Duck hunting may look similar to other shotgun pursuits, but it has distinct requirements:
Non-Toxic Shot Mandate: In the U.S., waterfowl hunters must use non-toxic shot (e.g., steel, bismuth, tungsten blends). Lead is prohibited by federal law.
Variable Range: Ducks can present shots from close-in decoy spreads (20–30 yards) to pass-shooting overhead (40+ yards).
Tough Feathers and Wing Bones: Ducks are more resilient than upland birds, often requiring more punch to ensure a clean kill.
Hence, steel, bismuth, tungsten (and tungsten blends) have become the mainstay choices, each with pros and cons in terms of pattern density, downrange energy, and cost.
Shot Size: Matching Your Setup to the Target
#2 Shot
Best For: Medium-to-larger ducks (mallards, pintails) at moderate or longer ranges.
Pros: Heavier pellets retain energy for better penetration past 30–35 yards.
Cons: Fewer pellets in each shell, leading to somewhat sparser patterns.
#3 Shot
#4 Shot
Best For: Smaller ducks (teal, wigeon) or close-decoy setups.
Pros: Denser patterns with more pellets, making it more forgiving on smaller birds.
Cons: Less energy per pellet at range, limiting effectiveness beyond 35 yards.
Micro Pellets and Tungsten Options
TSS (#7–#9): Tungsten Super Shot is extremely dense, allowing smaller shot sizes to carry lethal energy further. While used extensively in turkey hunting, TSS is also creeping into waterfowl loads for extended range or specialized hunts.
Blended Tungsten: Some waterfowl loads combine steel with tungsten or bismuth to balance cost and performance.
Shell Length: 2.75", 3", 3.5"
Balancing Range, Recoil, and Pellet Count
2.75-Inch
Less recoil, smaller payload. Often sufficient for close-in decoying ducks.
Ideal for 20-gauge or 12-gauge in flooded timber or smaller blinds.
3-Inch
The go-to shell length for a wide range of duck scenarios.
Good pellet count without excessive recoil.
3.5-Inch
Max payload, especially for steel shot where density is lower.
Can be useful for pass shooting at higher altitudes or big late-season mallards.
Recoil can be punishing if you’re taking multiple shots frequently.
Gauges and Personal Preference
12-Gauge: Still dominates, offering broad ammo selections.
20-Gauge: Growing in popularity due to lighter recoil and improved tungsten loads bridging the performance gap.
10-Gauge: Historically the “big gun” for waterfowl, less common now but still used by dedicated pass-shooters for geese or high-flying ducks.
Material Matters: Steel, Bismuth, Tungsten, and More
Since lead is banned for waterfowl, we’re left with non-toxic shot choices:
Steel Shot
Pros:
Economical, widely available, mandated as the standard.
Advances in wad design (e.g., Federal Black Cloud) have improved pattern performance.
Cons:
Lower density (~7.8 g/cc) compared to lead (~11 g/cc) or tungsten (~18 g/cc).
Pellets lose energy faster at longer range.
Bismuth Shot
Pros:
Denser than steel (~9.6 g/cc) but less than lead.
Softer than steel, making it gentler on older shotguns.
Better long-range performance than plain steel in similar shot sizes.
Cons:
Generally more expensive than steel, less expensive than tungsten.
Not as common in all shot sizes.
Tungsten and Tungsten Blends
Pros:
Extremely dense (up to ~18 g/cc), delivering lethal energy at extended distances.
Smaller pellet sizes can achieve the same (or better) downrange power as larger steel shot.
Cons:
Cost is significantly higher.
Some tungsten loads require chokes rated for hard shot.
“Hevi” or Other Proprietary Blends
Brands like HEVI-Shot use tungsten-based alloys or steel/bismuth blends to achieve intermediate densities. The goal is to improve pattern performance and retain energy without the full cost of pure tungsten.
Specialized Waterfowl Loads
Federal Black Cloud
Technology: Features the FliteControl Flex wad and mixed pellets, including “FliteStopper” steel pellets with a cutting edge.
Pros:
Tight patterns even in open chokes, good for mid-range shooting.
Increased lethality from the unique pellet design.
Cons:
Not specifically tailored for turkeys (dense patterns at a smaller zone), but excellent for ducks in typical waterfowl ranges (20–40 yards).
Winchester Blind Side 2
Technology: Uses hex-shaped pellets (“Hex Steel”), designed to pack efficiently and create shock trauma.
Pros:
Improved packaging density means more pellets in the shell.
“Diamond Cut” wad aims to deliver consistent patterns.
Cons:
Some hunters find hex pellets can pattern unpredictably in certain choke setups. Always test.
Bismuth Specialty Loads
Examples: Winchester Bismuth, Federal Bismuth, Kent Tungsten-Matrix.
Usage: Great for older guns, or for hunters wanting better ballistic performance than steel but not as pricey as tungsten.
