If you could only buy one type of load for your 3 1/2 inch 12 ga turkey killer, would it be the Federal #7 heavyweight or Hevi shot #7 and why?
I'm sticking with the Hevi-13 #7's regardless of who tries to say anything negative about them. If they don't kill a turkey cleanly at 50yds, then something else happened besides the shell more than likely or maybe a bad or underpowdered load got through the door. They are cheaper than the Fed heavyweight and you get more shot in each shell. This is why I am sticking with these shells out of my 835 and Star Dot choke. Now I don't condone long shots on turkeys and I want to make it clear, but I would not hesitate to shoot a bird that hung up at 50yds or came into my calling on public ground where I mostly hunt at now and gets in to range where I know for certain I can kill him. There's just so much that can happen to spook a bird, so when you get the opportunity to shoot you need to be ready for it especially when other hunters can send your bird packing within minutes in heavily hunted areas.
Now if a pattern like this one with 7's won't cleanly kill any gobbler that walks at even 50yds, then I don't know what else I can say to convince those naysayers nor will I try to waste my time doing it. I have seen firsthand what these 7's can do to a turkey at right at 50yds and it is devastating with only a 3" 2oz load.
For your viewing pleasure.
http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,1421.0.html
http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=612543
Hevi!
i like the concept of the federals but not a fan of the flight controlled wad system and have never had any luck with them out of my current chokes and i really dont want to buy another choke for it.
I prefer Hevishot for the reasons Brad and Reynolds mentioned. I am one that prefers a heavy payload and the Federal Heavyweight 3.5" loads contain only 1.875 ounces of shot. Hevi 13's have 2.25 ounces. The Flite Control wad is also a big deterrent for me. It's much more finicky about chokes. Hevi 7's will shoot good through just about anything.
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I wouldn't mind trying some Federal Heavyweight, but there's one thing holding me back... Indian Creek advises against using their BDS choke with Fed Heavyweight.
I think it's dumb to make a load with the flight control wad when the majority of after market chokes are designed to strip the wad from the shot column.
Quote from: mcgruff1533 on January 13, 2012, 11:39:02 AM
I wouldn't mind trying some Federal Heavyweight, but there's one thing holding me back... Indian Creek advises against using their BDS choke with Fed Heavyweight.
I actually get great results using a standard Full choke with the FCW. Killed my jake last year at 45 yds with a single shot NEF pardner with a modified fixed choke. Knew my pattern was there since I had patterned it before hand. 150+ in the 10" at 40 yds.
Quote from: CASH on January 13, 2012, 11:44:18 AM
I think it's dumb to make a load with the flight control wad when the majority of after market chokes are designed to strip the wad from the shot column.
thats what I dont get either
Quote from: TauntoHawk on January 13, 2012, 12:21:40 PM
Quote from: CASH on January 13, 2012, 11:44:18 AM
I think it's dumb to make a load with the flight control wad when the majority of after market chokes are designed to strip the wad from the shot column.
thats what I dont get either
I agree. There's no telling how much money and time Federal invested in the development of that wad. They must have been riding the notion that a turkey hunter doesn't want to experiment with chokes and would prefer to stick with a factory non-ported model. Couldn't be more off base.
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anyone who is willing to drop $40 on a box of shells is going to use a aftermarket choke.
has Sumtoy done any testing or made a non ported choke that works well with the flight control wad?
Undertaker chokes love flite control wads.
Quote from: bawana on January 13, 2012, 10:45:45 AM
If you could only buy one type of load for your 3 1/2 inch 12 ga turkey killer, would it be the Federal #7 heavyweight or Hevi shot #7 and why?
Hevi-13s.
Consistency.Thanks,
Clark
Quote from: SpitNDrumN on December 29, 2014, 06:44:47 PM
Undertaker chokes love flite control wads.
So does the Trulock HW 7 choke in both Rem 12's and 20 :icon_thumright:
Quote from: allaboutshooting on December 30, 2014, 07:19:40 PM
Quote from: bawana on January 13, 2012, 10:45:45 AM
If you could only buy one type of load for your 3 1/2 inch 12 ga turkey killer, would it be the Federal #7 heavyweight or Hevi shot #7 and why?
Hevi-13s. Consistency.
Thanks,
Clark
So why do they keep changeing the "internal componets" of there shell all the time?Just curious?
QuoteSo why do they keep changeing the "internal componets" of there shell all the time?Just curious?
A very legitimate question. Tungsten prices have gone far beyond what anyone would have anticipated when most companies introduced their version of that shot. Most companies import that shot and it's become very expensive if not prohibitive to sell at anything like a profit. Some companies have kept it as a "halo" product but some like Winchester and Remington simply dropped it.
Federal has introduced a lead/lead/tungsten product this year and that may be what you see from them in the future. EM's shot is made here and uses a totally different process but their prices have gone up as well. We became used to good shells at what now seem to be very reasonable prices. Those days may be gone, for tungsten-based shot anyway.
Most companies look for ways to continue to produce acceptable products at prices that are bearable to us as hunters. It's becomming harder and harder each year with escalating prices for all metals as well as all the other components that make up shotshells. I am told that saving 1/4 of one cent on a shell is a very big deal to most companies.
I suspect that we'll continue to see changes in shotshells for the future. Let's just hope that most of them are for the better.
Thanks,
Clark
Quote from: allaboutshooting on December 30, 2014, 10:31:23 PM
Quote
I suspect that we'll continue to see changes in shotshells for the future.
I won't; that's why I handload.
Hevi
the Federal HW, if I was shooting HTL shells
I would like a EM HeviShot 3.5" 2.25oz shell loaded with the Federal HW #7s.
Between the two though I will take the HeviSHot shell.
I'll keep on pounding them with my Heavyweight 7s.
I have a good supply of both the Hevishot #6 and the Heavyweight #7's in 3" for my 20 gauge Benelli fitted with a Sumtoy choke.
Thus being said I will shoot the Federal HW #7's as long as I can keep buying them. It hands down out performs the Hevishot in my gun. The patterns at 40 yards are simply devastating for a 20 gauge load.
If I were you ....... Start hoarding premium ammo immediately , before it's too late -
Years from now , people will talking about the good old days when you could actually buy this stuff regardless of the price , I suspect there will in 10 years time a aftermarket business of people reselling premium turkey ammo for extraordinary price marks double...triple what your paying now at the store
Quote from: Old Gobbler on January 04, 2015, 10:50:28 PM
If I were you ....... Start hoarding premium ammo immediately , before it's too late -
Years from now , people will talking about the good old days when you could actually buy this stuff regardless of the price , I suspect there will in 10 years time a aftermarket business of people reselling premium turkey ammo for extraordinary price marks double...triple what your paying now at the store
Good advice. I think you're right on the money.
Thanks,
Clark
I shoot Fed HW #7 but I'll admit Hevi #7 will out shoot it all day everyday. I'm just stubborn and won't change.
I'd stick to the HEVI #7s, the 3.5's that I've shot just destroy turkeys and put an amazing pattern down range with awesome knock down.