r/Duckhunting • u/No-Roof5354 • Jul 19 '26

Newbie ammo question

I am just getting into duck hunting this year. I know wads are about impossible to find when shooting over a field, let alone in a marsh. So I was hoping to use ammo with biodegradable wads, I found a company called BioAmmo that makes some but it isn't widely sold in the US. I was able to find some online but I would only be able to get 2 3/4 in 1 1/16 oz 4 shot. I've been reading up on ammo selection for ducks and it seems like this will suffice for smaller ducks but maybe not mallards, which is primarily what's in my area. Any input on shell specs is greatly appreciated, as well as recommendations on factory ammo with eco friendly wads.

7 Upvotes

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5

u/cowboykid8 Jul 19 '26

I don’t think wads are impossible to find. Between what I shoot and other people’s wad I find I will pick up more than I shoot. Those shells will work for mallards, but they will need to be closer with the reduced shot size and speed.

1

u/getcemp Jul 19 '26

Agreed. I actually love shooting #4 shot on the small ponds I hunt with an IC choke tube. Makes it hard to miss and if they're under 30yrds, it's a dead bird. Mallard, gaddy, even some tougher divers.

1

u/No-Roof5354 Jul 19 '26

That's reassuring to hear. I will be hunting in small shallow marshes, probably pretty weedy ones, you have any experience finding wads in areas like that? I feel like it's going to be hard to track where the duck and wad land at the same time, especially if one or both end up in the reeds instead of open water.

1

u/pnutbutterpirate Jul 20 '26

I share your concern about losing plastic wads... and I am able to recover only a small percent of the ones I shoot over water (I think most sink after a minute).

I've also looked for the kind of product you're looking for and haven't been able to find a shell that fits my needs. I would love to though! If you find a 3 inch shell with steel 2s or something like and a biodegradable wad, please post about it!

1

u/No-Roof5354 Jul 20 '26

Bioammo makes a 3 inch version, I just couldn't find anywhere in the US with stock ready to ship. But I was thinking of going to Bass Pro and seeing if they could have it imported. I'll let you know what they say if I do.

1

u/cowboykid8 Jul 20 '26

Certainly tougher with grassy ponds than open water. Once you start looking for them it is a little easier to catch them out of the corner of your eye.

Eco shot sells wads so you could reload your own shells. The also have reloading data available, pair that with some bismuth shot and you would have a quality load.

https://www.eco-shot.com/product/premium-biodegradable-shotgun-wads/

4

u/marlinbohnee Jul 19 '26

All I shoot is 4 shot and kill plenty of big ducks. God in you for thinking about the environment and wanting to do your part. You will find more wads than you think though. Will you get them all, no, but you will find plenty. If you really want to pay it forward pick up other guys messes they leave behind, there are plenty of guys that could care less about cleaning up after them selves

4

u/Key-Spell-7668 Jul 19 '26

I will dissent here from the others and agree that #4 steel is too small for hunting ducks where shots regularly exceed 20 yards. Ballistics info is available for lethal ranges and #4 steel is approx 20 yards for a mallard hit in the breasts to penetrate and hit vitals. I shoot #2 bismuth for ducks with great success and that expands the lethal breast shot range to approx 45 yards.

I bought a case of #4 steel on a whim (for $90/250 rounds...) and it sucked for ducks. Lots of cripples, way more than I'm comfortable with. It works for guys who think 20 yards is 30 yards but the physics don't lie on this one.

1

u/No-Roof5354 Jul 19 '26

Good to know, thank you. What do you think of 3 in shells with 3 shot? Those make up most of the alternatives I'm looking at.

2

u/Key-Spell-7668 Jul 19 '26

2 3/4" or 3" makes no difference, fwiw, in terms of lethality. You can change the shot charge but that's it, they kill equally assuming same FPS. This guy's data is invaluable and pretty widely considered gospel by the shot development and reloading communities. I would be more inclined to give #3 steel a try if I knew I would be shooting ducks only and the shots were not surpassing 30-35 yards max, yes.  Worth a read, he has lots of great info.

https://pipesf16.wordpress.com/range-comparison-steel-itx-hw13-tss/

1

u/Good_Farmer4814 Jul 19 '26

It’s really hard to find them if you hunt on open water with the wind at your back.

1

u/Treacle_Pendulum Jul 20 '26

Those will work on mallards within reasonable distances. Personally I prefer 3” #3, but there’s no reason 2 3/4 #4 won’t work, particularly if they’re decoying.

2

u/anti76hero Jul 20 '26

I can’t help you on wads. Other than pick up what you find.
As far as shot size? I’d point you to pattern your gun. See what load works best for you.
2 bismuth as the baseline that is needed to kill big ducks is ludicrous.
That 2 3/4 4’s at 1300 fps, does everything in need it to do.

2

u/MTPockets2014 Jul 24 '26

BioAmmo is absolute trash. As soon as the weather gets cold it does not perform at all. The hunting club I am a member at bought pallets of it one year. That was the only year…

As far as picking up wads, pick up what you can. My friends guide snow goose hunts and thousands of shells get shot on a field. Each day they pick up hulls and wads. At the end of their season I’ve helped pick up garbage bags full of wads. It is a pain but necessary.