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From: sdc@scottsun.cs.umd.edu (Scott Carson)
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: Re: Steel shot
Message-ID: <461@erb1.engr.wisc.edu>
Date: 30 Mar 91 13:01:25 GMT
References: <446@erb1.engr.wisc.edu>
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Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742
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Approved: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu



I use a full choke for steel (30 inch barrel), and I like it
just fine.  I find that I can hit with it, as long
as I have spent enough time at the range to be in good practice.

Without practice, it can be pretty frustrating, since steel
with a full choke is very unforgiving.  However, I consider
this an asset - with steel shot, I either kill the bird or
miss completely.  I don't like the idea of a stray pellet
wounding a bird that flies away.

The only ducks I hunt are black ducks.  A close shot is
extremely rare - even if the duck lands in the decoys, he
is 30 yards out by the time I get my gun up.  With slower,
less wary ducks, there is a greater danger of ruining the meat -
maybe a larger choke would be better there.

To practice, I just shoot American trap and skeet with
regular lead (Pb) target loads.  I find this completely effective
(although people at the range think I'm nuts to shoot skeet
with my waterfowling gun).  This makes me believe that
it is more important to have the ``feel'' for your gun and
the target than to try to gauge the lead, wind velocity, etc.
I have never had any success trying to think about the shot
(although really good target shooters apparently do) - I try
to cultivate an instinct instead.


Scott Carson
University of Maryland
sdc@cs.umd.edu