20 ga. 3" Steel Loads on Sale?

[Froghunter]

Looking to start Duck Hunting in the Fall of this year and was wondering if anyone has seen the 20 gauge 3" steel loads on sale at Basspro, Cabela, Dicks, and ETC.

Hope you can help, so I can pattern my shotgun for the Teal Season in September!

Thanks!

Froghunter

[dukkillr]

Not sure how you teal hunt but you might prefer 2 3/4" 4s 5s or 6s for teal.  I was at Cabelas two days ago and nothing was especially on sale, although some of the steel was 1$ off.  That still doesn't make it a very good deal.  I was at Wal-Mart today and nothing was on sale although you can sometimes catch the lower power steel shells at a pretty reasonable price.

[Froghunter]

Been doing alot of web searching and reading. I have surfed all the manufactors. I'm liking the Kent Fast steel, but not to keen on the 3" 7/8 oz loads. Is this enough shot to hit Duck and harvest them cleanly? I also have a question about the upland faststeel. Will the steel number six shoot be enough load to harvest Teal over decoys 20-40 yards. I have purchased a box of each in 4s and 3s, Estate 3" 1 oz. to start to the pattern testing.

http://www.kentgamebore.com/upland_fasteel.asp

Thanks!

Froghunter

[dukkillr]

I shoot 12 ga 2 3/4" steel 6s at teal and early season bonus ducks.  They are 1 1/16th oz I think.  I wouldn't go below that in shot, but then again I don't shoot a 20.  I think you could be very effective with 5s or 4s as well and I've used them, particularly when you are starting to see big ducks but still mostly teal. 

I wouldn't worry about patterning.  That concept came over from rifle hunting where there is debatably some difference among individual guns of the same make.  With shotguns you either shoot it well and it goes where you aim, or it doesn't.  6s will pattern more densely than 5s.  5s more than 4s.  1 1/16th oz will be more dense than 1oz.  I think you see where I'm going.  It's not going to hurt you, but your time would be better spent shooting skeet or sporting clays and making sure you can hit what you are aiming at.

I've shot every make of shell ever produced.  I once had a bad box of remingtons and I've avoided them more since then, but I still shoot them occasionally and I've never had another problem.  I've also had brass expansion problems with the cheap federals and I've completely quit shooting them.  I do shoot the good federals regularly however. 

If you are going to be getting into big ducks I would want 7/8 oz.  Good luck, take some pictures and let us know how you do.

[dakotashooter2]

It is hard to find 20 ga steel on sale so if you do stock up. I switched to 20 ga about 3 years back and have not found the need to go back.

I don't agree that patterning a shotgun is not necessary. I have found particular loads/brands to shoot high and others low. A particular choke may throw a perfect pattern with one size shot and have holes big enough to drive a truck through in a size larger or smaller. And I highly advise looking into extended chokes. At least in my guns, they have greatly improved the patterns. They lengthen the area of constriction causing less pellet deformation in lead shot (which is the cause of flyers) and reduce the effect of shot bouncing against each other with harder shot. 

The last couple of years the few times I have hunted I have hammered ducks and some geese with 20 ga 1 oz loads of #2s and #3s. Keeping in mind most shots were 30 yards and under. #4sgive a bit denser for teal which are not hard to knock down if you can hit them. In the lead days I used 2 3/4" #8s for teal. and wouldn't hesitate to try steel #6s if ranges can be held to 25 yards or less. About 90% of the Canadas I've shot with the 20 hit the ground dead. This is decoying and the longest shot being about 28 yards.

I have found no fault in estate shells.  They have served me well so far. Remington Nitro probably rank #1 on my list but I use them sparingly and mostly for geese. Note that they are the only 20 ga #1 shot I have been able to find (at least locally) but I have found the #2s to be a superior load.  #1s are getting just to big for the 20.

[FeetDownHonkers]

First off ! I totally agree with the last post as in patterning your gun ! you can go shoot all the skeet etc. you want but with out knowing where your point of impact is ? not hard to figure out my point and I've never seen two guns shoot exactly the same , rifle or shotgun . I can tell you this from experience . Had two SBE's and if it weren't for patterning both guns I would have never found out one of them shot 8-10 inches off point of aim . Try different loads and chokes and I think you'll find the right combo . I love shooting my 20 for waterfowl , even for those big ole honkers . Try Rogers Sporting Goods as they usually have 20 guage steel at great prices , I think you'll find them to be  the cheapest by far .