Novaduckhunter

Thanks Tucker. I went ahead and got the Primos decoys choke tube. Hopefully it will pattern well in my gun.

For those of you that have used the primos dead zone Decoy choke, what would you compare the pattern spread to?(improved cylinder, modified, improved modified?) Out to what range does this choke hold a tight enough pattern for medium to large ducks and geese, assuming the load patterns well?

BS. I would never shot at game with that load. I don't believe it would cleanly kill game at any range that isn't point plank. Their web site leaves of the most important information about this load, which is how affect it is.

+1 If you like the supernova and it feels good when you shoulder it then get it.

I ordered a box of #5 and #3 Kent TM in 3" 1.5 oz just in time. From what I found Kent has stopped production of these shells because of rising material prices. Cabelas, Mackspw and most of the other retailers don't have any left. I wish I would have ordered a couple more boxes while I still could. If anyone knows where I can get Kent TM waterfowl loads please let me know. As for pellet count this is what I found. 1 ounce of #1 shot= 75 pellets #3 shot= 117 pellets #5 shot= 157 pellets That should give my loads about 229 pellets for #5 shot and 175 pellets for #3 shot. I'll try Kent's Faststeel and maybe some federal loads in my gun and get a new choke tube for this season.

Ebay Used barrel, ebay

Thanks Tucker301 for that great recommendation to that wonderful seller. Just wondering, why did you sell yours???

I was planning on use Winchester Xpert in #2 shot before I cut a few of the shells open. I counted the pellets and where close in the amount that the shell should have had but the individual pellets where deformed and not the listed shot size. I didn’t accurately measure the pellets, but some seemed to be the same size as BB shot and others closer to #5 shot. All in one #2 shot load. For now I will still use this load (because it patterned great) until I can find a load in similar shot size that patterns well. Federals link at the bottom show the approx. amount of pellets a given shot size and ounce will have. http://www.federalpremium.com/default.asp?menu=1&s1=3&s2=1&sec=4 [ 10-17-2006, 04:12 PM: Message edited by: Novaduckhunter ]

Thanks for clearing that up. I obviously got weight mixed up with weight of a certain volume(I think ). I was trying to figure out how many pellets a certain shell of Kent TM would have in a certain shot number and shot ounce. Does someone know of a chart or can give me a formula to figure this out, to avoid more mistakes on my part. Tucker: Thank you, I understand what you are saying about the pellet count and a given shot cup will hold the same number of #5 steel as it will #5 lead or Kent TM and so on. The best price I can find on Kent TM is from Cabelas which is $20-$26 per box for 10 12ga shells. Not great, but I think I fired less then 80 or so shells last duck season so I can afford it at that rate. I'm also trying new loads because I cut open a couple of the loads I planned on using this year and found that the pellets where deformed and not true to the listed shot size. Again, thanks all for the help!

I'm going to try some new loads this year. I was looking at Kent TM and its one of the only Non-toxic that I don't have to break the bank to shoot. It says its 40% denser then Steel. Wouldn't that also mean it has 40% less pellets then steel in the same shot ounce. For example, 1.25 ounces of steel shot in #5 shot has about 304 pellets. That would make a 1.25 ounce shot of #5 Kent's TM about 182 pellets, right??? (304 multiplied by .6=182)

I blew my chance at dropping a couple of ducks on NC's duck opener. I lifted my head of the stock when a few ducks flew right over my head, a shot I make a lot when shooting clays. I get excited when duck hunting and forget my shooting form sometimes. Would a sight like the Easy Hit or one like it help? I have no experience with these sights so don't know if they work as claimed.

You can get a metal one on Ebay for about 15-20 dollars. I'll will get one eventually. Every once in a while a standard one will be put up. E-gun parts has one for $7.55

Sorry about your leg. That just sucks. The 1100 is a good all around gun. I know a one person that uses it for waterfowl and is very happy. I'm guessing its a 12 ga so 2 3/4" and 3" shells with anywhere from #4 shot to BB shot will work fine depending on what your hunting. I personally use 3" shells with #2 shot most of the time for close range geese and ducks. Winchester, Kent, Remington and Federal all make good shot shells. You could always go with Hevi-shot or one of the other more expensive none toxic alternatives. Hope you get well soon and are back to dropping ducks before long.

