Duck Loads: Steel vs Bismuth vs TSS, Shot Size and Choke
Last updated: October 26, 2026
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your state and local law, or ask an attorney.
Short answer: Federal law (50 CFR 20.21) requires approved nontoxic shot for ducks and geese, such as steel, bismuth-tin or approved tungsten loads. Steel No. 2 or 3 in a 1¼ ounce 12 gauge load handles most ducks over decoys. Bismuth hits a little harder and likes a tighter choke. TSS hits hardest and patterns tight, so start with an open choke.
Duck season brings out two kinds of arguments in a blind: who missed, and what shell they were shooting. We can’t settle the first one for you. For the second, here is what the federal rules require, and what manufacturers and independent testers found when they put steel, bismuth and TSS on paper and into gel.
What the law requires
The federal rule is 50 CFR 20.21. For ducks, geese (including brant), swans, coots and the other birds in those aggregate bags, you can only possess shotshells loaded with an approved nontoxic shot type in the nontoxic shot zones described in § 20.108. The approved list in § 20.21(j) includes bismuth-tin, iron (steel), several tungsten alloys, copper-clad iron and corrosion-inhibited copper. Each approved shot type must contain less than 1 percent residual lead, and new shot types are approved under 50 CFR 20.134.
The same section also bars shotguns larger than 10 gauge and requires a shotgun that holds more than three shells to be plugged so its total capacity is three, with limited exceptions such as certain light-goose-only seasons. Your state can add its own rules on top of these, so check your state waterfowl digest too.
Steel, bismuth and TSS at a glance
| Shot type | Density (g/cc) | Choke starting point (testers’ advice) | Good fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel | 7.8 | Light Modified or Modified over decoys, Improved Modified for longer shots | Most ducks inside 40 yards, budget-friendly |
| Bismuth | 9.6 to 9.8 | Modified to Improved Modified | A step up in energy, softer on older guns |
| TSS (tungsten super shot) | 18 | Improved Cylinder or Skeet to start | Longer shots, small gauges |
Densities are from Outdoor Life (steel 7.8, bismuth 9.8, TSS 18) and Field & Stream (bismuth 9.6). Choke starting points are from Field & Stream and Winchester. Pattern your own gun before you trust any chart.
What the testing showed
Outdoor Life’s Alex Robinson shot each load at 40 yards through a Beretta AX800 with a modified choke, counted pellet strikes in a 30-inch circle (three-shot average) and fired into ballistic gel (December 23, 2025):
| Load (as tested) | Avg. strikes in 30″ | Gel penetration | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remington Duck Club, No. 2 steel | 114 | 3.25″ | 73% |
| Federal Hevi Bismuth, No. 3 | 103 | 3.5″ | 61% |
| Winchester Double Shot, BB steel / No. 7 TSS | 102 | 4.25″+ (TSS pellets went through the block) | 88% |
| Hevi-Shot Hevi XII, No. 2 | 93 | 5.5″ | 86% |
Robinson’s takeaways: basic No. 2 steel patterned best in his gun but came up short on penetration past 40 yards; bismuth penetrated a bit better but patterned lighter, and he would run it through an Improved Modified choke; the steel/TSS blend was the standout for pattern and penetration. He also notes that choke makers he has interviewed caution that very fast steel (over 1500 fps) tends not to pattern well.
Field & Stream’s Phil Bourjaily (September 14, 2026) shot his loads through a Rob Roberts RR 3 choke at 40 yards. Winchester Last Call Double Shot (2½ steel / 9 TSS) printed 84 percent patterns, about 165 pellets in a 30-inch circle. Winchester Final Pass (2½ x 4 steel) printed 75 percent, about 160 hits. Remington Duck Club No. 2 steel averaged 70 percent.
Shot size: 2s, 3s or 4s?
For steel, Field & Stream recommends a 12 gauge, 1¼ ounce load of No. 2 or 3 for big ducks like mallards, and No. 4 for wood ducks and teal. No. 3s carry more pellets per ounce (153 vs 124 for No. 2s), while No. 2s carry more energy. Bourjaily’s rule of thumb: shoot 3s over decoys if no geese are around, and 2s if Canadas, snows or specks might show up.
With denser shot, you can go smaller. Outdoor Life counted 197 No. 3 steel pellets in 1¼ ounces versus 152 No. 3 bismuth pellets, so bismuth trades some pellet count for more punch. TSS is dense enough that small sizes like 7s and 9s still penetrate, which is why TSS loads use such small shot.
