Choke/Load Preference Question....

[QuackMagic]

Novice duck hunter here......

Have a quick questions for all the veterans......

1 - What is the best choke to invest in for my Remington 870 Express?

and....

2 - What steel load is highly recommended? (Name Brand, size of shot, etc.?) Planning on shooting a 3" shell as it's the largest my 870 express will take.

(Anything else anyone wants to add or recommend, please feel free to do so.)


Thanks so much in advance!

[295PRO]

I like FS blackcloud 3" #3's. they do the job.

[Professor]

I use an Improved Cylinder, Kick's High Flyer, choke on my 870 Express Super Magnum. I shoot 3 1/2 ", #3, Rio Blue steel.
Professor

[Bownut]

What (ducks) are you shooting at? How (pass shooting? Lighting in the decoys?)

[QuackMagic]

What (ducks) are you shooting at? How (pass shooting? Lighting in the decoys?)

Mostly whatever is on or around Lake Murray....Mallards, some Woodies.

Pass shooting or lighting decoys? Don't know what this means....

[riverrat8991]

Mostly whatever is on or around Lake Murray....Mallards, some Woodies.

Pass shooting or lighting decoys? Don't know what this means....

They feet down in the decoys or are you shooting mostly at ducks just flying by

[surfcock]

Aliases get worse every year.

[quackhead1]

How long have you been duck hunting?

[QuackMagic]

They feet down in the decoys or are you shooting mostly at ducks just flying by

We did both last year.

[QuackMagic]

How long have you been duck hunting?

This is my 2nd year.

.....Didn't get much last year......missed a lot, even 20 yards away......rather embarrassing.

[QuackMagic]

Aliases get worse every year.

Nobody is an alias here friend....

I'm 36 years old, I don't have time for games anymore, just came here out of recommendation from a friend to ask questions I don't have answers to.

Thanks.

[Rubberhead*]

Nobody is an alias here friend....

I'm 36 years old, I don't have time for games anymore, just came here out of recommendation from a friend to ask questions I don't have answers to.

Thanks.

You were set-up.

#2 steel somewhere around 1450 to 1550 fps through a modified choke. Good luck.

[scandler]

# 4 heavy metal with a patternmaster mid range choke tube. great al around load for mallards and teal. geese would be a problem with that small of a shot but that's my .02 cents

[sprigdog]

#2 steel somewhere around 1450 to 1550 fps through a modified choke. Good luck.

This is all you need to know

[surfcock]

You were set-up.

#2 steel somewhere around 1450 to 1550 fps through a modified choke. Good luck.

X2

Welcome to the site. You were most definitely set up.

[Gone South]

I shoot a pure gold improved cylinder out my 870 for areas with within 30yds. Improved modified in pass shooing areas where I may stretch out some shots. Kent FASTsteel, Remington sportsman steel, and Winchester dryloks or x-perts shot well out of that gun. Beware of Rio, they tend to hang up in mine and 5 friends 870's due to the thin plastic shell wall. Being a novice don't worry about forking out a lot of money on a super tight choke or expensive shells. Buy cheap shells until your hit percentage improves. A $2 shell ain't worth buying if you can't hit anything with it.
Good luck and welcome

[CantCareSB]

Mostly whatever is on or around Lake Murray....Mallards, some Woodies.

Pass shooting or lighting decoys? Don't know what this means....

This means you need to find someone more experienced to teach you!

[quackaddict]

1 oz of #2 steel running about 1330 out of a SK choke works like a champ for me.

[QuackMagic]

Thanks for all the recommendations......I ended up going with an Impr. Cylinder (got more suggestions for that than anything else)
....for load I went with #4's (same as the choke, got more suggestions for that as well)
The brand I chose was Winchester Drylocks.

Went out yesterday.....

Within 10 minutes of daylight, had a hen wood duck come land right in the spread.....probably only 25 yards away......

Shot 3 times and missed.....she flew off........SMDH, I just don't get it......I feel like the worst hunter that ever existed.

[Timber Ghost]

Aim for the reflection next time.