Most were muzzle loaders and I don't think the breech loaders had choke either. Load was a very coarse grain black powder, oakum wadding; which was teased out hemp rope into fibres, and large shot equivalent to buck shot. 20 to 30 ducks at a shot would be considered good work. According to the British Association for Shooting & Conservation (B.A.S.C.)survey punt gunners average 7 trips a season and average 4 shots a season for an average of 16 birds. I strongly doubt the previous post mentioning 1,000 plus birds as it would mean that every pellet just about would have to find a vital spot with none missing a bird.
http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/features/punt-gunning-15129 Lagopus.....
