Sandhill crane loads? - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

Passthrough · 01-25-2023, 09:04 AM

Seeing that it doesn’t have to be steel shot….What’s everyone using? Suppose to go whack some cranes end of week and was just curious.

RR 314 · 01-25-2023, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passthrough

Seeing that it doesn’t have to be steel shot….What’s everyone using? Suppose to go whack some cranes end of week and was just curious.

I shoot steel BB to be environmentally conscious. :-). Screw that. Have a bunch of lead and tungsten in 2-4. I prefer the 2s slightly over the 4.

Passthrough · 01-25-2023, 09:12 AM

I have a bunch of turkey loads…but it’s 5 shot. Thought that might be a little small. I do have a box of 3” steel BBB

okrattler · 01-25-2023, 09:21 AM

The only ones I ever knocked down was with 3" lead BB. I hit them in the head and neck though. Hitting them in the body those probably wouldn't even do very good. Those birds are super tough.

kcmarullo · 01-25-2023, 09:24 AM

I shoot lead #5s

dclifton · 01-25-2023, 09:25 AM

Lead anything will be better than steel.

Prairie storm works great if you can find it. But any good high brass 4s or so work just fine. And generally pattern pretty good.

TX_Kevin · 01-25-2023, 09:38 AM

Mary and I shot 3 1/2" Bizmuth #2s and they worked well. If they are coming in tight you can hit them with a stick. If not, you gotta reach out there a piece.

WyoBull · 01-25-2023, 09:53 AM

When I went earlier this month I used 3 inch #2's in my 12 gauge. That is what our outfitter recommended and we did use steel shot as we also were shooting ducks and geese.
I will say that if the Cranes are decoying well, I could have easily used my 28 gauge as I use it here with great success on decoying geese

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bignick612 · 01-25-2023, 10:22 AM

I use 3” #2 steel shot as we had geese coming in to. Other guys were using everything from #4 steel to 00 buckshot. If they are coming in to decoys just about anything will knock ‘em down.

muzzlebrake · 01-25-2023, 05:32 PM

My nephew used high brass #4's and turkey choke and hammered them with my Benelli M1 12ga

Jnorth · 01-25-2023, 06:52 PM

I shoot them with #2 steel no problem over decoys.

captainsling · 01-25-2023, 06:58 PM

Turkey loads work great!

trophy8 · 01-26-2023, 05:25 AM

Just remember. Shoot them in the face. SOBs are pretty dang tough and soak up body shots.

PIOBill · 01-26-2023, 03:27 PM

I use Steel BB on them. Steel not required but several times we have had geese come into the spread. You don't even want to be in possession of lead shells when you are shooting waterfowl. If they are coming in well, make it fun and shoot them with a 20.

Passthrough · 01-26-2023, 04:50 PM

Thanks for replies. I ended up using BBB steel shot. Worked pretty well….fun hunt. Those suckers are tough for sure! Rinse and repeat tomorrow morning!

DUKFVR · 01-26-2023, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passthrough

Thanks for replies. I ended up using BBB steel shot. Worked pretty well….fun hunt. Those suckers are tough for sure! Rinse and repeat tomorrow morning!

Congrats!

chrisk · 01-27-2023, 03:00 PM

I Have seen them near the house. Heard they are very good.

LivinADream · 01-27-2023, 03:05 PM

.22 WMR.

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Toney198 · 01-28-2023, 08:37 AM

How did day 2 go? Any pictures?

01-25-2023, 09:04 AM	#1
Passthrough Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006	Sandhill crane loads? Seeing that it doesn’t have to be steel shot….What’s everyone using? Suppose to go whack some cranes end of week and was just curious.

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01-25-2023, 09:12 AM	#3
Passthrough Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006	I have a bunch of turkey loads…but it’s 5 shot. Thought that might be a little small. I do have a box of 3” steel BBB

01-25-2023, 09:21 AM	#4
okrattler Pope & Young Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Oklahoma Panhandle Hunt In: Oklahoma	The only ones I ever knocked down was with 3" lead BB. I hit them in the head and neck though. Hitting them in the body those probably wouldn't even do very good. Those birds are super tough.

01-25-2023, 09:24 AM	#5
kcmarullo Pope & Young Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Danbury Tx Hunt In: South Tx, Oklahoma	I shoot lead #5s

01-25-2023, 09:25 AM	#6
dclifton Pope & Young Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Lindale Tx Hunt In: Lindale Tx, Crowell Tx, pearsall Tx	Lead anything will be better than steel. Prairie storm works great if you can find it. But any good high brass 4s or so work just fine. And generally pattern pretty good.

01-25-2023, 09:38 AM	#7
TX_Kevin Pope & Young Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kingwood, TX Hunt In: Gillespie County	Mary and I shot 3 1/2" Bizmuth #2s and they worked well. If they are coming in tight you can hit them with a stick. If not, you gotta reach out there a piece.

01-25-2023, 09:53 AM	#8
WyoBull Pope & Young Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wyoming Hunt In: Wyoming	When I went earlier this month I used 3 inch #2's in my 12 gauge. That is what our outfitter recommended and we did use steel shot as we also were shooting ducks and geese. I will say that if the Cranes are decoying well, I could have easily used my 28 gauge as I use it here with great success on decoying geese Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

01-25-2023, 10:22 AM	#9
bignick612 Six Point Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: La Grange	I use 3” #2 steel shot as we had geese coming in to. Other guys were using everything from #4 steel to 00 buckshot. If they are coming in to decoys just about anything will knock ‘em down.

01-25-2023, 05:32 PM	#10
muzzlebrake Pope & Young Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Euless, Texas Hunt In: Sterling County	My nephew used high brass #4's and turkey choke and hammered them with my Benelli M1 12ga

01-25-2023, 06:52 PM	#11
Jnorth Four Point Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Denton co. Hunt In: Denton, jack, wise co.	I shoot them with #2 steel no problem over decoys.

01-25-2023, 06:58 PM	#12
captainsling Pope & Young Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Arizona Hunt In: Arizona	Turkey loads work great!

01-26-2023, 05:25 AM	#13
trophy8 Pope & Young Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Georgetown Texas	Just remember. Shoot them in the face. SOBs are pretty dang tough and soak up body shots.

01-26-2023, 03:27 PM	#14
PIOBill Four Point Join Date: Dec 2013	I use Steel BB on them. Steel not required but several times we have had geese come into the spread. You don't even want to be in possession of lead shells when you are shooting waterfowl. If they are coming in well, make it fun and shoot them with a 20.

01-26-2023, 04:50 PM	#15
Passthrough Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006	Thanks for replies. I ended up using BBB steel shot. Worked pretty well….fun hunt. Those suckers are tough for sure! Rinse and repeat tomorrow morning!

01-27-2023, 03:00 PM	#17
chrisk Ten Point Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bayside, Tx	I Have seen them near the house. Heard they are very good.

01-27-2023, 03:05 PM	#18
LivinADream Pope & Young Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Winnie TX Hunt In: Winnie, Piqua KS	.22 WMR. Sent from my SM-F721U using Tapatalk

01-28-2023, 08:37 AM	#19
Toney198 Spike Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Grayson County Hunt In: Throckmorton County	How did day 2 go? Any pictures?