doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Black Powder Goose/Duck Loads

Low velocity, "long range" loads are also an option when "lead equivalent" weight shot is used. I don't have Gough Thomas's data in front of me but I do remember, for example, that he recommended 3 drams of black powder for 1 1/2 ounces of shot. From what I can tell, such loads generate about 1000 f.p.s., give or take. Thomas also recommended British #4s but Don Zutz made a bit more sense to me when he recommended a minimum of Americam #4s for long-range ducks and #3s and #2s for geese. In guns that are compatible with them these loads, using lead shot, were real killers and I suspect that they could be the same with "heavy" non-toxic shot.

Thomas wrote that these loads were originally intended to enable shooters of "game guns" to shoot waterfowl. Some of the older examples of these loads went as slowly as 800- to 850 f.p.s. .

I thought I would post a few pics from my waterfowl hunt last Friday / Saturday with my dad and a few friends. While it's been extreemly cold here in the mid-Atlantic during the last month or so, last weekend was not so bad (high 20s low 30s AM). The birds have really been great. Last weekend we finished by 0830 (goose). Anyway, I decided to wrap up my year with my Parker 10ga hammer gun which I have yet to take to the field. With the advise from other forum users, I loaded, #2 niceshot over BP with Circle Fly wads. It was a real hoot to see and experience the old Parker flawlessly, belch two huge clouds of black smoke with every toll. Overall, the gun performed well on both days and allowed me to limit out.

I have to say hunting with SxS again is a real blast and the BP added much enjoyment to the day.

In my 10 ga Parker Hammergun, I load 4 1/4 dr 2 F and 1 3/8 Bismuth(by volume). Works great.I made a miracle 70 yd kill on a Duck with it.

Screw the Feds. Just use lead shot.