I have shot the blends from my 835, and started shooting the Hevi #7's a couple of years ago, Of course the pelet count was up with the Hevi shot, but when the Nitro blends were split open, the majority of it was straight 7 shot. My question is, would one just soon shoot the straight 7 Nitro's for the gained muzzle velocity over the Hevi shot, and keep a higher pellet count and possibly more even pattern? Does the few 4 and 5 shot REEEEEEALLLLLY make that much difference?????
The only difference the 4s and 5s make is that they make the shell less effective. They take up space that could be used to pack in a lot more 7s. The 7s have more than ample energy to kill turkeys at 40 yds. You either believe in the killing power of 7s or you don't, but there aren't enough 4s and 5s in the blends to guarantee hits with them. I would much prefer a load of straight 7s, straight 6s, or a 6 x 7 blend. IMO, HTL 4s and 5s have no place in turkey hunting. They sacrifice pattern density for excessive and unneeded penetration, great for body shooting waterfowl...not so hot for head shooting turkeys.
I like the 4x5x7 blends in the 3" 1 7/8 ounce load. I haven't tried the straight sevens but intend to do some testing with them this year. I would be interested in testing some 6x7 blends also.
Nitro will tell you that the 4's & 5's will help hold a tighter pattern with the 7's in their blended loads. I've shot these blends for years and have no reason do doubt their claim. :OGturkeyhead:
Quote from: SKFOOTER on January 23, 2013, 11:14:04 AM
Nitro will tell you that the 4's & 5's will help hold a tighter pattern with the 7's in their blended loads. I've shot these blends for years and have no reason do doubt their claim. :OGturkeyhead:
The blends certainly shoot excellently!
Quote from: SKFOOTER on January 23, 2013, 11:14:04 AM
Nitro will tell you that the 4's & 5's will help hold a tighter pattern with the 7's in their blended loads. I've shot these blends for years and have no reason do doubt their claim. :OGturkeyhead:
But have you compared them to a Nitro straight 7?
If the Nitro shells carry that much more velocity than hevi loads, then why give up that much more room for buffer and 4&5's? when you could add more bbs with all 7's? Not questioning your choice, i'm just curious as to if anyone has shot both, and imo, the straight 7's would do just as great of damage, possibly more due to having higher pellet count with same velocity...
I've shot both..in 10 and 12 gauge..hands down, it goes to the straight 7's for pattern density. The 10 gauge liked a tighter choke..695 vs .720 with the straight 7's. I used the same choke on the 12 .660
Gman
I thought the 7s would out perform the blend but the lady at nitro told me otherwise as well
I'm sure one version will kill 99.999999% of the birds that the other version will.
true true one will just make them more dead than the other
I shoot the 4-5-7 and don't intend to change. They absolutely flatten every bird in its way.
Shot most that nitro has offered and for me I just shoot the sevens. I will add that the blends seemed to hold a tighter pattern, but it was too tight for my liking. I still put over 300 in the ten at forty, but I've got a pretty good 20 inch patter with the sevens.
Quote from: Gobbler2577 on April 06, 2016, 11:14:39 AM
Shot most that nitro has offered and for me I just shoot the sevens. I will add that the blends seemed to hold a tighter pattern, but it was too tight for my liking. I still put over 300 in the ten at forty, but I've got a pretty good 20 inch patter with the sevens.
That's why I shoot the Hevi 7's over the Win LB's. Same principle. Makes for a better hunting setup.
I have some of the 6x7 2.25oz 3.5in nitros. They are wicked.
I've shot nitro straight 7's for several years. Same price as the mixes & more pellets per shell. As far as there being a difference in the pattern, I actually gained 20 pellets in a 10" circle when I switched from the mixed to a straight 7.