great manual is lightning steel as well as the RSI manual. The RSI has some of the best 3" loads but you are stuck using their wads.

Flightstopper wrote:Lots of people really like the LBC 43 and the CSD wads. You can get the CSD's from both ballistic products and precision, although at precision they go by the name B&P and come pre slit. Another great manual is lightning steel as well as the RSI manual. The RSI has some of the best 3" loads but you are stuck using their wads.

And that can be a good thing , if they work well in your gun/choke combo ! Pattern it and see , is how you find-out !

Even tho I have a ample supply of A Steel......it's sure hard to find here...and...other places I've looked !

I suppose I worded that bad, they are great wads but years ago at least the slits were all over the place.

birdsmacker wrote:

Flightstopper wrote:There are many better loaders out there than I but I would choose #1's. I shoot 2's all season on ducks but we don't see geese. Your speeds are spot on for getting a fast enough load but still retain pattern density. You have any loads in mind yet?

Still looking into loads. I have the Lyman, Rick Sapp's book, and the Alliant manual. Powder will likely be from Alliant, being Blue Dot or Steel. I'm looking for a simple load without a lot of fancy inserts. Under/over cards are acceptable. Hulls are going to be the main issue, as I only load 2 3/4 lead for 12ga and 20ga, so I will have to buy some 3 inch hulls. I think a solid 1 1/8oz at 1400-1450fps is what I would be happy with.

RSI loads #64, 65, and 66 would work great using Fed Gold Medal 2 3/4". I would load those with #1shot. In 3" versions I like RSI #88, and 133, both also use the 2 3/4" wad, as with the previous loads listed, I've had better luck with them than the 3" wads. I would load those with #2, they use Rem 3" or Cheddite 3" hulls.

Flightstopper wrote:There are many better loaders out there than I but I would choose #1's

I'm wit' him.

I shoot 2's for everything.

jarbo03 wrote:

birdsmacker wrote:

Flightstopper wrote:There are many better loaders out there than I but I would choose #1's. I shoot 2's all season on ducks but we don't see geese. Your speeds are spot on for getting a fast enough load but still retain pattern density. You have any loads in mind yet?

Still looking into loads. I have the Lyman, Rick Sapp's book, and the Alliant manual. Powder will likely be from Alliant, being Blue Dot or Steel. I'm looking for a simple load without a lot of fancy inserts. Under/over cards are acceptable. Hulls are going to be the main issue, as I only load 2 3/4 lead for 12ga and 20ga, so I will have to buy some 3 inch hulls. I think a solid 1 1/8oz at 1400-1450fps is what I would be happy with.

RSI loads #64, 65, and 66 would work great using Fed Gold Medal 2 3/4". I would load those with #1shot. In 3" versions I like RSI #88, and 133, both also use the 2 3/4" wad, as with the previous loads listed, I've had better luck with them than the 3" wads. I would load those with #2, they use Rem 3" or Cheddite 3" hulls.

It's hard to beat field proven loads as 2 3/4'' hulls , it's all a fella needs........until the mighty 10 comes out ,

In My case !

I think I need to buy some steel manuals and read up some more. I hate to just buy ammo. I haven't shot factory ammo in over 8 years.