Anyone else find Hevi-Shot #2s pattern too tight for late-season mallards?
Been running a Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus with a Full choke for late-season mallards over decoys, usually 25-35 yards. Switched from Federal Black Cloud #3s to Hevi-Shot Magnum Blend (2/4/6) and the #2s seem to be putting all the pellets in a dinner plate. Dropped a drake at 30 yards but it was a single pellet in the head - felt lucky, not skilled. Wondering if I should open up to an Improved Modified or just stick with smaller shot in this load.
1 Answer
Yeah, I've seen that with Hevi-Shot's harder pellets - they don't deform like lead so they hold tighter patterns, especially in a Full choke. For decoying mallards at those ranges, I'd definitely back off to an IM or even a Modified. I run an IM in my Browning Maxus for the same scenario with Kent Fasteel #3s and get a nice 30" pattern at 40 yards. Have you tried just the #4s or #6s from that blend on closer birds and saved the #2s for pass shooting?
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