You may have some old #4 shot duck loads sitting around and you may be thinking, “heck, why don’t I just use them for geese?” But should you?
4 shot should not be used to hunt geese because it lacks the ballistics to penetrate large bodied birds with thick feathers. 4 shot will result in more cripples or shot bouncing off at longer ranges. Use larger shot such as BB or BBB instead.
In this guide, we’ll break down why 4 shot isn’t a good goose load and give you some alternative shot sizes that will harvest geese better. Here are the reasons why you should increase your shot size to BB or above.
Is 4 shot good for goose hunting?
4 shot is a small pellet size measuring in at just 0.24-inches in diameter. This small pellet size does not pack the downrange energy that larger pellets are able to maintain. In fact, a 1 1/4oz load of #4s at 1550fps will penetrate small ducks out to 47 yards.
At 47 yards, the speed of this load of 4 shot has dropped to 600 fps, which is universally recognized as the minimum necessary to kill smaller waterfowl cleanly. The ballistic penetration of 4 shot also happens to drop to 1.25 inches around the 35-yard mark.
Why 4 Shot is not a good choice for goose hunting
Ballistically, 4 shot lacks the knock down power to be an all-around goose load. Only under optimal conditions would it be able to cleanly harvest geese within 30 yards.
Pattern density is the only thing 4 shot loads have going for them, as one ounce of 4 shot contains 167 pellets. Even so, 4 shot should be avoided when hunting geese because it lacks the ballistics to penetrate larger bodied birds with thicker feathers routinely and will result in more cripples or shot bouncing off at longer ranges.
SUMMARY
4 shot pellets lack the penetration and knock down power to cleanly harvest geese at medium and longe ranges. Only under ideal conditions inside 30 yards will 4 shot be effective at harvesting geese.
Alternative steel shot sizes that are better than 4 shot
Popular shot size alternatives that work best for goose hunting are BB, BBB, and T shot. These large steel pellets carry downrange energy further, making 50-60 yard shots possible as well as complete penetration as shown in ballistics tests for 1500 fps loads. See this guide for BB vs BBB pellet comparison for geese.
Smaller steel shot such as #2 shot and #1 shot can be used for spring snow goose hunting over decoys. These smaller pellet sizes provide added pattern density for medium size geese over decoys.
Under what conditions will 4 shot work?
If you absolutely must use 4 shot for geese, keep your shots under 30 yards and aim for the beak. Avoid trying longer follow up shots as birds are flaring that you would normally take with long range loads.
Also, allow birds to work in closer so that you can get multiple shots before the birds are out of range. Use a full choke to keep the 4 shot pellets together longer and maximize the pellet density at greater distances.
More tips for using 4 shot for geese
- 4 shot in hevishot, TSS, and bismuth work better than steel
- Blackcloud wads hold 4 shot together longer
- Let birds work closer than you would normally when using 4 shot
- Avoid trying longer follow up shots
- Stick to ammo above 1500 fps
- Aim for the beak to prevent hits to thick body feathers
Goose Hunting FAQs
What choke is best for goose hunting?
The best goose hunting chokes are extended chokes that are ported and offer tighter diameters that work well with all shot types. These types of chokes can hold patterns together at longer ranges and give added knock down power.
If you want an affordable, versatile waterfowl choke tube – that can deliver tight patterns at longer ranges – look for a ported choke tube that costs around $80. It will work well with most shotguns while hunting over decoys or for passing shots. (The Patternmaster Code Black has been our favorite for this style for many years). Check it out, you won’t be disappointed.
What shot size is best for geese?
The best shot size for geese is BBB. BBB shot retains enough energy to cleanly harvest geese at up to 67 yards. This range might not sound like much but can be considerable when it counts for skittish geese on the edge of the decoys.
If you hunt geese exclusively, the knock down power and added range of BBB shot cannot be matched by smaller pellets such as BB. Real world field applications prove this to be true. BBB shot is ballistically superior and with larger birds such as geese, you need all the help you can get.
For late season decoying where geese are skirting the decoys or pass shooting scenarios, BBB is the clear winner for goose hunting. For early season birds feet down in the decoys or the conservation snow goose order, dropping several pellet sizes, to as small as #2’s, can be viable. See this guide for more on the ballistics of BB vs BBB shot.
What shotshell for geese?
Choosing a shotshell for goose hunting should be centered around three things: 1) Pellet size, 2) Payload size, and 3) Speed. These three factors are the most important aspects to consider finding a goose load that works.
Larger pellet sizes such as #1, BB, BBB, and T are all popular steel shot used for goose hunting. For an all-around shotshell, BB and BBB are the go-to loads. Specialty pellets such as #1 are good for increasing pellet density on decoying birds, while T shot is the choice for maxing out distance for pass shooting.
Payload size for goose hunting operates under the “bigger is better” mantra. 1 ¼ ounce steel loads are the smallest payload typically used for goose hunting. Larger payloads, such as 1 ½ ounce can carry more pellets while still maintaining fast speeds (up to 1600fps).
The last factor to consider is the feet per second (FPS) of the shotshell. Faster is usually better, and 1300 FPS is the slowest viable option. Faster shotshells up to 1600 FPS are the best choice since they increase range and reduce time to target.
Is number 2 shot good for geese?
Number 2 shot is a good load for goose hunting under the right conditions. It retains enough energy to penetrate a goose out to 42 yards. It’s especially effective on decoying geese.
Most snow goose loads for the spring conservation order contain smaller pellets such as #2 and #1. This is because snow geese require fewer pellets to bring down than larger geese and the pellet density is higher for these loads.
The conditions where number 2 shot wouldn’t be effective are longer shots past 45 yards, hunting in high winds where shot drift is a factor, and if you’re looking for an all-around goose load.
Bottom Line: Avoid 4 Shot for Goose Hunting
Avoid using 4 shot for geese if you have the choice. It’s ballistically inferior for shots on geese over 30 yards. 4 shot is a preferred shot size for medium sized ducks out to 40 yards. 4 shot lacks the penetration ability and down range energy to cleanly harvest geese.
Instead, use larger pellet sizes such as #1, BB, or BBB which can cleanly harvest geese out to 50 yards. These pellets retain their energy longer and can provide clean pass throughs to vital areas whereas 4 shot would not penetrate or just bounce off.
Finally, choose a premium choke like the Patternmaster Code Black that can produce more consistent and dense patterns at longer ranges with steel shot.
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