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There's a reason wetland hunters keep a box or two of Royal BlueSteel in the truck. This 20 gauge magnum load pairs a 3" hull with a full ounce of #2 steel shot, giving you the reach and knockdown power you need when birds are working the spread from a little further out than you'd like. Rio builds these shells in-house from the hull to the primer to the shot itself, which is a big part of why the pattern density and velocity stay consistent box after box.
Steel shot has a reputation for being finicky, but Rio's spherical pellets are made to hold their shape through the crimp and down the barrel, which translates into more even patterns at the yardages ducks and geese actually get shot at. Muzzle velocity comes in around 1,400 fps, giving the payload enough energy to punch through down feathers and reach vitals on birds working a spread at 30 to 40 yards. The #2 shot size splits the difference nicely between smaller pellets meant for teal and wood ducks and the heavier BB loads built for honkers, making it a solid all-around pick for mixed bag days.
A lot of guys who hunt public water or run a lot of rounds through a season appreciate that this load performs close to what you'd expect from pricier premium steel without asking you to mortgage the duck camp. Reports from hunters who've run cases of it through everything from pump guns to autoloaders back that up, with reliable cycling and patterns that hold together well through improved modified and modified chokes. It's not marketed as a target load or a specialty round, it's built to do one thing well, put steel on birds in wet, cold conditions where lead just isn't an option.
Whether you're set up over a spread of decoys at first light or pass shooting geese coming off a roost, this 20 gauge load gives you a lighter recoiling option than a 12 gauge magnum without giving up much in the way of knockdown power on birds inside 40 yards.
This #2 shot size hits a nice middle ground for waterfowl, offering enough pellet energy for geese while still carrying good pattern density for ducks. It's a solid choice for mixed bag hunts where you might see anything from teal to Canadas working the decoys. Plenty of hunters run it as their go-to all-around steel load for exactly this reason.
Steel shot is harder than lead, so barrels and chokes need to be rated for it, most modern shotguns built in the last few decades are steel compatible. If you're running an older gun with fixed chokes, especially anything tighter than modified, it's worth checking with the manufacturer or a gunsmith before running steel through it. Screw-in choke systems marked for steel shot are the safest bet.
A 20 gauge magnum load like this gives up a bit of payload compared to a 12 gauge 3" load, but it comes with noticeably softer recoil, which a lot of hunters appreciate during long sits in the blind. Inside typical decoy range, the difference in effectiveness is smaller than people expect. It's a good option for hunters who want to save their shoulder without sacrificing too much knockdown power.
Yes, the spherical steel shot in this load tends to pattern consistently through improved modified and modified chokes, which is where most waterfowl hunters land anyway. Because steel doesn't deform the way lead can, patterns tend to stay fairly even shot to shot. As always, it's worth patterning any new load through your specific gun and choke combo before opening day.
| UPC | 8435101624466 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | |
| Manufacturer Part Number | RBSM202 |
| Caliber/Gauge | 20 Gauge |
| Length | 3" |
| Shot Size | 2 |
| Units per Box | 25 |
| Cost per Round | 0.88 |
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