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Which load is better Remington HD, Federal Black Cloud, or something else? Also what shot size would you recommend for your favorite duck hunting load?

I for one really disliked the Federal Black Cloud ammo. It is the dirtiest shooting shotgun shell I have ever shot out of my gun. I am anal about breaking down and cleaning my gun after every hunt and I was amazed at how dirty the black cloud ammo was.

I mainly shot Fiocchi 3 1/2 inch #2 and #4 this year and was very happy with them.

I've heard that these loads where dirty. Thanks

43 grains of blue dot, 1 3/4 oz nickle plated lead 4's. 85 lbs of wad pressure and cci 209 primers! Bad to the bone! Will work fine in a steel 3" dryloc hull!

Is nickel plated lead legal? Is it approved for duck hunting?

I am not crazy about the Black Cloud at all. Way to dirty! Generally shoot Kent or Winchester Dryloc.

I like the Fiocchi 3" #2..

Kent Faststeel 3.5 3's

I loved estate 3 1/2 1/2oz 1's but they don't make em anymore. I've shot 3 in. alot this year and l got great patterns with the cheapo remmy shells 1 1/8oz 2's. Fiocchi makes a good shell plus they have come out with 12ga 3 1/2 1 5/8 oz shells them is 10ga shells in a 12ga. Gonna have to get a couple boxes of those.

Glad to know I was not the only person that found the Black Cloud ammo dirty.

I bought a case of Black Cloud 3" #2 and liked them a lot. They are pretty dirty shell to shoot but the pattern is very good at thirty yards with an improved choke.

DeadDuck30 wrote:I bought a case of Black Cloud 3" #2 and liked them a lot. They are pretty dirty shell to shoot but the pattern is very good at thirty yards with an improved choke.

Hell at 30 yards anything will pattern with an improved cyl! Move it on out to 50 and 60 and see what you got! I can't stand em. Absolutely the dirtiest ammo I've ever seen.

Kent Faststeel
3 inch #2's

If you are cleaning your gun after every days hunt, then what does it matter how dirty the powder is?

Every round that I shot this year was Black Cloud and I have yet to clean my SBE II. I normally clean it just prior to the beginning of duck season, so I am sure that is how it will be this year as well.

That is not the only ammo I shoot, just all I shot this year since I have some much of it. I also have two cases of 3 /12" #2, 1 9/16oz Fasteel, I just never got around to shooting them with so few ducks this year.

Love them Kent Faststeel 3 1/2 in. # 4's