shells

[joe shmoe]

what size of shells are best for geese

[Duffy]

Joe:

I'm no expert, but in my 12-ga. Remington 870 Express I've had success with Remington 3" magnum shells, #4 steel shot, with a "Full" Remchoke. I've also used my Undertaker external full choke, normally for turkey hunting, for even greater constriction.

Works for me, though maybe not for everyone.

[fabsroman]

Are we talking about shells or shot size.

As far as shot size is concerned, I use steel T shot and B Hevi-Shot. Yeah, it might be a little much for when the birds are up close, but it is tough to figure out what kind of shot you will end up with once the birds are working the decoys. For early season resident birds, I will use steel BB's and Hevi-Shot #2's.

Now, if you want to limit how far you will shoot, you can probably use steel #2's, but I personally wouldn't suggest #4's in steel. #4's in Hevi-Shot would be okay if you are willing to limit shots to very close ranges. Of course, #4's in steel would be okay too if you get the bird in really really close and can shoot it in the head.

As far as shell size, I would use a 12 ga. or 10 ga and any of the shell lengths available in those gauges would work (i.e., 2 3/4", 3" or 3 1/2").

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I like 3" Federal Tungsten-Iron in #2 shot; I've been plahying with some 3" Kent ITM in a 1 5/8 oz load of #1 shot and I think this is going to work nicely as well.

[buckhunter]

In steel 3" Mag I use standard BB's.

In Bismuth and Hevi Shot I use #2's

Works for me

[kt]

tj says shoot remingtons!
i have pondered this lately because this past year i found these federal shells called duck and pheasant , they go up to bb size. this past year
i used them to make some shots that just amazed me, they seem to peeter out after 50 yds, last year though most of the geese i shot were 5 feet up at 10-15 yds because i had found some geese that dont see any other pressure "mall geese". but in past years i have learned that at that distance it doesnt really matter. i have fired 4's thru modified at that distance and crunched 'em and bb's at that distance and done the same. when more than half your pellets are hitting the bird it dont make no never mind what you shoot , generally for the later seasons when i have 6 other spreads within ear shot and the birds want to toy around out near 55+yds bbb's are my fave particularly federal premium when i am employed lol. now if you want to talk 1.75 $ a shell, some body here could surely tell you about hevi shot. moral of the story, get them close and all they do is hit the ground and twitch!
kt

[fabsroman]

Try shooting them at close range with #9s', even in lead, and you had better be shooting them in the head.

Now, at 10 to 15 yards, I would guess 4's would work, but what is the difference at that range between 4's and BB's. It isn't like there will be any holes in your pattern and the BB's, or even 2's for that matter, are more likely to go entirely through the bird.

I will definitely agree that almost any shot size will cause enough shock & trauma at 10 yards, that it really will not matter. What do geese look like after they have been shot at 10 to 15 yards? I am willing to bet that they look pretty bad.

[skeet]

I have done quite a bit of goose shooting. Don't like to even tell anyone how many....but when you could use lead I killed most of my geese with 4's and 5's. I now know that was a mistake! Now understand you just can't shoot at the goose. Think of this...you are dove hunting. What do you shoot at? The front of the dove, of course. A goose's head is about the size of a dove...so lead a goose head like you would a dove....and use at least BB size in steel shot BBB size if it is windy or longer ranges. If you can hit the darn things the geese can be killed consistently at 65 yds with BBB. A favorite in my area is T shot. If using Hevi shot use B size or 2's for decoying in your face type of birds or longer shots too.. I came to this reasoning years ago...before my 2nd thousand goose. If the geese are close...it really doesn't matter what you hit them with. If large shot most of it will go clean through..and if you shoot at the head it won't grind them up. If longer ranges are what happens you are ready for that too. Up to about 50-65 yds if you know how to shoot that far. Not many do. The average person just shoots at the goose and if close and small shot you can really make inedible goose burger. Picture 70 large bb's or 250 #4's(4's make the burger). We all have a time or two when we don't quite lead them far enough too. The large shot will usually knock the bird out of the air or kill the bird. Small sizes cripple badly in the tail end of a bird this size. Be smart and humane....Use large shot!! BTW Fabs is right too. These darn birds are a lot tougher than most of us believe.

[fabsroman]

Ditto what skeet said. That is exactly what I was thinking, but I have been doing so many tax returns this week that I didn't have the time or the will power to put it in writing.

I have killed birds at 60 yards, but that was always with BB's or larger and usually with T's. After reading an article about what shot is best for geese, the article concluded that T shot is the best shot size for geese and I agree. That is all I buy in steel if I am going to use steel. Hevi-shot B shot is amazing. That stuff packs so much energy it is unbelievable.

As far as the number of geese I have killed, it is probably around 500 without looking back at records. I have been hunting them for about 8 years now and for at least 3 of those years I killed over 100 birds. Granted, some were dumber than others and easier to kill, but I have had some tough days, especially this past season.

[joe shmoe]

thax

[tjwatty]

your right kt, I LOVE Remington shells. I use them for fishing weights.....
3" BB, Winchester or Fasteel for me. #2 in Hevi-money oops I mean Hevi-Shot

[d-2]

What ever your gun patterns the best is what you need to shoot. We hunt a few canada's down here in Arkansas but mainly snow geese. My browning gold and my old mossberg shoot 3 inch no. 3's real well so that is what I use most of the time when I am goose hunting. Duck hunting in the timber I use 2.75 6's and have killed geese with those but they were working real close. A person needs to pattern his gun with diffrent sizes of shot befor he settles on one size. There is nothing like useing the old patterning board for conclusive proof on what your shotgun likes to shoot...d2