Seem like great points to me wyo. I can't help but think, the steel equivalent of 1 1/4oz of lead is generally labeled 'magnum' at the bargain stores. Last week I was plenty satisfied with 1 1/8 steel loads and the dram equivalent on the box put them well in the 'magnum' range.

Waterfowl, from what I've seen, don't always cooperate. The scrawny ones don't make the trip south and hard flyers are part of the picture. I can't stand skybusting and don't even understand what extreme ranges mean to different folks, but I do know I'm not packing up and leaving if they don't cup wings inside twenty yards. Crumby conditions are part of the deal.