Tough to get kill shots at that range. Your 60-80 yards is probably more like 80-100 yards...tough to guesstimate at that range for high flyers.

I use Black Cloud Snow Goose BB 3" at 1,650 fps or Remington Hypersonis BB at 1,710 fps for pass shooting, but I try to hold shots 40-60 yards max.

Anything higher, I just let the dawg whine.

Gad, WAM, I didn't know they were making shells that fast! Cripes, 1700 fps!!! Next time I go south of the border I'll have to splurge and pick up a box or two for this fall. Not sure I want to shoot more than one or two of those shells a day though. Not through my 870. My shoulder probably couldn't take more than that.

Sixty to eighty yards is just too far. Even for 3.5" magnum. WAM is right, 40-60 is the proper range. Though his 1700 fps shells might do some damage at 60+ yards, they won't do ENOUGH damage. Don't leave some poor bird to fly off and die later. When you are taking shots at the end of the acceptable range (60 yards) try to wait for the birds coming straight over and take the shot just after they pass the closest to you. The pellets have a better angle for penetrating the breast feathers. Also, remember that the super fast loads like WAM is shooting require almost no lead (as in leed) even at fifty yards. Put the bead just in front of their bill.

I'm not sure the 3.5" mag was such a good invention. Most guys don't realize that the shell was mostly intended to get more pellets out there, not extend the range twenty yards. Same guys shoot them out of a layout blind surrounded by fifty Bigfoot deeks. With those setups most of the shots they get are forty yards or LESS. So what do they need a 3.5" mag for? To blow the birds to absolute smithereens! What is the point in that? I think most of the guys I know who bought those bazookas did so just because it's the thing to do. Bigger must be better, right? A young fella invited me to hunt his layout spread a few years ago. I showed up in the morning with my modified choke Light 12 (2.75") and he looked puzzled. I said 1 oz loads is all I should need shooting over his setup. By the end of the morning he was in agreement. I did fine.

My advice to folks starting out in this sport is to put their money into decoys (or more decoys) rather than some super expensive new gun that shoots longer shells. G&H sells very fine shell deeks at $140/dozen field or water. I'm sure a used 3" mag 870 could be picked up very reasonably (everyone is getting rid of them to buy 3.5" guns) and it will do the job very well. In the long run feeding it shells will leave a lot more money to spend on the little kids in the family. Or more decoys.

My favorite Setup is 3" Hevi-shot in #1 or BB through a patternmaster extended choke in my Remington 870. Will take geese out to 80+ yards. You know those geese that always seems to flare just outside of steelshot range? This stuff will drop the buggers. Make your shots count though because it is lots of $$. Hevi-shot currently has rebates on their ammo, you can see the rebates at their website, so that makes it a little more affordable.

WAM, as you know, my 870 has a fixed full choke. I was also thinking that maybe those shells might be a bit too hot for that old barrel. Guess it's time to get it bored out. Or buy another one. Barrel I mean.

The recoil pretty bad?

Thanks for the info. I think I might give them a try next fall. Any honkers left here now will need hockey sticks.

This subject makes me think that we should move towards Europe, and weed out some of the folks that don't know how to hunt properly. Maybe a test should have to be taken...a rigid test. One, be able to accurately judge distance. Two, bring your gun of choice and hit a goose silhouette flying across at 50 mph and at 60 yds. That for starters.