that is a good load and speed. shouldn't take too many shots for you to learn the lead of the birds. Just remember that you need to point ahead of the birds when shooting.

RAS =
Reliability - your gun
Accuracy - The shooter
Speed of shot - Speed is a moot point if you can't rely on the R & A first . . . just sayin' :-)

Also some loads pattern better than others--depends on your gun.
Tom

That's the "R". Knowing how well your gun functions mechanically and how it patterns with different loads. :-)

Are y’all seriously comparing steel to lead, lol?? Before I knew better I would shoot ducks and geese with 2.75” high brass #6’s. And they were stone cold dead. Steel has wounded more ducks than its ever saved in raptors.

But in answer to your question, that’s a heck of a deal and unfortunately all you can use for ducks/geese unless you really want to fork over some money for the HTL shot. We’ve killed a pile of ducks and geese with #2 in 3”. I wouldn’t shoot anything else with it, especially turkeys unless they are 20 yards or closer. Steel has very little knockdown power.

Okay here's a question for you guys on steel shot. I have heard and read as above you consider #2 steel like #4 lead. I don't duck or goose hunt as I don't care for the taste. I have bought a couple boxes of #2 steel 3". The #2 will work for squirrel right? I will most likely use my 22 for squirrels most of the time but I'm just asking in case I take the shotgun.

Badger,the steel #2s will do a job on any squirrel.
Tom

Wanna Be, you have to learn to shoot steel differently than lead. When you do, the take down "power" will be the same. That's the "A".

Badger 23, darn near any shot shell will take squirrels, just depends how bad you want to tear 'em up

About all I hunt ducks with, although early season use #3 steel. I use 2 3/4 inch shells. In my opinion, 3 inch 12 ga with steel doesn't give much advantage except a sore shoulder faster.

I know a lot of “shooters” who kill limits every single day of the 60 day season and they cuss it as well. Not saying you can’t kill ducks, just saying there are more wounded fowl since steel became mandatory. I believe I’ve even read studies stating the same thing. Guess that’s why we have Labs.

. . . and cost you more $ to make some hunters THINK they can reach out at 60+ yds. . . . we call that sky bustin' here.

Sky busting...more like shoulder busting with 3.5”! We used to could get a case of 3” #2’s for $79 a case from Rodgers.

Yuppers, that too

Really doesn't do much to the squirrels unless you're in point blank range.

Definitely not for coyotes ---- even our western oregon mud dogs. Neighbor brought me one that he shot when duck hunting ( i don't chase ducks or geese). The fourth shot finally stopped him ------ It showed. Yes steel shot was not a good move for the waterfowlers -- no knock down or penetration.

There's a BIG difference between fur and feathers and thick and thinner skin!

Thanks, I thought it would be fine. I tend to shoot heavier with the shot size and wouldn't hunt with smaller than #6 lead shot.

If you cant kill geese with #2 3 1/2 inch loads,,you either need to learn how to shoot,,or how to hunt geese.I can teach you both,,,,$100 an hour,,you supply the shells.Will be money well spent for you.p:s: I kill a mountain of geese each year,,and my average on the skeet range for the year is 49 out of 50 birds.Few years back I would shoot 1,000 rounds a week.I reload by the five gallon bucket load.

Upstate you need to read the entire post. Matt has stated that he hasn't hunted waterfowl--thus the question.
on the other hand I have hunted waterfowl for 54 years,so I will pass on your teaching offer.
Nothing I love better than putting out decoys and bringing in the ducks and geese to me. I now sometimes let them land in my decoys and just watch them,and never fire a shot.
I said there is nothing I Love better--I may have fibbed a bit,Beaver and Muskrat ,Ducks and Geese---Make the world go round and bring happiness to this old fart.
Tom

Nothing beats the sights, sounds, and smells of the marsh while duck hunting. Add in the smell of burnt powder, a wet Lab, and fistful of chocolate chip cookies washed down with hot, strong coffee and I am in heaven. Been doing it for 56 years now and have no thought of ever stopping.

Moosetrot