Hey guys! This is my first post and I have been reading a lot of posts on here about hevi-shot and their different selections of shells. I have always used lead and had good results with killing birds, but after patterning my gun this year I kept remembering people talking about how awesome hevi shot is. I tried the new Winchester longbeards in my gun and the 3 1/2" shells regardless of shot size did terrible for me. The 3 inch longbeards did a lot better and I got 165 pellets in a 10" circle at 40 yards. The problem that I have with them is that my pattern is terrible once I get outside of that 10" circle which leaves me very little room for error at shorter distances. Now that I've said all that I am looking into finally trying some of the hevi stuff and I would like your recommendations. Should I try Magnum Blend or Hevi-13? And I am used to shooting 3 1/2" shells but would you recommend 3" or 3 1/2" shells?
Thanks to all in advance!!
Post a pic of a pattern you got...I can tell you that guys have had good luck with both shells...my personal opinion is straight Hevi 13 #6 or #7 in the 2 1/4 oz 3.5 inch but you have to shoot em with your choke/gun to know. I have killed turkeys with the Mag Blends but in my set up the single shot size shells pattern about 25% better. Best of luck to you. :anim_25:
My SBE2 patterns the H-13 6's & 7's better also. I have never found a 3" shell that patterned better than a 3.5" in my SBE2. I can tell you this the SBE2 is not a high number pattern gun. If your lookin for big numbers go with a 835 , 935 , or a back bore gun. The SBE2 is a finicky gun to pattern because of it's small bore barrel, Once you find the right choke load cambo you'll get good patterns.
This is the pattern using 3" winchester longbeards #5's at 40 yards. 165 pellets in the 10" circle.
(http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q694/brimmyfish/9195C530-0BB3-40D7-8C37-9155B9B8CEB3_zpshbr8rdqa.jpg) (http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/brimmyfish/media/9195C530-0BB3-40D7-8C37-9155B9B8CEB3_zpshbr8rdqa.jpg.html)
This is the pattern using 3 1/2" winchester high velocity #5's which has always been my "go-to" turkey load until now. There are 97 pellets in the 10" circle.
(http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q694/brimmyfish/DD853C7B-874C-49B8-902D-21F2355FE195_zpsls6oxbb2.jpg) (http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/brimmyfish/media/DD853C7B-874C-49B8-902D-21F2355FE195_zpsls6oxbb2.jpg.html)
Here is the same winchester 3" longbeard #5 at 25 yards. Didn't count the pellets.
(http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q694/brimmyfish/2FD79F77-A991-47F0-A2FC-8538002C81A6_zps4ubozdoa.jpg) (http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/brimmyfish/media/2FD79F77-A991-47F0-A2FC-8538002C81A6_zps4ubozdoa.jpg.html)
And he are the 3 1/2" winchester high velocity #5's at 25 yards. Didn't count the pellets.
(http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q694/brimmyfish/B754A8EF-FBDD-44A1-82B6-C30246FBDDDD_zpsadbr9erm.jpg) (http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/brimmyfish/media/B754A8EF-FBDD-44A1-82B6-C30246FBDDDD_zpsadbr9erm.jpg.html)
I think you would reach close to 200 if not exceed it by switching to Hevi 6....
So you would recommend the hevi 13 #6's for my choke and gun? Would you recommend the 3" or 3 1/2"? Thanks again for the reply
Yes 6's or 7's and 3 1/2 "
Find somebody nearby that has a SBEII and has a different choke and try it out( I cant afford to buy all the ones out there either). My SBEII put 199 hits with 3" LB'# 6's in a 10" @ 40 yards with a Down & Dirty Haymaker .670 choke. I fell thats pretty good for lead prob someone has better out there, in same setup with Hevi-13 3"7's it was 219 hits which is not extremely high for that load. Chokes make all the difference in the world and sometimes they may be too open or too tight for your load in your gun. I remember patterning some of my old chokes that killed birds and seeing numbers like 79@ 40 LOL! I also had better luck hunting and patterning when I switched to a halogram sight, mine is a TRUEGLO and is not expensive. It's hard to find the perfect solution, but you're on the right site to find out. GOODLUCK!
