Started using scatter loads in full choked guns in 1950s for quail and rabbits and grouse. Been using them ever since for some things.
Often I carried two or three loads that patterened about one degree of choke differently in my guns. That could give me a range of fuller, full, half, quarter and cylinder. Actually, for decades, most useful load gave half and quarter choke results with 36 grams #5 1/2 shot. The fuller loads seldom got used then, except for late season ducks and geese. Now, being slower and more careful shooter, they get lots of use -- I pick my shots much more carefully now than before.
First time I hunted desert quail I took along plenty of scatter loads, remembering how well they worked on bobwhite and ruffed grouse. WRONG CHOICE!! Very few close shots, nice even full choke was best.
Now, for early season ducks over decoys, I put a bismuth scatter load (SpreadRdisk) in right barrel. Works really well with #6 bismuth, especially on teal but, even big mallard drakes fall nicely at 20-30 yards, with plenty of pellet penetration. Later, it is full and fuller for ducks and geese.
Niklas
