[Woods walker]

You did not say, at least that I heard what the distances of your targets were. If you were patterning for ducks you would get a better pattern from smaller shot. At reasonable distances there is no need for #1 or#2 shot. You should get more shot in the center of the pattern with smaller shot.

 

[Woods walker]

Distance was 40 yards, with both chokes. Basically wanted something for mallards and geese. I know #2 are a little light for geese. It's just that with larger shot sizes, I'm not exactly sure how dense a pattern should be. I basically use 5 or 6 for pheasants and turkey and 7 1/2 or 8 for dove. So when I pattern larger shot size with fewer BBs, I'm a little puzzled on what a good pattern should look like for waterfowl.

Here is a pellet count chart, you can see why your pattern with #1s and 2s are so sparse. I have been hunting waterfowl for over 40 years. Before non toxic shot was required I hunted ducks with #6 high base 2 3/4 inch 12 ga shells and geese with #5s. I do not pass shoot, I shoot over decoys so my shots are 35 yards or closer and I never had a problem killing birds. The first steel shot was so much lighter than lead that you had to go up several sizes to kill the birds. When Bismuth shot came out, I switched to it and never looked back, 5s for ducks and BB for geese. I shoot SxS 12 gage shotguns and I will not run the modern steel shot through them. I bought a cheap pump for the standard steel and sold it as soon s I started using bismuth. There is no doubt the modern steel alloys such as you were shooting in your test are heavier than the old steel and comparable with lead. You do not need ones or 2s to kill ducks over decoys at reasonable distances and you will have more strikes with smaller shot giving more shock to bring the birds down. Buy some smaller shot and pattern again and see what you get, I suspect you will have more holes in the center of the target, or if you use the same targets as before, in the duck.

https://shotgunpatternpro.com/forum...ion-articles-editorials/60-lead-steel-shot-size-weight-pellet-count-charts.html

 

[Woods walker]

Interesting test, shows you do not need real big shot for ducks, I have always believed in more shot as opposed to larger shot.