Thanks for the responses so far. I'll try to find someone with other chokes but not many prople around here have sbe's bc of their price and other than turkey hunting there really isn't anything else to hunt around here that you can use 3" or 3 1/2" shells for. NYhunter, if I do get a good pattern with the hevi shot shells will there be a decent pattern outside the 10" ring? Like will I have any margin of error, or will it be like throwing a softball sized pattern and that's all?
the 7's are a little more forgiving simply because there is more shot per shell than the 6's, but both will give you pretty good coverage out to the 20" ring. I think you'll be very happy with that I.C .665 choke and either one of the H-13 shells. Keep in mind that your not gonna have a high 10"number count and a high number of pellets out side the 10" area. IE 200 #6's pellets in the 10" ring don't leave a lot to cover the rest of the 20" ring . My SBE2 puts 190's #6's and 290's #7's in the 10" ring and has plenty out to the 20" ring.
If your not happy with the I.C I would suggest you give Rob Roberts from gobbler gun's a call and try one of his "Final Strut " chokes, If your not happy with the pattern your getting he will switch chokes with you until you get the pattern your looking for, his chokes go from .650-.670 for the sbe2. I had all of them at the same time to compare head to head and ended up with the .665, it shot both the H-13 6's and 7's good . Most SBE2's seem to like the tighter chokes better but mine did best with the .665.
Even though I shoot a win X2 I had this exact experience. I tried both .665 and .675 Indian Creek they were great about letting me switch. Both of them shot consistent in the 160 to 180 range with 3.5" hevi 6. From the research on the site I knew I could improve that. If I am going to use a 70 dollar choke tube I wanted to find the best performance. Ended up speaking to Rob Roberts told him what was going on. He sent me a .660 Final Strut as a first step. Ended up shooting 215 and 220 in 10 inch at 40 yds with Hevi 13 6s and 260 plus with 7s. That same choke I shot fed heavyweight 7s and Win LB #5 and it didnt perform as well as hevi13 but other guns chokes might throw those LB 5s in the 180s. You just have to find what works. Good news is that all 7 loads i have tried through my set up would crush a bird at 40 yards. The worst 10" circle was cheap federal lead 5s and it was 135. The numbers game is fun but doesnt kill em any deader. Thats my experience. Good luck
Ok guys I went to several stores today and only found magnum blend in 3 1/2" and hevi 13 was either 4 1/2" #5 or just 3". I'm not sure what to do now bc shipping on ammo is really expensive.
rogerssportinggoods.com or shopdunns.com typically ship for free...try that. Otherwise shoot the MagBlends I don't think they are a bad shell lots of guys like em
rogers does charge for shipping but I can tell you their price per box on the Hevi13 3.5 is about 7 bucks less than Cabelas right now plus hevishot.com is offering a 20 dollar rebate on two boxes of shells...makes it pretty affordable
Ok well I stopped by a dicks sporting goods on my way to work today. They had all turkey ammo buy one get one 25% off. So I picked up a couple of boxes of 3 1/2" magnum blend. It was 29.99 for one box and 22.50 for the second, so with the hevi-shot rebate i figured it would be worth a shot. I'll try to shoot some Tomorrow and post some more pics. Thanks
sweet let us know how it goes...
I have an SBE2 IC .665 an shoot MagBlends ... Put up around 200
Here are the results with the mag blends. They kick like a mule!!! White paper is at 25 yds and the brown paper is 40 yards. Put 166 in the 10" circle at 40. But shot a little low at 40. Is this normal for hevi shot since it's heavier than lead?
(http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q694/brimmyfish/3948DB51-8EDB-4D20-933F-C2890775870A_zps3axd85if.jpg) (http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/brimmyfish/media/3948DB51-8EDB-4D20-933F-C2890775870A_zps3axd85if.jpg.html)
(http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q694/brimmyfish/6F593D15-86E7-4D46-985E-66FBB9D7F83B_zpsjzxjlt8j.jpg) (http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/brimmyfish/media/6F593D15-86E7-4D46-985E-66FBB9D7F83B_zpsjzxjlt8j.jpg.html)
better a little low than a little high and over the bird but that is pretty low at 40...sight adjustment if that's what you choose to hunt with...you shouldn't see that much of a drop at all it's just shooting low. I can tell you that my set up doesnt' love MagBlends either, it shoots them about 40-60 pellets less in 10" at 40 yards compared to the Straight 6's...and I re-shot the LongBeard XR #5 yesterday and got 197 in 10" with that when the MagBlend I shot 20 mins earlier was only about 150. Keep working on it you'll find the right combo.