Choke tube holder I use this one and it long enough to hold 6 extended choke tubes. I haven't seen one that will hold eight though.

As far as I know all you have to do is replace the barrels and your all set. I havent heard of anyone replacing the forearm before, but I could be wrong.

I toss out two quiver magnets into my decoy spread. They basically give the same effect but float along side the decoys. I am thinking of glueing the quiver magnets the the bottom of the decoys. quiver magnets on ebay

Here's some recent testing results I found with my nova. I was using a 12 GA nova with a 26" barrel and a modified choke(factory choke) for most of the testing. Most of the shot distances where from 30 yards and the paper measured approximately 30" by 30". Some of the loads I shot three times and some where only shot once because I ran out of sheets. #4 shot size Winchester xpert Hi velocity(3", 1.25oz) at 30 yards 186 out of 240 pellets hit the paper Remington Sportman hi speed steel(3",1.25oz) 195 out of 240 pellets (one of the most formed patterns I tested) #3 shot size Winchester xpert Hi velocity(3", 1.25oz) 176 and 152 out of 190 pellets hit the paper (pattern was not very evenly distributed) #2 shot size Winchester xpert Hi velocity(3", 1.25oz) 137 and 138 out of 150 pellets(my gun likes this load) Remington Nitro steel magnum (3", 1.25oz) 123,120 and 136 out of 150 pellets (my gun hates this load) BB shot size Winchester xpert Hi velocity (3.5",1 3/8 oz) 73 out of 99 pellets (this load shot low and was very tight) I found that out of the six loads I tested only two shot a evenly distributed pattern.(this was the Remington Sportman Hi speed in #4 shot and the Winchester hi velocity in 3" #2 shot) I hope soon that I can do this test with my IC choke for birds closer in then 30 yards or so. [ 09-22-2006, 12:53 PM: Message edited by: Novaduckhunter ]

My nova does the same thing. I just drop the bolt back a little when I'm placing the barrel in the receiver, screw the barrel retaining cap on and close the bolt. It has gotten a little better once I started shooting it some.

Well, Im glad your guys openers went better then mine. I hunted three days and never even fired a shot, and only saw one goose the entire time. I did go on a open day dove hunt and almost shot my daily limit, so I still had fun.

Well, gun, shells, decoys, and calls are all packed up. Heading out right know for the opener tommorrow. This hurricane hasnt let up so I might be in for a soaking tommorrow. Stay safe and happy hunting to all.

I am fairly new to benelli's and my first benelli was a nova. I haven't had one problem with my nova and would only trade it for a supernova or a sbeII I have some proplem with recoil when shooting lightweigh single shots and o/u guns and using magnum loads but with the nova I hardly notice it. Remington, mossberg and browning all make good pump guns but out of all the pumps I have shot I still prefure(spl) the nova. If you shop around, you can find a nova for around $300 and a supernova for around $400 Go to a local range and see if they have any pump guns you can try out, then go from there. Best of luck with your decision.

Sweeeeet. Thats good to see. Didnt have the greatest year last season, so this should mean more shot'n. [ 07-31-2006, 08:23 PM: Message edited by: Novaduckhunter ]

Know StarLynx has the idea

I too am waiting for a beautiful bird to mount. Where I hunt you mostly see mergansers, mallards and the occattional(spl) wood duck( love to mount a male in good condition) and rarely teal( blue and green wing). If you do us the link that you gave, please let me know how your mount came out and the pros and cons of your experiences. I too am looking for a good taxidermist.

As of today in north carolina the set daily bag limits for the early canadian goose season is 8 per day(double from last years daily bag limit of 4) and a possession limit of 16 ( double of last years 8). Now, if only they can decide on the unplugged guns and extended hours.