Apex Ammunition Has New Stratified S3 Duck Loads

By Zac K. • Published October 8, 2026

Duck-hunting and goose-hunting is already upon us. Waterfowl season starts early in many areas thanks to teal and goose hunting, and Apex Ammunition has a new series of shotshells just in time. They’ve got a new set of duplex loads that let you cover far-out and in-close shots, with the new Stratified S3 lineup.

The Stratified S3 series follows the same pattern as their Stratified series for dove hunting. These shells use two separate pellet sizes; the idea is that the larger pellets have more energy for shots on birds that are hanging farther out. But with a blend of smaller pellets included, you’ve still got a dense pattern for medium-range shots, closer in over your decoys.

A duplex load lets you cover birds at a wide range. [Zac K.]

The Stratified S3 shells use S3 zinc-coated steel pellets. Their 12-gauge loads are in 3-inch length, with a blend of BB and #2, or a blend of #2 and #4, or a blend of #4 and #6. The 20-gauge loads are also 3-inch lengths, with blend of #2 and #4 pellets or #4 and #6 pellets.

That’s a pretty broad range for the 12-gauge options, with everything from geese and big late-season ducks covered by the heavier shells, and smaller teal-sized birds with the lighter shells. The 20-gauge shells might not be your sauce for geese, but will definitely handle everything else.

The 20-gauge and 12-gauge loads are both sold in 25-round boxes. The 12-gauge loads come in at $27.99 a box, while 20-gauge loads are $26.99 a box.

Jason Lonsberry, president/CEO at Apex Ammunition, says “The Waterfowl Stratified Series was developed in direct response to our most dedicated hunters asking for a smarter, harder-hitting shell for ducks and geese … By combining multiple shot sizes in a single payload, this shell ensures you get tight pattern coverage up close and hard-hitting knockdown at distance, making it ideal for the unpredictable nature of waterfowl hunting.”

You can find more details on the new loads at ApexMunition.com.

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