7 Best Duck Hunting Shells: Take 'em With Your New Favorite 12 Gauge Load

I’ve hunted waterfowl for decades in various terrains using different shotguns and shells. Over the years, I’ve found that some shells perform better than others. That’s why I created this list of the best duck hunting shells. It will save you from wasting money on loads that won’t help you harvest your limit.

If you're looking for a tight pattern that won't break the bank, load up on some Winchester Drylok Super Steel 12 Gauge12 Gauge Magnum #3 Shot shells for your next duck hunt. They’re reasonably priced, readily available, and produced by a trusted brand.

If you want the complete list, keep reading. I share the rest of my favorite waterfowl shotgun shells below. For those who love reading about shotgun shells, click HERE to visit our Buyer's Guide.

How I Chose the Best Duck Loads

When choosing the following 12 Gauge12 Gauge waterfowl loads, I considered my years of experience, what other duck hunters have told me, price, availability, and performance (how well the load drops the birds).

My dad often took me duck hunting as a kid. I took it to another level in college, duck hunting every chance I could and using various shells to see which worked best for my buddies and me. I enjoy using the shells on this list while hunting with my daughter.

I’ve spoken with many hunters who swear by various loads. The ones on this list come up repeatedly in those discussions.

We’re all constrained by our budgets, and duck hunting gear is expensive. I did my best to include affordable shells that don’t sacrifice performance.

Speaking of performance, the best duck hunting shotgun shells have to drop ducks, geese, and cranes at reasonable hunting distances (40 yards and closer). I also included some that push those distances (50 to 60 yards) without crippling too many birds.

The Best Duck Hunting Shells

Winchester Drylok Super Steel Magnum 12 Gauge Ammo - 25 Rounds of 1-1/4 oz. #3 Shot Ammunition

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Specs

• Muzzle Velocity: 1,400 fps
• Shot Type: #3 Steel
• Weight: 1-1/4 oz

Why I Chose It

I’ve used Winchester ammunition since I first started duck hunting because it’s affordable, reliable, and effective. When I upgraded from Winchester Super-X to Winchester Drylok Super Steel, I instantly saw an increase in effectiveness without a drastic accompanying price increase.

This high-velocity load ensures your shot gets to the bird before it can fly away. It also helps the #3 pellets penetrate deeper, resulting in fewer cripples than when I used some other steel loads.

I use #2 or #4 shot during most of my waterfowl hunting excursions. Even so, I know I can knock down any species of waterfowl that comes to my spread when I grab a box of #3 shot.

One of the biggest reasons I’ve preferred Winchester ammo for so many years is its affordability and availability. I didn’t have much spare money in college, so I often chose some of the least expensive loads I could find that weren’t complete garbage. In recent years, some shotshells have been difficult to find, but Winchester Drylok Super Steel has been consistently available.

The biggest drawback to these rounds is that they’re not the latest and greatest offering from Winchester. You won’t be the guy with the newest shotshell technology in the blind.

Overall, Winchester Drylok Super Steel #3 shot ammo is the perfect choice for the average waterfowl hunter because they’re affordable, effective, and readily available.

Best Goose Hunting Shells - Kent Fasteel 2.0 Precision 3" 1-3/8 oz BB Shot

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Specs

• Muzzle Velocity: 1,300 fps
• Shot Type: BB Steel
• Weight: 1-3/8 oz

Why I Chose It

I hadn’t heard of Kent Cartridge until a buddy brought some on a hunt many years ago (they’ve since become much more popular). I’ve been a big fan of Kent shotgun shells ever since. Kent Fasteel 2.0 is no exception because it’s reliable, reasonably priced, and capable of dropping ducks and geese alike.

When I saw how well my buddy’s Kent shells were knocking down birds, I thought they had to be expensive – but they’re not. Fasteel 2.0 is very affordable compared to several other premium waterfowl loads. I’ve also experienced fewer cripples while hunting with Fasteel 2.0. It packs a punch, and those hefty BB pellets are sure to stop a goose (even large Canada geese, which is what I primarily hunt).

I’m a big fan of pump shotguns, although I appreciate that Kent designed these rounds to cycle well in the semi-automatic shotguns most goose hunters prefer.

You can’t go wrong with Kent Fasteel 2.0 when goose hunting because it’s reliable, affordable, and effective.

Best Crane Hunting Shotgun Shells - Federal Black Cloud FS Steel 3-1/2”1-1/2 oz BBB Shot

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Specs

• Muzzle Velocity: 1,500 fps
• Shot Type: BBB Steel
• Weight: 1-1/2 oz

Why I Chose It

Many waterfowl hunters across the U.S. love Federal Black Cloud FS Steel because it produces tight patterns and drops birds – even giant sandhill cranes.

Federal’s FliteControl Flex wad delivers an extremely dense pattern. That helps the pellets stay on target, which is perfect when cranes short-stop the spread (as they’re known to do). They always seem closer than they are, in my experience, so I always want a load that can reach out and drop ‘em if I happen to jump a little early.

I’ve hunted cranes using BB shot in the past, but I now prefer larger BBB or T shot. The FliteStopper pellets, which have sharp, raised ridges around their midsections, give me the confidence that I won’t have to chase many cripples. Sandies are tough and mean. The fewer cripples I have to chase, the better.

My biggest frustration with Federal Black Cloud is its price. It’s nearly twice the cost of many other waterfowl loads, so I buy less throughout the season.

