"Do you still like 20ga #3s for large ducks, and what commercial load?"

[SB2MAG]

3s for ducks…..

2s for geese.

If I had to choose just one size…, I’d choose 2s….

 

[Tuleman]

I like (steel) 4's for a 20 gauge duck load.
The pea-shooters need all the pattern density you can give them.

I actually use #5 tungsten loads in my 20's.

 

[woodiefanatic]

Out of the the 20 I shoot mostly bismuth 5’s. When I use steel I like to use 4s to keep the pellet counts up. I got some Kent upland steel 5’s to try. I’m mostly using the 20 for woodies and teal but shot plenty of mallards with it. Even killed a goose last year with Expert #4’s but it wouldn’t be my go to for giant canadas. I’ve had good success with Kent and Winchesters loads. Most of my shots with the 20 are 35 and under.

 

[Ravenanme]

No matter the payload , if you stay within the ability of the pellets distance , along with your ability to center the
target , good things will come of it ! Those of us who roast our birds Whole , prefer affective wound holes but ,
not unnecessary holes throughout the birds body ! The 20 is a very effective bore for payloads within the pattern
density of any reasonable pellet size . HTL payloads can change , these thoughts !

 

[NW BIRDHUNTER]

20 gauge #4's Benelli M2 Carlsons Long range extended tube.

 

[Seaark18]

I like either the Kent for Federal load of 3’s. 3” 7/8oz at 1550fps. Whichever patterns better out of my gun. My kids and I have 3 20ga duck guns so we use some of each.

 

[Joe Hunter]

Pattern numbers from a 20-gauge Browning Citori with 28" Invector-plus barrels and Briley flush chokes (patterns average of five, 30" post-shot scribed circle, yardage taped muzzle to target, and in-shell pellet count average of five).

20 GA 3" FEDERAL STEEL LOAD
1 oz #4 steel (186 pellets) @ 1330 fps
30 YARDS – CYL / pattern 108 (58%)
30 YARDS – SK / pattern 134 (72%)
30 YARDS – IC / pattern 150 (81%)
30 YARDS – M / pattern 169 (91%)

40 YARDS – M / pattern 126 (68%)
40 YARDS – IM / pattern 127 (68%)
40 YARDS – LF / pattern 124 (67%)
40 YARDS – F / pattern 128 (69%)
40 YARDS – XF / pattern 129 (69%)

20 GA 3" REMINGTON NITRO-STEEL MAGNUM LOAD
1 oz #4 steel (191 pellets) @ 1330 fps
30 YARDS – CYL / pattern 104 (56%)
30 YARDS – SK / pattern 134 (70%)
30 YARDS – IC / pattern 164 (86%)
30 YARDS – M / pattern 179 (94%)

40 YARDS – M / pattern 139 (73%)
40 YARDS – IM / pattern 147 (77%)
40 YARDS – LF / pattern 145 (76%)
40 YARDS – F / pattern 149 (78%)
40 YARDS – XF / pattern 152 (80%)

20 GA 3" WINCHESTER DRYLOK SUPER-X STEEL LOAD
1 oz #3 steel (145 pellets) @ 1330 fps
30 YARDS – CYL / pattern 87 (60%)
30 YARDS – SK / pattern 114 (78%)
30 YARDS – IC / pattern 123 (85%)
30 YARDS – M / pattern 133 (92%)

40 YARDS – IM / pattern 106 (73%)
40 YARDS – LF / pattern 110 (76%)
40 YARDS – F / pattern 107 (74%)
40 YARDS – XF / pattern 112 (77%)

20 GA 3" REMINGTON NITRO-STEEL MAGNUM LOAD
1 oz #2 steel (118 pellets) @ 1330 fps
30 YARDS – CYL / pattern 75 (64%)
30 YARDS – SK / pattern 101 (86%)
30 YARDS – IC / pattern 105 (89%)
30 YARDS – M / pattern 114 (97%)

40 YARDS – M / pattern 88 (75%)
40 YARDS – IM / pattern 99 (84%)
40 YARDS – LF / pattern 102 (86%)
40 YARDS – F / pattern 92 (78%)
40 YARDS – XF / pattern 101 (86%)

 

[roy123]

Pattern numbers from a 20-gauge Browning Citori with 28" Invector-plus barrels and Briley flush chokes (patterns average of five, 30" post-shot scribed circle, yardage taped muzzle to target, and in-shell pellet count average of five).

20 GA 3" FEDERAL STEEL LOAD
1 oz #4 steel (186 pellets) @ 1330 fps
30 YARDS – CYL / pattern 108 (58%)
30 YARDS – SK / pattern 134 (72%)
30 YARDS – IC / pattern 150 (81%)
30 YARDS – M / pattern 169 (91%)

40 YARDS – M / pattern 126 (68%)
40 YARDS – IM / pattern 127 (68%)
40 YARDS – LF / pattern 124 (67%)
40 YARDS – F / pattern 128 (69%)
40 YARDS – XF / pattern 129 (69%)

20 GA 3" REMINGTON NITRO-STEEL MAGNUM LOAD
1 oz #4 steel (191 pellets) @ 1330 fps
30 YARDS – CYL / pattern 104 (56%)
30 YARDS – SK / pattern 134 (70%)
30 YARDS – IC / pattern 164 (86%)
30 YARDS – M / pattern 179 (94%)

40 YARDS – M / pattern 139 (73%)
40 YARDS – IM / pattern 147 (77%)
40 YARDS – LF / pattern 145 (76%)
40 YARDS – F / pattern 149 (78%)
40 YARDS – XF / pattern 152 (80%)

20 GA 3" WINCHESTER DRYLOK SUPER-X STEEL LOAD
1 oz #3 steel (145 pellets) @ 1330 fps
30 YARDS – CYL / pattern 87 (60%)
30 YARDS – SK / pattern 114 (78%)
30 YARDS – IC / pattern 123 (85%)
30 YARDS – M / pattern 133 (92%)

40 YARDS – IM / pattern 106 (73%)
40 YARDS – LF / pattern 110 (76%)
40 YARDS – F / pattern 107 (74%)
40 YARDS – XF / pattern 112 (77%)

20 GA 3" REMINGTON NITRO-STEEL MAGNUM LOAD
1 oz #2 steel (118 pellets) @ 1330 fps
30 YARDS – CYL / pattern 75 (64%)
30 YARDS – SK / pattern 101 (86%)
30 YARDS – IC / pattern 105 (89%)
30 YARDS – M / pattern 114 (97%)

40 YARDS – M / pattern 88 (75%)
40 YARDS – IM / pattern 99 (84%)
40 YARDS – LF / pattern 102 (86%)
40 YARDS – F / pattern 92 (78%)
40 YARDS – XF / pattern 101 (86%)

Joe, thanks for the great data again. Do you have comparable data for the 3” 7/8 oz high velocity loads? I tried the Kent’s years ago but they patterned nothing like the 1 oz slower loads.

 

[Dave in AZ]

@Joe Hunter nice data as always!

 

[Ravenanme]

With Joe's data it's easy to see , you wouldn't be handicapped shooting a 20 with the proper size pellets !
Thanks Joe !!