You just clarified my whole point Widux. I just assume that the poster asking the question or anyone asking what the best shells are probably is fairly new to waterfowl hunting. I must clarify that yes I agree the heavier denser loads (todays exotic stuff) is the best stuff on the market as far as ballistically and use in dropping geese. Mass delivers more energy on a target, the higher velocity we can safely get behind that mass, the better. However, high velocity steel works just as well for me when it comes to waterfowl magnum loads, for the types of waterfowl hunting I do. For the price, and as much time as I spend duck and goose hunting, it's hard for me to chose anything else. I'm not at all financially poor. I just work for my money and try to be smart with my money, and believe in getting the best value for the buck. Sometimes the best stuff just doesn't make sense cost wise. Coupled with the idea that sometimes the best is not always nessesary for certain applications. That's all.

Westernhunter--i agree- same appies to guns-I had a Ruger #1 in n416 Rem for backing hunters--I guess a Dakota or Euro Dbl would have been "BETTER" but I'm not into name dropping nor willing to spend price of another hunt on a gun-- same for shotguns etc--at last count i had about 14 cases of shotshells under my reloading bench-imagine price of them if they I had an equivalent amount of all Hevi- Shot-hell I'd have the price of a new Boat

ok so number 4 or 6 hevi steel shot 3.5 should do te trick then from what i understand. thanks for all the advice and keep it coming if you are enjoying it

Preview	Attachment	Size
	Geese.jpg	731.96 KB

Did you shoot it with the handgun strapped to your leg?

BTW, nice goose. Just use whatever you used on that one.

LOL i am good with it but not that good. Used shells my neighbor gave me to shoot them with so wanted to get my own. Had the 45 on cause this was the same area where the pigs are so i was ready for both

Hands down-BLACK CLOUD. Last season I was knocking ducks out of the sky at 45 and 50 yards- blowing their wings almost off and killing them dead. Last summer and again this summer we were invited to a show in Rochester MN. They (vendors) had gelitin blocks and HEVI-TUNGSTEN and BLACK CLOUD at the same distance with identical shot guns and the BLACK CLOUD has the deepest penetration into the blocks. BLACK CLOUD it's all in the WAD and the SHOT. This years it's available in BB, 2,3,4 shot. CHeck it out and you will be very happy as it's much cheaper than HEVI or any TUNGSTEN product.

One of my neighbors gave me a box of Black Cloud #2's a couple weeks ago. This past week our early goose season came in. One of my customers came into my store this afternoon and was complaining about all the geese that were flying into his fish ponds every evening about 7. Got there this evening and the first one to cup his wings and come in on me took one in the face about 40 yards out. He fell like a ton of bricks right to my feet. Never had one die like that before. Sweet load to me and now I'm hooked on that shell.

R

my 2 cents:

I grew up in the lead days. The only thing I have found that brings me back to that good feeling of folding up birds when I shoot at them is the Bismuth (heavy). Yummm. I'm told it is vanishing (at least the company) ... so I'm glad I'm somewhat stocked. I don't shoot at tweedy birds with the stuff. I have resisted the temptation to buy another waterfowl gun, so I'm still folding them (mallard and Canada geese) with my 12 ga. 2-3/4 in. chambered gun. Most of what I shoot at comes down out of the sky - but I only take very high percentage shots.

I did take two long shots last year, at some geese. I paced it off twice. ONE HUNDRED YARDS. Two geese in two shots. I don't know if I'm embarrased or elated - because that is really too far. But I was using the 1-3/8 oz BB Bismuth loads, so I will keep using them.

On mallards I start the season with 1-3/8 oz #6 ... then #5 ... and by end of season #4.

QUESTION: where are the northern birds? I have been looking and listening - none here yet! Last year this time they were here and not long after moved farther south!!!

SH Notes: the geese were not hit hard at 100 yards, but they did come out of the sky. I would NEVER recommend shooting at that range. I had made a stalk over a plowed field, and, as the story goes, I thought they were a bit closer.

Northern birds are IN Wisc. by the flaock full- reguge s around us full! last week weather was warm and so the screwed around all day--BUT Thurs and Fri great ducking weather- ditto today- rain/ snow/ wind-- and birds flew all day-

Black Cloud for me too, the stuff is deadly.