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HSMITH · January 2, 2005, 12:52 PM

Hevi and Bismuth run about $2 per shell, they are very effective and have long range capabilities that steel shot does not. Steel will run about $.75 per shot for premium high velocity loadings.

A 3" 12 when using steel shot big enough to kills ducks and geese beyond 35 yards will run out of pellets in the pattern at 35 yards or so, if you drop down to a smaller size to get more pellets in the pattern you will not have pellets big enough to kill ducks and geese beyond about 35 yards. The 3" 12 is a 35 yard gun with steel shot. The 3.5" 12 brings that number up to about 45 yards, shells are more expensive and recoil harsher. The 10 3.5" guage is about the same as the 3.5" 12, differences are very slight.

If you will be on private land or leased land with limited competition and decent numbers of ducks the 3" 12 is plenty. You will have more opportunities to shoot ducks over the decoys than someone on public ground with lots of competition for the birds. On public ground the 3.5" is a better choice IMO. Steel 4's in a high velocity premium loading work well over decoys. For longer shots #2's work well out to about 45 yards. For larger geese #2 is about minimum and BB or BBB work well out to about 45 yards.

If a 3" gun fits what you will be doing I would recommend the SuperX2 in a 3" or 3.5", the 3" will be about $600 and the 3.5" will be around $650-700. The Beretta 390 and 391 are also great shotguns, about $550 for a synthetic stock 390 at Walmart, and about $700 for a 391 at most outlets. The 3.5" Beretta is about $1000. All of these guns can be found on sale for less than I listed, just check around. Buying a 3.5" gun will allow you to do most anything that can be done with steel shot, yet does not prevent you from using shells from light 2 3/4" field loads all the way through the heaviest 3.5" magnums.

Chokes will be taken care of with a new gun, most come with 3 and some come with 5. Which one to use depends on range, shell choice, and your particular gun. You will have to pattern the gun to see what works best for your gun with the load you have chosen.

Hope this helps.

January 2, 2005, 12:52 PM	#4
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	Hevi and Bismuth run about $2 per shell, they are very effective and have long range capabilities that steel shot does not. Steel will run about $.75 per shot for premium high velocity loadings. A 3" 12 when using steel shot big enough to kills ducks and geese beyond 35 yards will run out of pellets in the pattern at 35 yards or so, if you drop down to a smaller size to get more pellets in the pattern you will not have pellets big enough to kill ducks and geese beyond about 35 yards. The 3" 12 is a 35 yard gun with steel shot. The 3.5" 12 brings that number up to about 45 yards, shells are more expensive and recoil harsher. The 10 3.5" guage is about the same as the 3.5" 12, differences are very slight. If you will be on private land or leased land with limited competition and decent numbers of ducks the 3" 12 is plenty. You will have more opportunities to shoot ducks over the decoys than someone on public ground with lots of competition for the birds. On public ground the 3.5" is a better choice IMO. Steel 4's in a high velocity premium loading work well over decoys. For longer shots #2's work well out to about 45 yards. For larger geese #2 is about minimum and BB or BBB work well out to about 45 yards. If a 3" gun fits what you will be doing I would recommend the SuperX2 in a 3" or 3.5", the 3" will be about $600 and the 3.5" will be around $650-700. The Beretta 390 and 391 are also great shotguns, about $550 for a synthetic stock 390 at Walmart, and about $700 for a 391 at most outlets. The 3.5" Beretta is about $1000. All of these guns can be found on sale for less than I listed, just check around. Buying a 3.5" gun will allow you to do most anything that can be done with steel shot, yet does not prevent you from using shells from light 2 3/4" field loads all the way through the heaviest 3.5" magnums. Chokes will be taken care of with a new gun, most come with 3 and some come with 5. Which one to use depends on range, shell choice, and your particular gun. You will have to pattern the gun to see what works best for your gun with the load you have chosen. Hope this helps.