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When you guys get through shooting all those new "last weekend" ducks
you have, please provide some input on the following questions. After learning that velocity really does kill better as it increases, I am going to try some new strategy on Duck Loads for next year. By the way, I lost ALOT of wounded ducks this year.....way too many, and before you get to the retreiver issue, I have a Lab on order already. After 40 plus years of hunting I am worried that my shooting ability is becoming suspect. Anyway, here is the strategy:

3 1/2" load of Kent @ 1550fps and 1 3/8 oz #3 shot. # K1235ST40 (at about $15 Box/$150 case)

With #3s you get 41% more pellets than with #2s, which I have been shooting, in a 1 3/8 oz steele load. (210 vs 149=61/149=40.94%)

Im also going to IMP CYL from LT MOD to widen the patterm some.

So the overall effect should be a wider, denser and faster (was shooting 1375 fps) pattern that will compensate somewhat for too little lead or just not having the bird in the center of the pattern. Also, Kent seems to provide the best combination of performance and price.

I see Kent referred to alot on this forum; anything bad about them? Are #3s good out to 35-40 yards? Are Kents sensitive to wet conditions? Is $15/box a good price for this load. What is a good "fast" 3" load? Kent and Federal (Classic Mag High Velosity #W142) seem to have the best prices on fast 1 1/4 oz loads as I looked at the non-Premium loads available. Kent # K123SR36, 1 1/4@ 1400 fps.; Fed # W142, 1 1/4 @1450. Both have 1500 fps in 1 1/8 oz that are not expensive. Anyone have experience With these 3" loads?

Thanks for the Input. Im obviously just trying to keep busy at duck hunting when theres not much hunting to do around here. the INJUN

1/4 inch ball bearings in a 6inch PVC tater gun charged with half a can of ether. Don't forget to take bandages, fire extinguisher, and aloe vera.

It all depends on how you shoot. In timber? On fields? I have been told that I am way to picky on my shots. I make certain they are within the "dropped dead" zone. I shoot the Kent 3" #3's and #4's. I believe you will like them.

IMO, if you are going to shoot 3.5's, then shoot a 3.5 load, not the 3" load in the 3.5. Shoot 3.5's with 1 9/16 or 2 oz of shot, better chance of hitting the bird and that's what the 3.5 is mainly for, added amount of shot. I've always shot 3" 1 3/8 #3's until this season, when I started switching over to BB, BBB, and T's for ducks.... .....yes for ducks, got tired of the cripples.......and they fall stone dead when hit, plus more knockdown power on longer shots.

Get you a 3 1/2" #7 1/2 remington Hevi-Shot. You get 1 3/4 oz shot I would assume close to 500 pellets, and each individual pellet of the 7 1/2 shot has the same energy as a #4 steel. If you can't hit a friggin bird with that load you need to quit hunting.

I really liked the 3.5 Kent #3s .They patterned real good but I shoot an Improved modified or a full choke. Remington Nitro Magnum #4 0r#6 in 3 inch are the way to go if you want to make sure there are no cripples.

Good input so far and I appreciate it. I aint gonna do Hevi-Shot till it comes down in price or my reloading expert buddy can put it in AA 2 3/4 hulls with good ballistics. Keep the comments coming. the INJUN

screw kent shells.... they don't shoot wurf a crap if you ever get them wet.

i like Winchester Drylock 3 1/2" #3's at 1 9/16oz. Will drop ducks at distances you can't believe. Want more punch? Drop on down to the #1's.

As for the Lab you've got "ordered"..... best move you've made so far!

Gives you somebody to share duckblind snacks and war stories with when all your buddies have to work....

If you want to reload shells. Get a MEC Steelmaster and reload 3" shells. You can make them faster, more pellets, better pattern, and save some money. As far as Dry LOks I have had more trouble with them misfiring than I have the Kents.

Kent or Estate # 4's in 1 1/4 works great!

Have been shooting Kents for 3 years now....started out with 2-3/4 " #3's while hunting in a brake, 3" #2's now are pretty much all I use for ducks either in the trees or field. They patterned well in my gun & like Gadwall2
I'm kinda choosy about my shots. One of my hunting buddies uses those candle-sticks in BB pellets & swears by em. Get some butcher paper & try a few different loads to see how many pellets in the 30" circle.
As for choke tubes I prefer the imp. cyl. for timber & when birds are decoying, & will go to a mod. in open fields.
All that said, find what works best in yo gun & match it to your hunting conditions.
I'm sure the hevi-stuff is great (I've seen the video), I've never tried it though. Did try some Kent tungsten matrix, but my tight-wad butt kept thinkin about the 5$ it cost me to miss that pair of widgeons all 3 shots .
Good Luck & hope ya have to fight em off

I've used the Hevi-Shot (one box). They work great, but too expensive.
Shot 3 times at a woodie and made me sick. That was $6! I know it was my bad shooting but it ruined my hunt knowing that I spent $6 on a woodie. I shoot 3" dry-lock BB, but I'm a first year hunter so don't hold alot of weight on my opinion.

By the way....not many ducks seen on tallahachi near sardis.

Nitro Mag-

I agree, kents are some pretty good loads. Ive shot almost a case this year without a problem. As for remington nitro magnums, be careful, they'll put yo ass in jail!

Hey Injun, my buddy and i tried Kent shells for the first time this year. We bought a case of 3" #4s 1-1/4oz. for some strange reason we seemed to have more ducks with broken wings than i remember. That could easily be our shooting however. Last year i was shooting Winchester 2 3/4 #4 econo shells with a modified choke in my 870. This year i went to improved cylinder with the Kents for our type of hunting. I liked the kents. they cycled well and recoil was no noticable change. the noticable change for me was the speed of the Kents vs the Winchester cheapos. That took some getting used to since i have a habit of shooting a little in front. the Kent shells are great for the price....we got ours from cabellas for about 10 bucks a box after shipping. Natchez shooter supply has them for about the same price i think. Just like has been said, Don't get em wet!

Hey injun, I have shot Kent for the last 3 years now, never a misfire or cycle problem. Lakeway Sporting goods in Grenada sells the 2 3/4 for 79.00 a case and the 3" for 89.00 a case. That's hard to beat considering what you will pay for the other "premium" shells. I can't tell $5.00 a box difference in them. The lab is the most cost effective and fun way to duck hunt. One shot to knock down and the lab does the rest. The best advise I give is to pick your shots and take your time. One of my biggest problems is gettting my gun to my shoulder properly is the heavy hunting coats, I'm having my stock cut down so that the length of pull is correct for me with all the gear on. After I pulled the trigger, I have noticed too many times of where the butt of the gun was actually resting. It was not properly seated on my shoulder. That has caused more misses for me than anything. Good luck next year and my we all limit in the end.

Thanks again for all the input, especially the Kent shooters. Looks like Im gonna try the "fast" 3" and even faster 3 1/2" Kents next year in #3s (1 1/4oz and 1 3/8oz) and see what happens when I pattern them. Our season ended yesterday with three mallards, one of which flew off after hitting the water HARD and we had empty guns and could not knock him back down. Most of our hunting is on big water over decoys and ends up at an average of around 30 yards. One thing I have noticed about Mallards in N C vs Mississippi is that they do not decoy as readily or as close to decoys here and the shots are not as high quality on the average. Also, less opportunity equals more lower quality shots and more cripples. Appreciate what you have Guys (in Miss), cause even in slack years you have some of the best Duck hunting in the South, not to mention all the managed waterfowl areas available for public hunting. Purty nice people too. the INJUN