The Top Duck and Goose Loads for 2025

I‘m trendy. I‘m not afraid of change; I jump on the bandwagon if something new and exciting happens. Living life to the fullest is how I look at it. Still, many times in life, the “trendy way” has been the wrong way. However, as a waterfowl hunter, the trendy way has, usually, been the right way. Currently, I’m addicted to blends. Give me a box of 3-inch #2s and #4s or #2s and BBs in tungsten/steel or bismuth/steel, and I’m happy. I’ve discovered shotshells that blend two shot sizes, and two different metals extend my effective kill range drastically. You’ll get to read about plenty of blends below, and I highly recommend saving your pennies and buying them by the case, not the box. Regarding chokes, I’m always up for a good pattern test, and have had excellent results using extended ported and non-ported chokes.

Included here are some stellar chokes and waterfowl-wrecking loads. Give each a read, make a few purchases, start a choke/load journal, and have a season to remember!

Fiocchi Golden Waterfowl

I’ve watched goose-sized steel pellets bounce off the down feathers of big honkers. The sight sickens me. When I sling steel, it’s typically Fiocchi’s Golden Waterfowl in honker-sized steel shots like BBB, BB, T, and #1. While a 3-inch BBB is my giant Canada goose go-to, I like 3-inch #3s and #2s for big puddle ducks. All post a muzzle velocity of 1,350 fps, and after cutting a shell open and examining the clean, round pellets that are packed tighter than the lid of a pickle jar into the hull, I realized why these shotshells pattern so well and hit with such authority.

$30/box of 25 | fiocchiusa.com

Kent Bismuth Waterfowl

A top-tier duck buster, Kent’s Bismuth Waterfowl is available in a pair (2-¾- and 3-inch) of 12 gauge and a single 20 gauge offering. Shot sizes of #4 and #5 bismuth are 24 percent denser than steel, creating bird-folding wound channels you can trust to fill the duck tote quicker. These clean-burning shotshells and tightly packed, high-density bismuth shot provide maximum wind resistance, and the custom blended double-base powder ensures all-weather performance. Plus, I dig the Bismuth-branded blue HD hull.

$58-$71/box of 25 | kentcartridge.com

Boss Steel Reserve

Boss makes incredible ammo, and their Steel Reserve is a testament to this shotshell maker’s continued pursuit of excellence. Steel has its limitations. Decades ago, when all steel pretty much sucked, I remember having to jump up in shot size by two or more numbers for ducks. Steel Reserve is crafted for the budget-minded hunter who prefers shots 30 yards and in. Lightly buffered and Copper-Plated to demonstrate uncompromising quality regardless of price, Boss sets the standard for non-toxic shotshells, and Steel Reserve is no exception. Steel Reserve is available in box and case quantities.

$29/box of 25 | bossshotshells.com

Federal Black Cloud

A waterfowl staple trusted by the masses, Federal’s Black Cloud is available in a smattering of payload and shot-size options in 10, 12, 20, and 28 gauge. Packed tightly with 40 percent FLITESTOPPER steel pellets and 60 percent Premium Steel, Black Cloud shooters can bank on remarkable patterns and kill-’em-dead results. When I shoot steel, it’s not uncommon for my field bag to hold a box or two of Black Cloud loads. The FLITECONTROL FLEX wad ensures tight patterns through standard and ported chokes, and a plated head means there is zero chance of shot-fouling corrosion.

$27-$62/box of 25 | federalpremium.com

Remington Hypersonic Steel

Great for smashing big mallards and other ducks, Remington’s Hypersonic Steel in 3-inch #4 shot sends a 1-1/4-ounce payload at a blistering 1,700 fps. Increased speed means boosted on-target energy, resulting in cleaner, more effective kills. And when the wind is bucking and birds are zipping, you’ll appreciate the smaller lead required to still fold birds. Xelerator Wads ensure a uniform pattern and help hold velocity, while top-tier Remington hulls and primers promise no-fail performance even in less-than-hopeless weather conditions.

$45/box of 25 | remington.com

HEVI-Metal Xtreme

A certified migration stopper, HEVI-Metal Extreme is a tungsten/steel blend available in multiple shot sizes in 12 and 20 gauge. Last season, I wreaked havoc on lesser Canada geese with the 3-inch BB and #2 shot blend. When stacked over the steel BBs, the 12 g/cc #2 TSS is ridiculously lethal. The FLITECONTROL FLEX wad is a legend, and Pattern Density Technology means extended range. While I haven’t experimented with any other Xtreme blends, I have no doubt they’ll produce the freezer-filling ability of the Hevi-Metal Xtreme 12 Gauge BB and 2 Shot.

$62/box of 25 | hevishot.com

Browning Wicked Blend

Last December, while hunting an ice-choked river, I used Browning’s Wicked Blend 3-inch 12 gauge to fill my greenhead limit. Though Browning offers numerous blends for 12 and 20 gauge waterfowlers in 3 and 3-1/2-inch, I opted for a blend of #2s and #4s. It was a good choice. I shot seven times and killed five ducks. The combination of bismuth and steel killed birds stone dead. Patterns during testing were impressive, and Browning dubs it’s Wicked Wad as one that ensures a uniform shot release.

$36/box of 25 | browningammo.com

Migra Mono Series

There are plenty of sub-gauge waterfowl hunters, and Migra has crafted a shotshell series just for those who prefer to yield a 28 gauge or .410 when chasing fowl. Branded the “Mono Series”, these 2-3/4-inch (28 gauge) and 3-inch (.410 bore) shotshells are tightly stacked with #6 bismuth that Migra notes are explicitly crafted for smaller bores and hit hard.

$43/box of 25 | migraammunitions.com

Winchester Last Call TSS 18

Our Editor-in-Chief, Skip Knowles, field tested these in Cold Bay, Alaska on black brant and a wild mix of other tough seagoing waterfowl.  Ready to rock in 1-1/4-ounce (12 gauge) and 1-ounce (20 gauge) payloads of buffered 18 g/cc tungsten, Winchester’s Last Call delivers more than 50 percent payload with 1.6 times greater penetration for devastating wound channels and incredible pattern density. I also tested them on a late-season honker hunt and was blown away—I pulled a triple on the first flight of monster Canadas. Shots one and two were under 30 yards, but number three was close to 50. These shotshells are killers! Available in #5s, #7s and #9s, they step out at 1,500 in 12 gauge.

$45-55 box of 10 | winchester.com

Apex TSS/S3 Steel Blend

Ready to make the skies rain this fall and winter in 12 and 20 gauge offerings, Apex’s TSS/S3 Steel Blend reduces cripples, making life easier for you and your trusty retriever. A blend of award-winning S3 Steel and TSS, these crafted in the USA shotshells come in multiple blends—some for ducks and some for geese—and will boost your effective range. The blend is known for patterning exceptionally well from almost any shotgun and putting blood stains on feathers. Trusted by hunters across the country, Apex has proven itself in every hunting scenario you could think of to bring the toughest birds to the ground.

$47-$50/box of 25 | apexmunition.com

Winchester Final Pass

Brand new from Winchester Ammo, Final Pass is now available for 12 and 20 gauge hunters who lean on top-tier steel blends. Available in 2-3/4, 3-, and 3-1/2-inch offerings in unique blends of #1-1/2 and BB, #2-1/2 and 4, Winchester enters a new era with all-new shot sizes. Winchester notes that its industry-renowned round steel shot flies true and won’t rust, keeping patterns tight and deadly. The double seal wad system and lacquered primer ensure maximum water resistance.

$30 | winchester.com

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