So I just got a new Benelli M2 20 gauge, and I am trying to think ahead for next year. I am having a VERY hard time trying to locate any Federal Heavyweight #7 ( I did find a few boxes of #6's that I did not buy). So for my question........ Is that NItro ammo company ammo worht what they charge? It is very expensive, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Or would I be better off going and buying the Fed #6 and just living with the pattern that I get from them, Im also still looking for a choke, thinking about going with an Indian Creek .555?????
Thanks for the help in making a decision
It all depends on who you ask. I am thrilled with the patterns I get with Hevishot Magblends, but others will tell you the Nitros are WAY better. I agree that the Nitros will give you a better pattern. The guys at Rob Roberts will say that the Nitros do not have the "wallop" that the Hevishot blends do so it is a matter of opinion. You cannot deny how well the Nitros pattern. The question is how much is enough? if you are shooting at 20 yards it just doesn't matter. If you are shooting beyond 40 yards you have to ask yourself, "what is more important, great patterns or ballistic intensity?" The debate will never end. I recommend going to the turkey gun section of these forums. My suggestion is hevi-shot mag blends but there are many differing opinions.
No personal experience.. but from what I have read.. it may be slightly better. Now.. is it worth the extra costs and the hassle of their dated ordering system... not to me. Sit tight ... you will get your Fed HW #7 likely in the next month... turkey season is over now and turkey ammo should free up real soon.
Lucky me.. I went into bass pro about a month ago and they had about 15 boxes of the #7.. I think I purchased 8 boxes.
Also - I wouldn't waste your time with the Fed #6... when you know you are going to switch to the #7 once they become available again.
As for choke... the IC and Sumtoy are hard to beat in the 20ga.
Go nitro and you won't have to spend the time or money a lot of guys do trying to find the best load/choke combo.
Other than TSS, there ain't a substitute for nitro.
Looks like the Federal Heavy weight #7 it is in stock at Macks Praire Wings
http://www.mackspw.com/Item--i-FEDPHT256F7
God Bless,
David B.
Magblends and ic= 188 in 10"@ 40
I'm shooting a Nova with Indian Creek .555 and Nitro 7s. My best pattern has been 270 in the 10 inch at 40 yards. My 3 shot average was 243. To me the Nitros are money well spent.
good find!... that are a good price as well.
Quote from: BOFF on June 13, 2013, 12:48:07 AM
Looks like the Federal Heavy weight #7 it is in stock at Macks Praire Wings
http://www.mackspw.com/Item--i-FEDPHT256F7
God Bless,
David B.
Quote from: redarrow on June 13, 2013, 08:48:02 AM
I'm shooting a Nova with Indian Creek .555 and Nitro 7s. My best pattern has been 270 in the 10 inch at 40 yards. My 3 shot average was 243. To me the Nitros are money well spent.
My M2 is set up this way and shoots Nitro 7s nearly as well.
I think you will be very pleased with this set-up as well.
Have shot nitro's for years but this year I bought and patterned some Heavi mag blends. Was quite happy with the results as well. Actually think the Heavi blends work out to a little more $ I was shooting the 5-6-7's in Nitro and never had bird say he wasn't dead enough. I'm pretty impartial to which one I stuff in the gun. Both really good. Whatever I dig out of my vest goes in the tube. You can't go wrong either way IMO.
I shot nitros several years back in my 870. They patterned well with a Primos Jellyhead tube. They also worked well with an Indian Creek choke, which is what I have now. I found them to leave a lot of deposit in my barrel. After 2 shots there was obvious buildup.
Through a "business deal", I ended up with a case of HeviShot 3" #6's. I still have half of a 25 round box of Nitro's under my bed that I haven't touched in 4 years. The Hevi 6's out of my 870 and Indian Creek choke tube have proven that I don't need to change a thing to kill turkeys at distances that shouldn't even be considered.
