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what shells for goose hunting? #6610810
09/06/19 02:53 PM
09/06/19 02:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,324
Hancock Co., Indiana
Kart29 Offline OP
trapper
Kart29  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,324
Hancock Co., Indiana
Gonna try goose hunting for the first time in a couple of weeks. We will probably be have decoys in a wheat stubble field near a pond that hold geese.

I have a 12 ga. Rem 870 that takes 2-3/4'' or 3" shells. What choke and shotshell should I shoot?

I'd prefer to stay with steel and avoid hi-priced exotic metal shot if possible.

What size steel? #2 or BB? Something else?

What choke?


What from Christ that soul can sever,
Bound by everlasting bands?
None shall take thee
From the Strength of Israel's hands.

Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6610814
09/06/19 02:58 PM
09/06/19 02:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 411
New Hampshire
T
Terrence j Offline
trapper
Terrence j  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 411
New Hampshire
I would go with BB and test them with different chokes. They will shoot different from lead. I like the black cloud shot shells and have had great success with them.

Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6610816
09/06/19 03:01 PM
09/06/19 03:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Lead them 3 feet and add a few more feet before you shoot they look slow but they are moving pretty fast, just think of a airplane and how slow it looks when landing and keep that barrel moving when you shoot.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6610817
09/06/19 03:01 PM
09/06/19 03:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 317
Ohio
PBS Offline
trapper
PBS  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 317
Ohio
Ive always shot Kent Faststeel. It's affordable and I've never had any issues with it. As far as shot size, I would get a couple different sizes and pattern your shotgun at different distances to see which choke would work best for you and the situation you're gonna be in. You're probably want to at least start at 2 shot although I've dropped geese with 4 shot, 3inch shells in a full choke while hunting ducks. Edit: modified not full

Last edited by PBS; 09/06/19 03:38 PM.
Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6610822
09/06/19 03:11 PM
09/06/19 03:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,324
Hancock Co., Indiana
Kart29 Offline OP
trapper
Kart29  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,324
Hancock Co., Indiana
Do you usually go with the 3" shells? Looks like the payload is usually the same but the 3" have higher velocity.


What from Christ that soul can sever,
Bound by everlasting bands?
None shall take thee
From the Strength of Israel's hands.

Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6610825
09/06/19 03:16 PM
09/06/19 03:16 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 19,691
pa
H
hippie Offline
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hippie  Offline
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H

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 19,691
pa
I've found this to be true with steel shot. Don't try to choke it much.

https://www.rem870.com/2016/06/22/what-shotgun-choke-should-be-used-for-steel-shot/

Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6610828
09/06/19 03:22 PM
09/06/19 03:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
M
Moosetrot Offline
trapper
Moosetrot  Offline
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M

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
I would be using Kent Fasteel 3" BB's. I have used them for many years over here on the Mississippi.

Moosetrot

Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6610829
09/06/19 03:25 PM
09/06/19 03:25 PM
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 3,172
Wyoming County Pa.
Hornady Reloader Offline
trapper
Hornady Reloader  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 3,172
Wyoming County Pa.
Black Cloud 3 inch BB

Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6610835
09/06/19 03:36 PM
09/06/19 03:36 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 317
Ohio
PBS Offline
trapper
PBS  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 317
Ohio
Originally Posted by Kart29
Do you usually go with the 3" shells? Looks like the payload is usually the same but the 3" have higher velocity.


When I go goose hunting, I use 3 1/2” shells in BB. Full choke. The reason I go full choke is a goose isn’t as fast as a duck and I feel like I can reach out further as well.

When I hunt ducks and geese together, I’ll use 3 1/2” shells 2 shot with a modified choke. If ducks come by, I’m not destroying the duck... (too bad), my pattern is a little bigger as they are faster. If geese come by, I have a decent enough shot size to drop them.

Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6610882
09/06/19 05:31 PM
09/06/19 05:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,964
Pillager, Minnesota
P
patfundine Offline
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patfundine  Offline
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P

Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,964
Pillager, Minnesota
Kent #2 it will fold them up past 70 yrds....

Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6610899
09/06/19 05:56 PM
09/06/19 05:56 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,763
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
DelawareRob Offline
trapper
DelawareRob  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,763
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
3” #3’s, modified choke. That is what patterns best with my shotgun. I don’t shoot past 35 yards.


Who is John Galt?

You don't rise to the occasion, you fall to the level of your training.

Semper Paratus
Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6610901
09/06/19 06:04 PM
09/06/19 06:04 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
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Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Anybody shoot these it would decrease the lead some.
[Linked Image]


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6610948
09/06/19 07:17 PM
09/06/19 07:17 PM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 149
SE Mo
F
Frogger79 Offline
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Frogger79  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 149
SE Mo
I've heard #4 buck works good wink

Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6610972
09/06/19 07:56 PM
09/06/19 07:56 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
D
danny clifton Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
danny clifton  Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
D

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
last time I hunted geese I used Remington 3 inch #4 buckshot. That works good but is no longer legal. I hate stupid liberal games


Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6611018
09/06/19 09:21 PM
09/06/19 09:21 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,405
USA-WI
K
Kre Offline
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Kre  Offline
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K

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Posts: 1,405
USA-WI
When they're in range, shoot them in the head and heavy payload and high velocity won't really matter.

Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: patfundine] #6611032
09/06/19 09:35 PM
09/06/19 09:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,294
Northern MN
O
Osky Offline
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,294
Northern MN
Originally Posted by patfundine
Kent #2 it will fold them up past 70 yrds....


This in a 3 inch 12 gauge. I use BB as well, more for dark geese.
As I have posted here I go thru between 5-9 flats most years in Sask. ( 50-90 boxes ) For snows, specks, and ducks the deuces work great. If we're getting into the honkers I up it to BB. Like some of the guys above have said get the lead right and concentrate on the head and either will work fine, even 3's or 4's some guys who shoot carefully do well with.
Good luck

Osky


"A womans heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth, and I can find no sign on it"

Jabless in Minnesota

www.SureDockusa.com
Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6611328
09/07/19 12:20 PM
09/07/19 12:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,134
So. IL
pintail_drake04 Offline
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pintail_drake04  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,134
So. IL
I'm a fan of big shot for geese, but pattern what you will shoot. What kind of geese will you be shooting? Are they the true Giant Canada Geese, or the Lessers? I always told my clients to follow the 3B's of waterfowl "Big shot Breaks Bones" back when we had geese to kill. And I'm talking the Giants that So IL was known for 25yrs ago. 3" BBs, BBBs, or my favorite T"s. Now days, I don't use much steel shot, as I reload tungsten for everything. There is nothing more heartbreaking that shooting a Giant Canada goose, watching his feet drop and sailing off a mile or 2 before he goes down. Big Shot=Big wound channel & broken bones

Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6611374
09/07/19 02:03 PM
09/07/19 02:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 280
Nova Scotia
B
Bruiser1 Offline
trapper
Bruiser1  Offline
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B

Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 280
Nova Scotia
If you can decoy them in close then anything will work ok but if you think the shots will get a little long I would go with black cloud BB or even BBB. Use the tightest choke you can and pattern your shotgun

Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Frogger79] #6611391
09/07/19 02:39 PM
09/07/19 02:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,253
Port Republic South Jersey
N
Newt Offline
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Newt  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
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Port Republic South Jersey
Originally Posted by Frogger79
I've heard #4 buck works good wink


Kilt many wit'm


South Jersey Trapping and Snaring School
January 19-20-21 2024
NEWT -----------------OVER----------------









www.snareone.com
Re: what shells for goose hunting? [Re: Kart29] #6611442
09/07/19 05:03 PM
09/07/19 05:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,462
ny
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gcs Offline
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ny
I use 3" BB's out of an IC choke, later in the season I'll change the choke to light modified, large shot doesn't like being choked too much.This works on decoying large geese out to 40 yds maybe a little more, Early in the season I'll sometimes use #1s . Some of the guys used to use 2s, but you don't always hit them in the head and you'll get a lot of sailers,

But you should pattern your loads to be sure.

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