duck hunting with a 20

[davidboyles]

I like the sound of these guns on ducks. I'm going to try for the first time my 20 DHE 30" steel barrels in Ms on Beaver Dam Lake as a guest in Jan. Question: I bought Kent Bismuth 1 oz. #5 to use on mostly their big ducks like Mallards. My barrels are both Full choke. Is this a good mix???

[Mark Kircher]

David -

I have been shooting 20 gauge Kent tungsten Matrix 1 oz number 5 1350 FPS for years. I have used it in both my 0 frame and 1 frame guns.
Recognize, it is a Hot Load. There is risk to your gun. Make sure you have substantial Barrel wall thickness especially in the high-pressure area. Also consider that this load will push the envelope on your wood, and you could experience a crack or worse.

Given those concerns I buy my guns to hunt them. The enjoyment of taking them out into the marsh far exceeds the downside concerns of a crack in the stock. (Barrel wall thickness being crossed off the list of concerns after a thorough check.)

In my opinion the Kent tungsten Matrix is the best product out there. The above mentioned load absolutely crushes ducks! any size, any color,, on any given day!
I have never been afraid to use that load on decoying geese either.

I hope you have a big hunt. Please give us a report when you return. Safety First. Kind regards. Mark

[Mark Kircher]

Ok -We are frozen out here in NY so time for another post of hunt gone by.

Last Thursday hunt at Vanderbilt - 5 minutes after shooting time we were late setting up because we had to break ice. Doug was not even loaded when we had a group of 8 travellers come into our blind with minimal calling. I had them dead on the cross, but one more quack and they turned right towards me.... 15 yards out and touching their toes - I had a drake on my front bead when two birds began to cross in flight... I saw the gap shrink, swung to them, and the timing was right. Then I went back to the drake. 3 big fat ones stone dead with 2 shots -

GHE 20 32 inch F/F with Kent matrix 1 oz #5 - and upon inspection, many shots penetrated through these ducks. - I remain a HUGE fan of Kent Matrix.

Right spot, Right time - Thank goodness it went my way. The over and under was at 2 when they turned. Anything less and I would have been inconsolable!

Next stop the elusive Double Double!

I can dream right?

[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by davidboyles

I like the sound of these guns on ducks. I'm going to try for the first time my 20 DHE 30" steel barrels in Ms on Beaver Dam Lake as a guest in Jan. Question: I bought Kent Bismuth 1 oz. #5 to use on mostly their big ducks like Mallards. My barrels are both Full choke. Is this a good mix???

David……the only way to know for sure how effective a load will be from a given barrel is to shoot paper. I know most people don’t do this but it is the only way to definitively determine which load and shot size works best for a particular gun. The results are sometimes surprising. In general, I have found that large shot patterns are lacking in the 20 bore. This is why I don’t use shot size larger than #6 in a 20. In general, a good shooting full choke 20 bore should be a 45 yard gun with the heavier 1 oz. load. I load 1 oz. 20 bore loads but keep the velocity to about 1200 fps and I only use the 1 oz. load on ducks. I much prefer the 7/8 oz. load for everything else.

I don't consider the 20 bore a duck gun per se. But if used within its limitations and with the proper load, it is a fun gun to take ducks with.

[Mark Kircher]

And another for those interested...........

Fresh mallards came into the Bay last week with all the marshes frozen here.
I just bought a TDB 17 foot this fall. Took her out for a maiden hunt voyage of about 1/4 mile to north of my house. Had the young Pup Ellie with me as she was back from training while my daughter was home for Thanksgiving.

It was a great day for a hunt as winds were 25-30 MPH. Not such a great day to test hunt a new boat. Hence my reluctance to go far. So I set up at the first north point. Build a blind with what I had. Some Burlap and an old piece of canvas (painfully unprepared)... threw out 6 blocks and sat down just hoping to get Ellie her first live duck.

Wasn't 20 minutes and 3 flight birds came from the south on final approach. I let the first one come all the way in and crushed him at 15 feet - then swung for his twin brother and dropped him 20 yards out front. Ellie was out of the boat and into the reeds for the first bird before I could blink. Back she came while I watched the second flounder out front and fumbled for my camera. I sent her for the second but she needed a little coaxing until she saw the movement. Then off to the races for the second. I was beaming proud - My first ducks for the new pup! and a double on drakes to boot!

Finished off my limit within the hour and headed in for a fire and a bourbon. It has been quite a couple weeks for me and my 20 gauge 32".

I have been smiling a lot lately. I will take them as they come. Best time of the year!

[Double Lab]

Originally Posted by MARK KIRCHER

Finished off my limit within the hour and headed in for a fire and a bourbon. It has been quite a couple weeks for me and my 20 gauge 32".

I have been smiling a lot lately. I will take them as they come. Best time of the year!

Amen brother. Great job with the new pup and the smallbore.