Quote from: BOFF on June 13, 2013, 12:48:07 AM
Looks like the Federal Heavy weight #7 it is in stock at Macks Praire Wings
http://www.mackspw.com/Item--i-FEDPHT256F7
Hey Boff
They are 2 3/4 " 1 1/8oz. Thanks for the heads up though !
vaturkey :newmascot:
God Bless,
David B.
I shoot a 10 ga & Nitro gives me 315-330 ave at 40, Jelleyhead .690, but the magblends only around 200. I was out of Nitros & gave them a shot, but I did harvest my second bird w one & they were fine. Probably Nitros next season if they will ship to NY? Mike
Thanks for the link!!! I just ordered 8 boxes so that I have them. That doesn't mean that I am not going to give the nitro shells a try but now I can focus on a choke
Quote from: huntmaster80 on June 13, 2013, 01:23:23 PM
Thanks for the link!!! I just ordered 8 boxes so that I have them. That doesn't mean that I am not going to give the nitro shells a try but now I can focus on a choke
So I guess the 2/34" is ok? I didn't check the length.
God Bless,
David B.
I didnt see the 2.5" on the box until after I ordered them!! I just got off the phone with Macks, and I was instructed to refuse the package if I didnt want them. What a :TrainWreck1: but it is my fault for not paying attention!!!! The hunt for the 3" will continue
My fault as well. I didn't catch it either. :(
So sorry to steer you in the wrong direction.
God Bless,
David B.
BOFF not your fault at all, I ordered a sumtoy also, so I am gona give william a call and see what he has to say about the notro 7s throught his choke, and might go that route, but I have plenty of time. Thanks again!!!!!
There is some of that ammo for sale in the ammo for sale part of this forum
I shot Nitros for a while. They pattern the best in my 835 by a wide margin.
But I had issues with them not ejecting. So did a friend. He had to shoot three to empty his gun, they wouldn't come out any other way.
I may try them again, I heard they had a problem and fixed it. Their ordering system isn't the best but their patterns are.
again, the Federal HW #7, 3in should be available soon.. I would be very surprised if you couldn't buy them online in the next few months.
Quote from: FL-Boss on June 15, 2013, 02:17:42 PM
again, the Federal HW #7, 3in should be available soon.. I would be very surprised if you couldn't buy them online in the next few months.
I wouldn't count on it
how do you figure? the same thing happens every year with seasonal turkey ammo...Am I missing something?
Honestly I have never compared the lastest/greatest factory loads in any of my turkey guns. I have always shot Nitros after being turned on to them after new guns an 870 12 ga and a H&R 10 ga. With the right choke and load combination they shoot fantastic patterns ( I have always sent my gun to Nitro and Ray has fixed me up). Maybe some of the new stuff will work just as well but for me, if it is working don't mess with it.
Quote from: Rockhound on June 15, 2013, 11:33:20 PM
Quote from: FL-Boss on June 15, 2013, 02:17:42 PM
again, the Federal HW #7, 3in should be available soon.. I would be very surprised if you couldn't buy them online in the next few months.
I wouldn't count on it
x2
Man.. this is tough crowd. Here you go... 2 min of searching. 20ga, 3in, #7, 1.5oz - in stock - http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=FAPHT258F7&src=exrbSrch
Quote from: FL-Boss on June 16, 2013, 10:27:58 AM
how do you figure? the same thing happens every year with seasonal turkey ammo...Am I missing something?
The jacked up price of tungsten, the larger ammo companies have more to worry about than one line of overpriced ammo that only maybe 5% of the turkey hunters use. The other 95% dont even pattern their guns just buy the most appealing box of lead shells and go hunt.
IF Federal continues to produce the heavyweight line, 1 of 2 things will happen,
#1. They will drop their density, and, or payloads dramatically, which in change will require them to change their recipe.
#2. The 5 round box of 20 gauge. #7 will be close to $30 for 5 shells
I agree... whether it's the price of tungsten or political, new taxes, etc.... you can rest assure the price of all ammo is only going higher each and every year. Has it ever went down? not that I can remember...