The Lighter Side

In an age when bigger seems to be better, a surprising trend has emerged: Some waterfowl hunters are leaving their 12 gauges in the safe and taking smaller-gauge shotguns afield. That shouldn’t be too shocking. With so many great modern ammo choices, 20-, 16- and 28-gauge guns—and (gasp) even .410 bores—can produce excellent results. But as with any aspect of waterfowl hunting, knowledge and preparation are critical.

Myth Busters

First, let’s dispel the myth that sub-gauges can’t deliver sufficient “oomph” to drop tough ducks and geese at reasonable ranges. Pellet energy and resulting lethality are almost equal regardless of the bore diameter from which a pellet was fired, so sub-gauge shotshells produce more than enough velocity and downrange energy to kill waterfowl at realistic ranges. However, they have smaller payloads than most 12-gauge loads, so patterns from sub-gauge guns will be less dense, especially at longer ranges. Pattern spread and density really dictate effective range. Therefore, the effective ranges of sub-gauges — especially little 28s or .410s — are limited, but only because 3/8- or 5/8-ounce payloads will produce relatively sparse patterns at 40 yards.

Of course, patterns might vary substantially with various guns and chokes, so it’s important to pattern sub-gauge guns before hunting to determine your effective range. Generally, a choke and load combination that puts about 90 to 100 pellets inside a 30-inch circle is enough to kill most ducks. You’ll probably want a few more pellets for smaller ducks. So, for example, if your gun, choke and load print 100 pellets at 30 yards but far fewer at 40, you’ve essentially determined your effective range is about 30. With that knowledge, it’s up to you to stick to that range while afield.

The Right Payload

Shotshell selection—or, specifically, shot material—is also critical with sub-gauges. Steel can be limiting for sub-gauge guns because manufacturers offer fewer options, especially in 28-gauge and .410 (however, Federal offers Black Cloud, Speed-Shok and Upland Steel in 28-gauge loads and .410). Further, the relatively low density of steel requires that you use larger shot sizes, which in turn reduces pellet count and pattern density.

Bismuth shot—actually a bismuth-tin alloy—offers a great alternative. It has a density of about 9.6 grams per cubic centimeter, which about 22 percent heavier than steel, which has a density of less than 8. For comparison, lead shot has a density of about 11. So, bismuth pellets hit harder than steel pellets of comparable size. That lets you use smaller shot sizes while maintaining the same energy and packing more pellets into a similarly sized load. Essentially, bismuth lets you make a two-shot-size jump. If you typically shoot No. 2 steel for ducks, you can switch to No. 4 bismuth and maintain equivalent energy. Federal offers 20-gauge HEVI-Bismuth loads with Nos. 3, 4 or 5 shot. Bismuth is also highly malleable, making it a safe option for older shotguns.

Tungsten Super Shot also provides an option. TSS has a whopping density of 18 grams per cubic centimeter, which lets shooters use very small pellets while maintaining great downrange energy. Offered in Federal’s HEAVYWEIGHT TSS, Black Cloud TSS and Custom Shop lines, the shot has gained tremendous popularity among turkey hunters, many of whom have switched to 28 gauges or .410s that produce 12-gauge-esque results. The drawback is that TSS is expensive, and most waterfowlers don’t want to spend a lot of money on shells, especially if they might encounter high-volume shooting.

The Right Mindset

With everything in mind, remember that shooting a sub-gauge for waterfowl also requires common sense. If you’ve chosen a good load and choke combo that produces nice patterns, and identified a load that produces sufficient downrange energy, you should have no problem taking ducks or even geese at realistic ranges with sub-gauges during most conditions. If, however, the wind is howling and you’re pursuing tough, skittish late-season birds that short-stop the decoys or pass over at relatively high ranges, you need to hold fire or grab the 12-gauge.

Still, if you enjoy the challenge of shooting new guns and loads—and don’t relish the recoil of 3 1/2-inch magnums—sub-gauges can be an effective, enjoyable option in the duck blind.