Federal Black Cloud is always a good choice for crane hunting because it’s reliable, hard-hitting, and patterns well.

Honorable Mention - Hevi-Shot HEVI-XII 3" 1-1/8 oz #4 Shot

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Specs

• Muzzle Velocity: 1,500 fps
• Shot Type: Tungsten Alloy #4
• Weight: 1-1/8 oz

Why I Chose It

Ask any modern duck hunter which shotgun shells are best, and you’ll surely get plenty of recommendations for HEVI-XII. This exquisitely designed shotgun shell includes tungsten shot that is denser than steel but still nontoxic.

HEVI-XII tungsten-alloy shot has a density of 12 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc) – around 53% denser than steel. It’s also denser than bismuth and lead.

That translates to more pellets on target, deeper penetration, and more trips out into the lake for your hunting dog to retrieve all the ducks you’ve dropped.

Although HEVI-XII can sometimes be hard to find and expensive, most duck hunters will tell you that it's worth the price of admission. This shotshell simply works!

Honorable Mention - Remington Nitro Steel 3" 1-1/4 oz #2 Shot

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Specs

• Muzzle Velocity: 1,450 fps
• Shot Type: Zinc-Plated Steel #4
• Weight: 1-1/4 oz

Why I Chose It

If you're looking for a no-frills round that will stop a duck mid-flight, Big Green is the choice. I’ve used it on and off throughout my time duck hunting, and I must say that Remington's Nitro Steel line of duck hunting ammo is nothing special to write home about. However, Nitro Steel will get the job done when you need a round that simply works.

Although it lacks many of the unique features offered by other premium loads, Remington Nitro Steel ammo is consistent and deadly in the right hands. I recommend you take it out and test it before duck season to evaluate how it patterns in your shotgun.

Honorable Mention - Boss Shotshells 3” 1-1/2 oz #4 Shot

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Specs

• Muzzle Velocity: 1,350 fps
• Shot Type: Copper-Plated #4 Shot
• Weight: 1-1/2 oz

Why I Chose It

Boss Shotshells has taken the waterfowl hunting community by storm. I wasn’t convinced of the hype until I hunted with a couple of buddies who swear by them.

These hard-hitting rounds reduced the number of cripples we chased (which meant fewer shells wasted on crippled birds).

Boss obsessively engineers their shells for optimal pattern uniformity and density, and constantly looks for new ways to improve performance.

My biggest frustrations with Boss shotgun shells are the price (even if chasing fewer cripples means I shoot fewer shots during my hunts) and availability. Boss ammo is rarely in stock and only sold to consumers directly, so you have to watch their website religiously to purchase them.

If you’re willing to spend a little more money on shotgun shells, then Boss Shotshells 3” 1-1/2 oz is the way to go.

Honorable Mention - Winchester Blind Side 2 3” 1-3/8 oz #2 Shot

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Specs

• Muzzle Velocity: 1,400 fps
• Shot Type: Hex Steel #2 Shot
• Weight: 1-3/8 oz

Why I Chose It

I have confidence in Winchester Blind Side 2. I’ve dropped a lot of ducks with it and rarely get a cripple.

The uniquely designed pellets allow for tighter patterns and harder hits, although some hunters report the opposite (that hasn’t been my experience, but I want to be upfront with you). These rounds are also slightly more expensive than Drylok Super Steel ammo, even though it uses the same Drylok Wad system.

If all that’s available is Winchester Blind Side 2, I won’t hesitate to buy it and take it hunting. It's helped me harvest ducks every time I’ve hunted with it.

Choosing the Best Shotshells for Duck Hunting

If you’ve already done any research on duck-hunting shotshells, you’ve certainly come across many options in many flavors. Shotgun shells are so simplistic in design, yet so complicated in practice.

Fortunately, there are a few constants to consider when choosing your next box of duck shells.

First, think about the size of the pellets. The pellets inside the shotgun shell are also called “Shot.” Large shots are for larger game but are actually characterized by smaller numbers (think 00 - double-aught buckshot).

A medium-sized to smaller shot is better for ducks, geese, pheasants, and other winged critters. Since we’re shooting for the latter in duck hunting, stick with a #3, #4, or #5 shot size.

If shot size is somewhat confusing to you, check out this article: Buckshot vs Birdshot. Also you can reference the graphics below:

Next, you’ll need to consider the material of the shot. The denser the pellets, the higher the pellet count – and the higher your chances of hitting a backpedaling mallard become.

Tungsten is denser than steel or bismuth, but it’s also more expensive. Bismuth is denser than steel and slightly more expensive.

Consider taking a few boxes of various shotgun shells to the range to test the density pattern of the shotgun shell with your choke. A shotgun choke is situated at the end of the barrel and greatly affects patterning. Choke tubes, full chokes, aftermarket chokes, and non-existent chokes will all factor into which shotgun shells are best for your next duck hunt.

Some chokes perform better with Apex TSS. Others like the no-frills Remington ammo detailed earlier. Testing is the key to finding the perfect shotgun shells for your duck gun.

Back to the Top

Now that you have a clearer understanding of choosing the best duck hunting shotgun shells, you can click HERE to go back to our top picks!

Or hurry up and purchase bulk 12 gauge ammo to save even more money on your waterfowl loads!

Written by

Cassandra McBride