The Best Shotgun Gauge And Load for Duck Hunting

Blog
27 May, 2022
Posted By: Patrick Long

For years hunters have argued back and forth about which load and gauge are best for duck hunting. At this point, it’s almost tradition to get a different ammo suggestion from each new hunter you meet. The tricky part is that nearly all gauges and loads will effectively kill waterfowl, so it really comes down to personal preference and any unique specifics to your hunting style or location.

For duck hunting, the best shotgun gauge to use is a 12 gauge. As for shot size, you will do well using shot sizes between #3 and #5. This combination is going to allow you to shoot far, and still knock down birds.

Your Shotgun Gauge Options

10 Gauge

Some hunters argue the 10 gauge is the ultimate weapon when duck hunting because of its size and power. Over the years many shot analyses have been conducted finding that 10 gauges do in fact shoot slightly better shot patterns at medium range, and keep a tighter grouping for longer.

However, the 10 gauge shotgun is going to be extremely heavy, and it is very expensive. Good luck actually finding shells in 10 gauge.

12 Gauge

The 12 gauge is perhaps the most classic shotgun size, it is extremely versatile and is the most common size available. The beauty of a 12 gauge shotgun is it presents no unique advantages, but also has no disadvantages. It is the perfect blend between small and large which is likely the reason its use has been so versatile for so long.

A 12 gauge shotgun is great if you are looking to maintain a heavy feel without getting overly exhausted. Because 12 gauge is the most commonly used shotgun size, it has the most variety in shells available. If you are interested in hunting all different types of birds or small game, a 12 gauge is a great choice.

16 Gauge

The 16 gauge is a great shotgun, but much like the 10 gauge, it has fallen victim to time. With the high performance of the 12 gauge, the 16 gauge is just not as popular anymore. Sure, it is a bit lighter, but if you want a light shotgun you will likely go for a 20 gauge. Again, you will have problems finding shells to go with your 16 gauge shotgun, so I would avoid it at all costs.

20 Gauge

For a lighter shotgun, the 20 gauge is king. This is the go-to gauge for thousands of hunters, and it also works well for children. Much like the 12 gauge, the 20 is super popular and you will likely be able to find shells for this gun everywhere. I have shot plenty of ducks with a twenty gauge, and it has a respectable range and light recoil.

Picking Your Shot Size

Shot size can be tricky to decipher sometimes. Although for duck hunting you will do well with #3 shot and up to about #5 shot. I have personally used a handful of shot sizes and here is what I found out with each one:

#2 shot - I wounded more ducks, they take longer to die in the water due to only a handful of pellets hitting them. Although if I was accurate, they were definitely going down. Where I would like to use these is a spot that I could shoot both ducks and geese in.

#3 shot - this is a heavy shot for ducks, and it made me feel like I had a lot more knockdown power. I knew that If I hit a duck he was going down. It is a little small for geese, but I knew it was still possible to take the occasional goose out with 3 shot.

#4 shot - this is a good middle ground shot, it is small enough to get a wide spread, but big enough to do a good amount of damage with each pellet.

#5 shot - this is about as small as I like to get because this shot carries less energy, and it can be harder to put down ducks farther away. Although I can be less accurate with this shot due to its larger spread and shot density.

#6 shot - I know that plenty of hunters use 6 shot and even 7 shot, but at this point it is just too small for my liking when it comes to ducks. I feel like these shells do not have enough power at range which makes it tougher to put down birds in my style of hunting.

Load Material

Steel

Steel shot is now the default material you will see in shells. Ever since the ban of lead shot in waterfowl hunting, steel shot has been crowned king. To be honest, it does a great job at stopping ducks, and it flies in a tight pattern too.

Perhaps the most important benefit of steel shot is the price, steel is much cheaper than tungsten shot. So if you are just going to the range, or hunting on a budget steel is a great choice. Steel shot is going to be what 99% of hunters use, it has good performance and is readily available in stores.

Tungsten

Tungsten shot is a relatively new option released to hunters, but perhaps the best one for you if you have the money. Real tungsten is 56% more dense than steel so you will have even more stopping power per pellet. The increased density also leads to higher terminal velocities and increased range. Higher terminal velocities will also consistently provide clean kills even during bad weather. But at nearly 80 dollars per box of tungsten shot, it is extremely expensive.

High-Velocity Shells

With the introduction of high-velocity shells, hunters have begun to leave behind low velocity or regular velocity shots, but perhaps you should give that decision a second thought. Higher velocity shells mean the gun kicks more and could be harder for new hunters to control. Avoid high-velocity shells if you just plan on going to the range unless you want a bruised shoulder the next day.

The type of velocity shell you choose is personal preference. High velocity is known to simplify the hunting experience because you will need to lead the ducks less. However, higher velocity will also keep a tighter spread so you must make sure you are a good shot before taking them on a hunt.

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