Best Waterfowl Hunting Shotgun Ammo Loads for 2022

Winchester | Bismuth

Bismuth is the latest buzzword to exite waterfowl hunters across the flyways. With a density and lethality comparable to lead, this murderous metal is changing the way we hunt. And while you're likely going to pay a premium price for all Bismuth loads, they're not all created equal. The folks at Winchester have extensively engineered a far superior Bismuth shell that is going to be the deadly demise of many fowl this season. The secret sauce in the formula that sets this product far above its competition is two-fold. First, each shell has a cushioning buffer that protects the pellets as they accelerate down the barrel and exit the muzzle. Second, a tin plating preserves the round shape of each pellet from ignition to terminal impact. Both of these attributes directly result in a tighter and more uniform down-range pattern, with no fracturing or flecking of pellets, compared to non-buffered and non-plated Bismuth loads. Available in 12- and 20-gauge configurations, Winchester Bismuth's mind-blowing performance speaks for itself and is sure to be the biggest craze in every duck blind and goose pit this year.

$40-$50 per 25 | winchester.com

APEX Ammunition | Waterfowl TSS/S3 Steel Blend 

New for ’22, APEX Ammunition is pleased to now offer #7.5 TSS shot in its Waterfowl TSS/S3 Steel Blend shotshells. The duck-crunching duplex TSS/S3 steel loads have become a popular favorite of ‘fowlers. The unique combination of 18.1 g/cc #7.5 Tungsten Super Shot with APEX’s Zinc-plated steel shot (available in sizes #2, #4, or BB in 12-gauge and size #4 in 20-gauge) creates a powerful equation for termination. The zinc coating on the premium-grade, perfectly uniform APEX steel shot ensures optimum patterning in a steel load, and when paired with ultra-high density, hard-hitting TSS, helps deliver significantly more knockdown power and a reduction in cripple count. These blended loads feature clean-burning powder and a durable one-piece, Tungsten-grade wad precisely split to maximize barrel protection and deliver the tightest pattern possible.  

$45.99-$46.99 box of 25 | apexammunition.com

Remington | NITRO-STEEL

Big Green ammo is back baby, and Remington is making their renewed presence well-known with the resurgence of their iconic products, including NITRO-STEEL. This fast-flying load produces a hard-hitting headache for birds coming out with a 1,450 feet per second muzzle velocity. The 100 percent round, zinc-plated steel pellets fly straight and uniformly with deadly down-range patterning. This proprietary blend of components is safe in aftermarket ported and wad-stripping chokes to put more dead birds on deck. NITRO-STEEL is available for 10-, 12-, 16-, and 20-gauges in shot size ranging from T Shot to #4. The best part, Remington is now offering select 12-gauge NITRO-STEEL sales on their website in a new direct-to-consumer channel, saving you a pile of greenbacks for stacking more greenheads this season.

$29.99-$43.99 box of 25 | remington.com

HEVI-Shot | HEVI-XII 

The new HEVI-XII is a super-lethal waterfowl hunting load. Why? The secret sauce is that tungsten is several times denser than steel, bismuth, and even lead. And when you can choose a shot size two to three times smaller than a comparable steel load and maintain down-range energy with more pellets, this equates to a tighter, harder-hitting pattern with deeper wound channels and cleaner, quicker kills. Offered in a larger count box of 25 shells, you’re going to get more bang for your buck. This hot and heavy load is available in 12-, 20- and, interestingly, 28-gauge, in #2 (12-gauge only) #4 and #6.

$60-$90 | hevishot.com

Winchester | Blind Side 2

Some things are indeed better a second time around. Improving upon the demonstrated success of its predecessor, Winchester Ammunition has enhanced their innovative Hex shot shape, which is now more rounded and more aerodynamic to perform like a straight-shooting round pellet. This tactfully engineered hexagonal shape now brings even greater tissue trauma over round pellets through a tumbling action upon impact that transfers more energy into a target. Additional upgrades include the patented four-petal Drylok wad system that keeps water and moisture out to secure reliable ignition and improved choke response for when the moment matters. A new nickel-plated head provides even more corrosion resistance and gives gunners a smoother gripping surface for grabbing shells when the extreme elements take a turn for the worse. Packed in 3-inch 20-gauge and 3- and 3 ½-inch 12-gauge configurations of BB to #2 shot, Blind Side 2 is ready to keep you hammering honkers and dusting ducks all season long.

Price TBD | winchester.com

MIGRA | Timber Plus 3/6 

MIGRA’s new 3-inch, 12- and 20-gauge Timber Plus is a flat-out must-have for stack load shooters. As opposed to blended, mixed, or duplex loads, MIGRA’s layered pellet placement process ensures staked load superiority to maximize bulk density with concentrated shot strings and higher kill ratios. A death sentence for ducks and geese, each Timber Plus 3/6 shell includes a destructive duo of #3 steel and #6 tin-plated bismuth for delivering fatal, feather-folding finales. This unique, patent-pending payload contains a distinct wad design that maintains 30 percent more pattern retention at greater distances. Each carefully constructed load brings consistent performance, so get ready for increased pattern tightness and uniformity at longer ranges, shot after shot, day in and day out.

$27.99 box of 25 | migraammunitions.com

BOSS Shotshells | 16-Gauge Copper-Plated Bismuth

An excellent addition for your Sweet 16, this 2 3/4-inch purple-hulled waterfowl whacker is obsessively engineered for optimal pattern density and uniformity. The custom hull and ultra-hot primer were built to perform in the nastiest of conditions. Easy on the shoulder yet damaging on ducks and geese, the one-ounce payload screams from the muzzle at 1,350 fps. BOSS offers their 16-gauge Copper Plated-Bismuth in loads of #3 through #7—or a #3/#5 combo—along with a legendary BOSS Moneybag with each case.

$32 box of 20 | bossshotshells.com

Kent Cartridge | Fasteel 2.0

Some things in life just get the job done. Kent’s Fasteel has a vast and loyal following for a reason. Easy on the wallet but hard on migrating ‘fowl, Fasteel 2.0 gives waterfowlers a load and shot size for every situation. Available in 12- and 20-gauge, Fasteel 2.0 hulls are fitted with high-performance base-wads that promise no-fail function in semi-auto shotguns. Highly uniformed, the Precision Steel pellets provide exceptional patterns, and the zinc-plated shot and nickel heads resist corrosion inside and out. Stamped with CX2000 Primers, ignition is immediate, and busting beaks is imminent.  

$20-$32 box of 25 | kentcartridge.com

Remington | Wingmaster HD 

With blended tungsten loads being the recent craze, Wingmaster HD is the latest entrant to the game. This punch-packing payload sends the best combination of smooth, round, deeper penetrating shot that deliver more pellets at a higher density on target with a higher retained energy and greater killing power than any steel load available. Wingmaster HD is denser than lead, twice the density of steel, yet is softer and more forgiving on barrels and choke tubes than other tungsten-based products. You can find this ‘fowl finisher in 20- and 12-gauge offerings with BB to #6 shot size.

$51.99-$72.99 box of 10 | remington.com

Fiocchi | Golden Waterfowl Bismuth 

Go for gold with this premium, high-performance, waterfowl load from Fiocchi. The precision-loaded, moisture-resistant Golden Waterfowl Bismuth shotshell effectively pairs high-velocity target trajectory with deadly, dense, down-range patterns making for bone-crushing hits and fewer follow-ups on winged and crippled birds. This lights-out load comes in a 10-pack of 3-inch #4 shot in both 20- and 28-gauge as well as a 12-gauge option in #2-#6 shot.

$23.24-$31.99 box of 10 | fioccchiusa.com