Fox Collectors

All the discussion of Nash's gun has me thinking about the up coming waterfowl season. With moisture we have had it looks like we will have a good season so I am wondering if anyone has found a factory waterfowl load in 3 inch to use in our Fox boomer's?
If there is any 3 inch loads with soft shot out there I have missed it.
Of course I could get nostalgic and dig out the couple of boxes of super X 1 3/8 ounce copper coated #4's I have stashed.

If anyone has any suggestion I would like to hear them.
Jess

Recent issue of Wildfowl magazine has an article about a new load for classic guns from Envronmetal. The test gun was a 12ga., Model 12 Winchester but , if I recall, they were using 2 3/4 shells. I didn't see any mention as to what other gauges and loads would be available. Nor when they would be actually on the shelf. Something to watch for that we can hopefully shoot out of Fox guns.

Eley in England still loads Bismuth in many shot sizes, gauges and lengths. I have tried to contact them repeatedly, no luck. I keep hearing they will be importing Bismuth, let's hope. RST is loading "nice shot" which is approved as a non-toxic but it is $3.00 per round. I have two years of handloaded Bismuth , after that I think my shell bill will be going up as fast as my gas bill!!

I was hoping to find some 3 inch loads but no luck yet. Most of my Bismuth is in upland loads which will work on picky shot over decoys but I would like some heavy, larger shot loads for this fall. Maybe the Rst eco shot will have to do.

I use 1 1/4 oz #5s in 2 3/4" Kent T-M and the 1 3/8 load with #4s in 2 3/4" Bismuth for puddle ducks in my 3" HE, Parkers and Model 21 Duck. I also use a very nice Federal Tungsten Polymer 3" with 1 3/8oz of #4s at 1330 fps to replicate NB's favorite load for divers and decoyed Canadas. For pass shooting geese I use mostly 1 1/2 oz 3" Kent T-M #3s or usually one of my ten gauge magnums. I have about 1200+ combined 12g rounds of these left. We go through quite a bit however. Last season we gunned for waterfowl in 5 states and 2 provinces. I also use a 32" Damascus #2 frame 8 lb Parker DH 20g 3" magnum choked .029/029 for ducks with 1 1/4oz of Bismuth or Federal T-P #6s quite a bit. I find this gun and 1 1/4oz to be more than adequate for almost all duck shooting. Tight chokes, a good lead and fine retriever are much more important than the size of the load, just MHO.

Hevishot has a 3" load in their Classic Doubles line and Kent still makes their excellent Tungsten Matrix shells in 3". You might check those out.

Don you are so right, tight chokes, plenty of lead and a good retriever.

Hey Craig, I assume you mean "plenty of lead" as in "lots of forward allowance". Hahahaha. Frank

If non-toxic gets more expensive many "shady lady" decoys will make a re-appearance. Years ago when steel shot made it's appearance a few of the old timers in my duck club refused to switch to steel after shooting lead shot for a life time. They bought one box of steel shot for show, their using ammo was transported to the blind in decoys that had holes drilled in the bottom for lead shells covered by the keel board. The old boys called the decoys "Shady Ladies". I am afraid "Plenty of lead" may not always mean "lots of forward allowance" in the future.

Yeah Craig, I've heard of similar things too. I don't want to open the old steel shot - duck poisoning debate so let's just leave it at that. Frank

I was able to get a response from Eley Hawk regarding Bismuth, and they stated that it would not be widely available in the U.S. until 2009. Unless you have the goodies to roll your own, it appears that NICE or Hevi-Shot Classic Doubles will be it this year. Aim carefully!