Geo,
Funny, but I haven't killed a duck or goose in more than twenty five seasons...the exact reason being that steel shot was mandated, and I didn't own a gun at the time that was up to the task. I had a straight gripped Darne 20, (sadly, gone, but a few others are in it's place) a Remington model 17 (still have it) and an Italian "Companion" single shot 12 (got that, too) and a good gunsmith (bless him) warned me against using steel in, well, any of them. I was 19, for crying out loud, and didn't want to spend any more money on guns. At about the same juncture, (1980) killing a redhead or a canvasback was about like shooting a bald eagle as far as the warden was concerned. Steel shot moved me further into the uplands, where I have been ever since. Which, as it turned out, is right where I want to be.
Yes I own a pump or three that I wouldn't worry about feeding steel shot to as of today, and I had to carry a Mossberg model 500 12 loaded with steel 4s on my one trip to the federal wildlife area at Sherburn this year (didn't fire a shot). But, I would have rather carried just about any of the other guns that day, and would have rather had lead.
I feel like an old dog, with a brand, spanking new, shock collar on his neck.
Best,
Ted