Choke: match it to the shot
- Steel: Field & Stream suggests Light Modified or Modified over decoys and Improved Modified at longer range. Browning says it does not recommend its Invector Full or Extra Full chokes with steel because “they pattern too tightly” (Browning steel shot FAQ).
- Bismuth: soft pellets often need a tighter choke, such as Modified or Improved Modified. Winchester says its buffered bismuth can be shot through tight chokes.
- TSS: Winchester’s ammo team leans toward “a more open choke with TSS, like an improved cylinder or skeet for most applications.”
Older guns are a separate question. Browning warns that some older fixed-choke Browning shotguns should not shoot steel at all. Check your gun maker’s guidance before running steel through an older barrel.
We carry choke tubes for most duck guns, including the Carlson’s Cremator Mid-Range (Invector) and the Beretta OptimaChoke HP Modified extended. Check your choke’s markings or the maker’s page to make sure it is rated for the shot you plan to use.
Loads and guns we carry
- Steel: Remington Duck Club 12 ga 3″ No. 2, Winchester Xpert High Velocity 12 ga, Federal Black Cloud FS Steel 12 ga No. 2, Winchester Final Pass 12 ga and Browning Wicked Wing XD 12 ga No. 2
- Bismuth: Winchester Bismuth 12 ga 3″ and HEVI-Bismuth 12 ga 3″ No. 2
- TSS and blends: Winchester Last Call Double Shot 12 ga and Winchester Last Call TSS .410
- Duck guns: Browning A5 Wicked Wing, Browning Maxus II Wicked Wing, Beretta A300 Ultima 12 ga and the Savage Renegauge Field, plus all semi-auto shotguns, pump shotguns and over/unders
- The rest of the setup: decoys, duck and goose calls and shotgun barrels
Winchester and Browning both have waterfowl ammo rebates running this season. See our holiday 2026 rebate roundup for the terms.
Ready for opening day?
Browse all shotgun shells and choke tubes, then spend an afternoon at the pattern board. Order online or in store.
Frequently asked questions
Is lead shot legal for duck hunting?
No. Under 50 CFR 20.21(j), you may not possess shotshells with anything other than an approved nontoxic shot type while hunting ducks, geese, swans, coots and birds in their aggregate bags in nontoxic shot zones (50 CFR 20.21). Approved types include steel, bismuth-tin, several tungsten alloys, copper-clad iron and corrosion-inhibited copper.
What size steel shot is best for ducks?
Field & Stream recommends a 12 gauge, 1¼ ounce load of steel No. 2 or No. 3 for big ducks like mallards and No. 4 for teal and wood ducks (Field & Stream). No. 3s give you more pellets per ounce, while No. 2s carry more energy and are the better pick if geese might come in.
What choke should I use with TSS duck loads?
Start open. Winchester’s ammo team suggests “an improved cylinder or skeet for most applications” with TSS (Winchester), and Field & Stream says Improved Cylinder is a good place to start testing. TSS pellets are hard and pattern tight, so a full choke can leave holes. Pattern your gun to confirm.
Is bismuth better than steel for ducks?
It hits a little harder. In Outdoor Life’s 40-yard test, No. 3 bismuth penetrated 3.5 inches of gel versus 3.25 for No. 2 steel, but it patterned lighter, 61 percent versus 73 (Outdoor Life). Bismuth costs more and usually needs a tighter choke, such as Improved Modified, to pattern well.
Do I need to plug my shotgun for duck hunting?
Yes, in most seasons. 50 CFR 20.21(b) says a shotgun that holds more than three shells must be plugged with a one-piece filler so its total capacity is three shells (50 CFR 20.21). There are limited exceptions, such as certain light-goose-only seasons when all other waterfowl seasons are closed.
Sources
- 50 CFR 20.21, What hunting methods are illegal? (eCFR)
- 50 CFR 20.134, Nontoxic shot (eCFR)
- Outdoor Life: Is More Expensive Duck Ammo Actually Worth It? (Alex Robinson, December 23, 2025)
- Field & Stream: Best Duck Loads of 2026 (Phil Bourjaily, September 14, 2026)
- Browning: Can I shoot steel shot in my Browning shotgun?
- Winchester: Research the Perfect Choke Choice for Your Duck Gun
Change log
- October 26, 2026: First published.
