I know that most people use 1550 fps or higher loads for waterfowl and I understand it's for longer shots and possibly less lead. My question is how much will lowering velocity from 1550 to 1400 really affect performance out to 40 yards? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
Velocity Difference
- Thread starter dreamhunt
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Orange Dust
Well-Known Member
I'll bet you will like the slower stuff better. You can normally use a little more choke without blowing the pattern. 1350 is even better and the leads make more sense. Pattern density, with enough speed to penetrate is the key to lethal shotgun patterns. If you need more penetration step up to the next larger shot size. Funny thing about steel is it requires less lead close and more far than lead because if poorer ballistics. The really fast stuff is popular because it requires very little lead over decoys and is easier to hit with. Doesn't hold much of a pattern at extended ranges though. We are all now shooting HeviX now in everything but 10ga. Very similar to lead, but it is fast and hard enough to blow the patterns with more than lead MOD in many guns. At 40yds the lead difference is only inches, but you will see much better patterns at 50-60 yds.
