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The Daily Insight

What shot size for geese

Author

Ava Robinson

Updated on April 23, 2026

SPECIESIDEAL RANGESHOT SIZESmall Ducks15-40 yds4, 5, 6Large Ducks10-40 ydsBB,1, 2, 3Geese10-45 ydsT, BBB, BB

Can you use 2 shot for geese?

I regularly shoot geese with 2 3/4″ #4s when I’m duck hunting, and 2s are my favorite steel shot size for geese over decoys. I feel like I get those hands up shake your head impossible misses far more often with BBs. I’ve tripled out of flocks with 2s that I likely would’ve missed at least once with BBs.

What shot to shoot geese with?

Ideally, you want 60 or more pellets in a 30-inch circle at the range you expect to be shooting geese, and these pellets need to be large ones that carry more energy. When it comes to ducks, a good rule of thumb is 85 to 135 pellets in a 30-inch circle.

What is the best shot size for Canadian geese?

Note: Steel #BBB (.190″) & HEVI-Shot #2 (. 150”) have exhibited the best all-around performance for taking geese; steel #3 (. 140″) & HEVI-Shot #4 (.

Can you kill geese with 3 shot?

3’s will kill a goose easily if they are shot in the head and neck. A canada goose’s breast bone is extremly thick. I remeber one hunt where the birds were working in good and I was shooting them at under 20 yrds.

Do you have to use steel shot for geese?

With the advent of the 1991-92 season, steel shot will be required for goose and duck hunting throughout the nation. The switch to steel is being made because spent lead pellets accidentally ingested kill millions of waterfowl annually.

What is 12-gauge BB shot?

BB Shot: 12-Gauge Ammo Shot Patterns 18 inches. It is an effective hunting load. It is primarily used for geese and large ducks. Shotgun shells loaded with BB are popular for larger game at greater distances.

What shot to use for Canadian geese?

Most experts say the best loads for geese are sizes 1, BB, BBB, or T steel shot. For most hunting situations, BB or BBB shot is the most effective shot size. Both have plenty of pellets, but still enough energy to bring down a goose.

Is #1 shot good for geese?

Camolund Senior Refuge Member. I shoot 1-1/8 oz of #1’s for every type of waterfowl. From teal, to mallards, to snows, to cacklers, to giant canadas. It works great on all.

What is the best load for geese?
  1. HeviX. HeviShot HeviX. …
  2. Black Cloud TSS. Federal Black Cloud TSS. …
  3. Federal Speed Shok. Federal Speed Shok. …
  4. Boss Bismuth. Boss Bismuth. …
  5. Remington Wingmaster HD. Remington Wingmaster HD. …
  6. Winchester DryLok. Winchester DryLok. …
  7. Kent Tungsten-Matrix. …
  8. Backridge ITX.
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What size shot is BB?

Shot SizeDiameter in mmDiameter in Inches14.06mm.16B4.32mm.17BB4.57mm.18BBB4.83mm.19

How much should I lead a goose?

fisherhunter460 said: So at 30 yards with a goose flying 45 mph across you it would require 4.25 feet in sustained lead to hit your target.

What ammo does a goose use?

The options for dove hunting ammunition are varied, but most use No. 7.5 or 8 shot. The key to either is to make sure the bird is with the 30- to 40-yard optimum range for any shell. In 1968 I graduated to a 12-gauge.

Is 3 shot good for ducks?

Choke and Load Recommendations Improved cylinder and 3 or 4 shot are a good combination for wood ducks in close quarters or even mallards in the timber. … At ranges inside 40 yards, BB, 1, or 2 shot are good for geese; 2 or 3 shot works well on ducks.

What shotgun shells do police use?

Buckshot remains the most commonly utilized police shotgun ammunition. The typical round of 2-3/4 inch 12 gauge buckshot contains 9 pellets approximately . 32 caliber in diameter.

What is 7.5 shot good for?

