Actually guys. The best way to buy the expensive shells is at the end of a season. I always buy next years shells when they go on sale and usually they still have a Rebate on them. My last 3" hevishot by Remington cost me 15.50 after all the rebates etc. 3 1/2" were 17.00 after rebates. Oh also (I know it wasn't actually kosher) I sent two rebate forms in ..one for me and one for my daughter(she hunts too) so I could buy enough shells and get two rebates
Figure the price of good steel shells, even with rebates, and they are still close to 75 cents each. I know that even if I only shoot 2 steel shells per goose or duck....the cost is usually close to the same. That expensive shot shell really kills. Even if I used one shell per bird of either...I'd feel better knowing I was shooting a much better alternative to steel. I have seen, in my guiding years, WAY too many crippled birds fly off and drop out dead a half mile or more away. That just means the bird was centered but being steel it went on through imparting little energy in the bird. They fly away bleeding to death. I know it sounds subjective...but the steel alternatives just hit the birds harder. Even Bismuth is a lot better...and you can shoot it in your old guns like Brownings and M-12's. After more than 10,000 geese and at least 3 times that observed, I think I have a little field experience. Steel is good for shooting cripples and maybe really close or small ducks and geese. I care enough about the resource that I shoot the expensive stuff. In fact, I wish they would outlaw steel for the crippler it is and make the expensive stuff the only legal alternative to lead. When all is said and done the cost of ammo is one of the smallest expenses in waterfowling