Thread: Ammo advice for the new duckshooter...

I d say just use steel but pattern your gun so it's works well and you ll enjoy it more . Ask all your duck shooting mates for two or three rounds get as many different makes and models of "bombs" and have a session with a pattern board then you ll be away with steel
Helpful to think about your most common shooting distance and set yourself up for that. You know Mtr x mtr board bits of paper circle off a saucer or side plate etc etc We use a roll of the paper that they use on picnic tables. or used to .. It's a really worthwhile thing .

Cheers Happy

Originally Posted by Happy

I d say just use steel but pattern your gun so it's works well and you ll enjoy it more . Ask all your duck shooting mates for two or three rounds get as many different makes and models of "bombs" and have a session with a pattern board then you ll be away with steel
Helpful to think about your most common shooting distance and set yourself up for that. You know Mtr x mtr board bits of paper circle off a saucer or side plate etc etc We use a roll of the paper that they use on picnic tables. or used to .. It's a really worthwhile thing .

Cheers Happy

Yes, I could do that, thank you, @Happy...it has not occurred to me to do test patterns with steel...but I do have a small selection of steel that I could test my gun with. Thank you.

You can get Carlson steel shot choke tubes that are compatible with a Beretta 686 and eliminate barrel damage you would need two so be about $100, The Beretta Benelli Mobil Extended Super Steel Shot Choke Tubes, You would want one close range one mid range, They sell them at H&F but you may need to get the ones you want ordered in. Then use Winchester super x 2 3/4 inch 1 1/6 oz in 3 shot costs about $21 a pack

yes,eeebees,i have a B 687,chambered for 2 3/4,i shoot steel through it, but i use patternmaster extended chokes. tom rooster did a series of articles on steel shoot through older barrels.the conclusion, as the steel is encased by a plastic wad it causes little problems with barrels that are it good condition,ie free of dents etc.yes i would go with aftermarket steel chokes if i was doing a lot of steel shooting.but if you are shooting around ponds,use your two most open chokes,pattern your ammo,and don't go for steel faster than 1450 fps. faster than that will pattern poorly.the steel in beretta barrels is the best, so i doubt whether you'll damage them with steel.keep your chokes lubed with a choke lube, because steel does not compress and will bruise a choke thread if the choke is too restricted.also make sure the chokes are firmly in and they are not shooting loose. so as i see it no problem shooting a bit of steel in the beretta if you use the right ammo and beretta chokes. should you decide on a 20ga. the best gun for you is a benelli m2 20ga ,a 24 or 26 inch barrel. you can get a wood version if you don't like plastic,or you can buy aftermarket wood stocks,if you purchase 2nd hand plastic.i shoot what is basically an m2 24inch, it is the ultralight benelli, and it is a versatile and a pleasure to shoot.at 5 1/2 lbs you can carry it all day,and no i never notice recoil but then i don't shoot more than 30 gms,usually 24gms.

try gamebore 2 3/4 inch 30 gram steel it comes in 2,3,4. now high velocity and lots of people i know love it
with tungsten are you looking at tungsten iron or tungsten matrix??
your other option ofcourse is 12 to 16 or 20 gauge inserts.
ive come to the opinion that the 20 is not a novices duck gun