I too shoot #3's, from a Remington I usually shoot 3-1/2' Expert shells and have very good success, with very few cripples. Not sure which choke I'll be using this year because I'll be using a new gun, a VersaMax (compliments of Remington). I suspect I'll be using a mod. or Imp. After I pattern the gun I'll know. Once the season is on I'll post the results under my winter banner 'The Duckbusters', until then ARRIVE ALIVE!!!
Have shot quite a bit of both, including almost a case of Blind Side alone last year, along with other shells. Conclusions? I'll shoot it when I get it for free, as in last year, but unless I win the lottery of some kind I'd stick to Win. Expert, Kent Fasteel, Federal Speedshock, etc. For someone like me who hunts an awful lot during the season, I just can't justify paying $200-$250 per case when I can get the others for around $100-$120 per case with really no discernible loss in effectiveness at reasonable ranges. Also, if you've ever actually put a hand on the Black Cloud shot, the ones i've found in birds while cleaning were far from 'sharp' edged. Just my 2 cents, good luck this season
You HAVE to pattern 'em. The same model guns will shoot different shells differently. That's just the way it is. You're gun may love one over the other even in the same brand and even only moving from #2's to #3's say with modified, then prefer the #3's with improved, as an example. If you are having an 'off' day, always check your choke/shell combo. I've burned through many boxes of shells not paying attention to this over the years.
(shot 3 boxes of 3.5 inch Kent #1's 1550 fps one through patternmaster and killed maybe 3 geese. Turns out your not supposed to shoot 1550 or over out of it. 60% of pellets weren't on paper.)
That being said, I've seen Black Cloud wound channels that are the things of horror movies. I've seen Hevi-Shot #2's go through and through geese at about 40 yards. I've started to speck hunt almost exclusively with my 20 gauge and Hevi Shot. The only experience I have with BS is watching a kid shoot 2 boxes of shells and kill nothing b/c they were pounding him.
I tend to stay away from all of them though b/c of volume of shooting. It would cost me an extra thousand dollars a year to shoot those, and nothing shoots out of my gun like big slow pellets out of the patternmaster.
This is owned by a Louisiana businessman. Works extremely well. If you haven't seen it...
www.spectrashot.com
I've tried them all and in the end came back to good ole steel shot. They are all a gimmick to get you to pay double for something that is marginally better than regular steel shot. In my opinion most people give these loads credit when in actuality the credit should be given to themselves. I know shooting that duck out of the sky from a questionable distance with one of these loads makes you think it's the load. However after going back to regular steel shot and still making those types of kills I just don't think it's worth it.
Done this with buckshot.
Take a 4x8 sheet of plywood and some cardboard or paper. Set it out at what range you think you will shoot at the ducks, and shoot the different brands and shot sizes. See which one patterns the best with your gun and use that.
My shotgun patterns the best with Remington 3' 000 buck.
Same goes for bird rounds.
Hunting virtually everyday with customers lets me see what everyone is shooting. Most bring hevi shot,hevi metal,black cloud,etc. What a waste of money. They get there share of cripples too. Don't be fooled by all the hype. Now hevi shot has a new shell called 'speedball.' Another gimmick! This is what I mostly shoot:
Federal Speed Shok 3' 1 1/8 1550 fps. # 2 steel ( $99 a case!)
For teal season I shoot a .20 gauge. Either speed shok 2 3/4' #6 steel ($80 case) or Winchester Xpert game/target #6 steel at $5 a box!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bottom line is that ALL the above shells will do the job. Save your money!
Although i think it would be cool to know who hit which bird or who was the better shot that day, I also think this idea could backfire. Say I go hunting with 3 guys and we shoot 18 birds. We get checked by the warden and he sees empty spectra shells or a box of spectra in a bag.
Officer: Oh I see you guys are shooting spectra, lets have another look at those birds? Well well look at that, 7 of these birds have green shot in them. Hmmm, let me see who has green shot.
Me: Well Mr. officer see what had happened was we just shot on some greys and I had an empty gun and some teal were swinging by. I couldnt find my shells so billy tossed me a couple and i hit two blue wings with his green spectra so you can't count those on his limit.
Officer: Billy? Is this true?
Billy: Yes sir, sure is.
Officer: Well personaly i think you two are covering each others arses and I will be keeping an eye on you this season. (which he will, he may not say it but he will) You boys have a good day. Oh by the way here is your citation for not having 3 candy canes tied together with a shoe string.
Me: Three candy canes tied together with a shoe string? When did that become a rule?
Officer: Last season, you don't read your regulations?
P.S. if this is a Louisiana businesman then we will definetly need some purple and gold and black and gold spectra shot for those die hard fans lol
I have not used Blin Side, But I have used BC many times. I find that Hevi Metal is far more lethal than BC. Heve Metal is by far the best waterfowl load I have ever used. BC is better than reg. shot, but Hevi Metal is that much better. Just make sure you pattern whatever you are going to hunt with. Different guns and different chokes will pattern all of the ammo differently. You may find that BC give you a better pattern than Hevi Metal with your gun/choke combo. If that is the case, I would go with what patterns best. If they pattern nearly the same, I would go with Hevi Metal It seems to have more knock down power.