#7 shot is primarily used for target shooting, clays and medium-sized birds like grouse, partridge, quail, and snipe. Old-timers will usually refer to #7 and #7.5 as “dove shot,” because it excels at hitting birds and small animals that are roughly the size of a large dove.

How many pellets are in a 12 gauge 8 shot?

It’s used for nearly all shot sizes except buckshot, which uses pellet count. For example, a 1-ounce load of 12 gauge No. 8 shot has about 410 pellets.

Whats the difference between steel shot and lead shot?

Steel is less dense than lead. The pellets weigh one-third less than lead pellets of the same size. Steel retains less energy and may not kill birds cleanly at the same ranges. Steel with the same weight and shot size contains more pellets than lead, making loads that contain more shot than necessary.

Can you use lead shot for geese?

So, whatever you take away from this article, please beware that it is still illegal to hunt ducks, geese, coots, and other waterfowl with lead shot. …

Can you use buckshot for waterfowl?

A size 4 is usually best for pheasants and a size 2 should be used for bigger birds such as ducks or geese, Burd said. Even larger shot is BB and BBB, then a range of buckshot. “Your pellets are really big by that time, like up to a third of an inch. … That’s why it’s called buckshot.”

What size is a shot?

There is no standard size for a single shot, except in Utah, where a shot is defined as 1.5 US fl oz (44.4 ml). Elsewhere in the U.S., the standard size is generally considered to be 1.25–1.5 US fl oz (37–44 ml). A double shot in the U.S. may be 2 fluid ounces or more.

Is BBB shot bigger than BB?

01” bigger than #1 shot. BB shot is . … BBB shot is . 19 inches.

What is the difference in shot size in shotgun shells?

The bigger the shotshell number the higher its pellets count. … The larger the shot pellet size, the more of them are packed into the casing. Sizes 9 – 7½ are typically used for the clays sports or small game birds. Anything larger than 7½ is suited for bigger game birds such as pheasants or waterfowl.

What size shot should I use for turkey hunting?

Many hunters favor size 6 shot. If your gun does not pattern tightly, using 6 makes sense out to 35, maybe 40 yards. I patterned both lead 6s and heavy-shot 6s to see what really was taking place. Out to 40 yards, the 6s really threw a great pattern, providing many vital head and neck hits.

Is 8 shot good for ducks?

If your questioning the lethality of #8 shot (or even #9) I can assure you it is quite effective on ducks. I shot it quite a bit back in the old days with great results.

What size steel shot Mallard?

SPECIESIDEAL RANGESHOT SIZESmall Ducks15-40 yds4, 5, 6Large Ducks10-40 ydsBB,1, 2, 3Geese10-45 ydsT, BBB, BB

Can you duck hunt with a 20 gauge?

Tungsten alloys and Hevi-Shot are comparably lethal to lead shot, making the 3-inch 20 gauge favorably comparable to the 3-inch 12 gauge. Even so, modern steel shot loads are plenty sufficient for shooting ducks in flooded timber. … “A 20-gauge gun will kill ducks as well as a 12,” Morgan said.

What is 2shot shotgun shells?

#2 Steel Shot Ammo: #2 Steel Shot Explained. With a smaller pellet diameter than all other sizes of buckshot, #2 shot grants you a larger number of pellets per shot. But even though #2 shot is a versatile ammo choice, it isn’t ideal for use when hunting deer, moose, bear or other large game.

What size is #12 shot?

Gauge (number of lead balls in one pound)Diameter of one ballinchmillimetre120.72918.5160.66316.8200.61515.6

Who makes Eagle lead shot?

PSYCHE, LTD – EAGLE MAGNUM LEAD SHOT.

What is buckshot used for?

Buckshot is generally used for two purposes: Self-defense and hunting medium to large game. For instance, loads of 12-gauge 00 buck are commonly available in 8 to 18 pellets depending on the lengths from 2 3/4″ to 3 1/2″.