I shot today to sight in the speed bead ... I am shooting same combo and forgot how bad those shells tear up your shoulder... Anyways after getting all sighted in the barrel was dirty but did get 180 and 194 in the 10" ... My gun and IC choke shoot as low as yours does... Doesn't matter with the red dot tho... Dot on the head squeeze trigger.... Good luck this year
Didn't take a pic this year but this is last years
I shoot a SBE II with a TruGlo SSX .643 that hates Mag Blends. It puts ~200 of 3" Hevi 7s pretty evenly in 10" at 40 yards pretty consistently. The 3" Hevi 6s are close to that number as well. I really haven't counted lately, I just look for even coverage. Outside the 10" ring is covered nicely with either load too. I probably wouldn't waste any Hevi shot on a 25 yard target...every turkey load should crush a gobbler at that range. I've only shot at 5 gobblers with 3" Hevi 6s or 7s so far, but it thumped every one...bad.
Jim
Well I ran across a deal I couldn't refuse on some Hevi-13 3 1/2" 1 3/4 oz #6's. The gunshop had them for a while so I got 3 boxes at a good price. This is the first pattern I shot at 40 yards, and I pulled it. I shot a second time but at 25 yards just to make sure that the POA and POI were gonna be the same.
Here is the pattern at a lasered 40. 210 in 10"
(http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q694/brimmyfish/5E934A05-F7D2-4882-8E33-90FEA67BDE95_zpsxcbidogj.jpg) (http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/brimmyfish/media/5E934A05-F7D2-4882-8E33-90FEA67BDE95_zpsxcbidogj.jpg.html)
Here is the 25 yard pattern
(http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q694/brimmyfish/F958AA28-3700-4535-9BC2-5FF9A8B4EBF3_zpswtumghwe.jpg) (http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/brimmyfish/media/F958AA28-3700-4535-9BC2-5FF9A8B4EBF3_zpswtumghwe.jpg.html)
look slike you got it there! :OGturkeyhead: i know indian creek reccomends the reg hevi over the belnd
I have the same type set up....try both 3" & 3 1/2" MagBlends....the reason i say this is b/c the straight #6,#7 heavy shot is only fired at 1090 fps. Blend is 1200fps dont sound like much but believe u me its the difference in straight #6,7 shot stickin half way out of a 5/8" piece of particle board and the blend blowing ALMOST all the way thru....not to mention u have 3 different size pellets not just the one. IMO....go with the blend but shoot both 3" and 3 1/2" . GOOD LUCK!!!!
I'm having a hard time believing that 110fps is the difference between pellets of the same size and density sticking half way out of a target backer, or blowing almost all the way through.
Quote from: Borden811 on April 15, 2015, 06:39:16 PM
I'm having a hard time believing that 110fps is the difference between pellets of the same size and density sticking half way out of a target backer, or blowing almost all the way through.
shoot em and get back to us...
Been shooting them for years, hence the reason for my post.
Quote from: Borden811 on April 15, 2015, 08:27:34 PM
Been shooting them for years, hence the reason for my post.
Then you know 110 FPS makes a difference in penetration, since you shot both.
Reading comprehension issues? I never said it didn't make a difference. I simply said 110 fps more isn't going to drive a pellet of the same density and size almost all the way through a 5/8 particle board target backer, when the pellet going 110 fps slower barely stuck in it.
Sorry if i misled u borden811 on how i worded what i said about the blend "almost " blowing thru....all i can tell u is that H.S #7 shot SOME pellets were sticking half way out whereas the blend was not showing at all. The only pellet that went "thru" and actually took chunks out of 5/8" board were the Fed H.W #7 shot.During my testing i used new pieces of board to achieve accurate results....and in MY testing 110fps made the difference.
3in patterns good with 665 indian creek out the super vinci . It slams at 40.
Quote from: Borden811 on April 17, 2015, 07:05:27 PM
Reading comprehension issues? I never said it didn't make a difference. I simply said 110 fps more isn't going to drive a pellet of the same density and size almost all the way through a 5/8 particle board target backer, when the pellet going 110 fps slower barely stuck in it.
Well sir,I'm quite sure your not calling me a liar,but as I said in my testing 110 fps DID INDEED make the difference .....just as I said.