Tungsten-Based Waterfowl Loads
Examples: Federal Tungsten (Heavyweight TSS Waterfowl), HEVI-Shot HEVI-Metal Xtreme.
Who Uses Them: Hunters seeking 40+ yard reliability or specialized pass-shooting scenarios.
Note: Heavier price tag means you might save it for final, “must-make” shots or late-season hunts where birds are decoy-shy.
Choke Considerations for Duck Hunting
Modified, Improved Cylinder, or Specialty Waterfowl Chokes
Improved Cylinder (IC):
Great for close decoy shots (20–30 yards).
Wider pattern ensures you can quickly get on target for fleeting in-flight angles.
Modified (MOD):
Most popular for a balance of spread and range.
Good for decoying birds out to 35 yards, can stretch further with heavier shot or tungsten.
Full or Extended Waterfowl Chokes:
Useful for pass-shooting or bigger birds (like late-season mallards at 40+ yards).
May risk “over-choking” steel shot, which can blow patterns or cause pellet deformation if the choke is too tight.
Pattern Testing: Non-Negotiable
Just like turkey hunting, pattern testing is critical:
Shoot at a large paper or cardboard target at typical distances (25–40 yards).
Assess pellet distribution to ensure coverage is even and dense enough for a duck’s vital zone.
Experiment with different loads and choke constrictions (IC, MOD, extended waterfowl) to see which yields consistent kills.
Adapting to Different Duck Hunting Scenarios
Timber Hunts
Marshes and Potholes
Big Water Pass-Shooting
Typical Shots: Often longer, 40 yards and beyond.
Recommended Setup: #2 steel, #2 bismuth, or tungsten-based shells in 3 or 3.5-inch length. Full or extended waterfowl choke if your pattern tests well.
Why: You need maximum pellet energy and a tighter pattern to connect on higher, faster-moving birds.
Environmental & Ethical Considerations
Non-Toxic Compliance
It’s mandatory in most countries (certainly in the U.S.) to use non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Failing to do so risks legal consequences and ecological harm—lead shot can be extremely damaging to wetlands wildlife.
Wounding Loss
Ducks often approach at variable speeds and angles. A dense, well-distributed pattern is crucial for a quick, humane kill:
If you suspect your pattern is too loose at 40 yards, switch to a tighter choke or a heavier shot option.
If recoil is excessive and causing you to flinch or rush shots, consider dropping to a 3-inch shell or going with an improved choke for quicker target acquisition.
Recommended Brands & Product Highlights
Federal
Black Cloud: Advanced FliteControl wad and FliteStopper steel pellets. Great for mid-to-long range in various shot sizes (#2–#4).
Speed-Shok: More budget-friendly steel loads, available in a wide range of shot sizes and velocities.
Winchester
Blind Side 2: Hex steel pellets for unique trauma, plus improved wad design for pattern consistency.
Drylok Super Steel: A classic waterfowl load with moisture-sealing features.
Hevi-Shot
Hevi-Metal Xtreme: Blends steel with tungsten or heavier alloys for improved performance without full tungsten cost.
Hevi-Bismuth: Bismuth loads offering better density than steel at a mid-level price.
Kent
Fasteel 2.0: Popular steel load known for consistent velocities and patterns.
Tungsten Matrix: A partial tungsten-blend for better performance than steel.
Crafting Your Duck-Hunting Ammo Strategy
Identify Your Typical Shot Range
Weigh Cost vs. Performance
Steel is the most economical.
Bismuth is mid-tier in cost, with improved penetration.
Tungsten is top-tier performance and price.
Choke Selection
Improved Cylinder for close shots or highly pressured birds that require fast target transitions.
Modified for a good all-around solution.
Full or extended waterfowl choke for pass-shooting or big late-season birds.
Pattern Testing
Always confirm your chosen load/choke combo by patterning at the distances you expect to shoot.
Ensure you maintain enough pellet density to reliably cover a mallard’s vital zone (roughly 20-inch or so circle) at your max range.
Adapt to Weather and Season
Early season: Birds may decoy closer, so a lighter load and more open choke might suffice.
Late season: Birds are wary and might flare earlier, necessitating heavier or denser shot to maintain lethality at extended range.
Choosing the right ammo for duck hunting is as critical as concealing your blind or perfecting your call. Balancing steel vs. bismuth vs. tungsten, shell length, choke constriction, and shot size allows you to tailor a lethal, non-toxic solution that fits your style—whether it’s chasing teal in flooded timber or pass-shooting mallards at 40 yards over big water.
Steel remains the go-to for many hunters: affordable, widely available, and effective at normal decoy ranges.
Bismuth and tungsten take performance up a notch, offering superior range and energy, often with a matching price tag.
Choke and pattern testing matter immensely: fine-tuning them ensures you put a heavy, even concentration of pellets into the duck’s vital zone.
By understanding how each variable—shot material, shot size, shell length, and choke—interacts, you’ll be ready to confidently drop ducks in any scenario, from close-in timber hunts to longer-range open-water encounters.
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