I realize that this seems like a silly question, but it is one way to determine the impact of Longbeard on the use of other Lead loads.
Longbeard vs HTL is a totally separate question, imo. Longbeard = HTL patterns, but with Lead pellet density.
How many people on Old Gobbler will continue to hunt with other Lead loads? Why?
For me, I will shoot my Hevi-13 3-2-7's when I know my shots are longer in either open timber or fields, and when I am in the deep woods for my 30 and under, I will use my federal lead loads which shoot to the same POI as my hevi.
I will not shoot the Longbeards, because I am taking a stand on Winchester's marketing of taking a lead load and saying it will kill at 60+ yards.
Just my opinion, but I feel very strongly about this.
I have a ton of winchester HV and xx mag #5's in both 3" and 3.5" along with about 40 rounds of hevi. so no longbeards for me yet. Maybe when this stockpile starts running dry in 30 yrs
QuoteI have a ton of.................along with about 40 rounds of hevi. so no longbeards for me yet.
Me too. Dozens each of 3" #4 Loads, #5 Loads, #6 Loads, and 4x6 Loads; plus a couple double-handfulls of 3" HTL Loads.
I already have HTL that is definitely good past 40, Lead that is definitely good at 40, Lead that is spectacular at 35, etc.
I will be using Win Elite Xtended Range 3 1/2" 6 shot
I have 6 boxes of the Longbeards in 3" #6,but also 6-7 boxes of Black box Win. Supremes,4 boxes of grey box Win. in 3" #5 and #6,and a few boxes of Turkey thugs in 3" #6.Havent even got a chance to shoot the Longbeards yet,and mostly use the 20 with old green Rem. hevi in 3" #6.
If I use the 12 i'm sure it will just depend on where i'm hunting whether the Longbeards (if they even pattern well for me but have confidence they will)even make the trip.Field hunting-probably so.Woods hunting-no.Will probably carry a few of the longbeards in the vest in case need arises.
I've even debated that if I can find a good high brass load of 7 1/2 or 6 in 2 3/4 going with my dads old Remington 11-48 fixed full(if it'll pattern good to 35 +/-)Just something about that gun and the way it fits and feels I hate having it just sit at home!
I'm sticking with my H-T-L loads. :OGturkeyhead:
I'll be shooting Long Beards if I'm shooting my 12. They pattern better than any lead load I've tried and I've tried a lot of them. I'm not gonna buy another choke to shoot HTL loads in. If I can't get him to the 40ish mark, well there will be another day.
I will be shooting lead, nope the Longbeard xr. I got 4 boxes of them just to have. I will be shooting turkey thug 3.5" #5's.
My 870 shoots 160's-170's with Win xx 6's. Have 6-8 boxes..might as well shoot them. I am however interested in seeing what the LB will do out of my 870's. Rotator cuff problems, will have to wait. Hunting with beretta 20g this year.. 170's-180's in a 10 @ 40. Fed hw 7's.
Bought one box of long beards and shot some today. Not impressed. They are just as good as the thugs but are more expensive. I have a ton of the thugs and love how they pattern so that's what I am shooting...
Quote from: Longshanks on March 08, 2014, 06:46:10 PM
My 870 shoots 160's-170's with Win xx 6's. Have 6-8 boxes..might as well shoot them. I am however interested in seeing what the LB will do out of my 870's. Rotator cuff problems, will have to wait. Hunting with beretta 20g this year.. 170's-180's in a 10 @ 40. Fed hw 7's.
Your 20 ga. with the HW's is a lot better than your 12 ga. with lead.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tried both,still use Winchester supreme.No need to change I never shoot over 40 yards anyway.
I'll be shooting the old Federal 3in. 2oz #7.5.
Quote from: KYStalker on March 08, 2014, 09:26:10 PM
I'll be shooting the old Federal 3in. 2oz #7.5.
I still have about 4 boxes 3.5" - 2.25- 6's. I don't really want to shoot them. Trying to save them.
after the patterns I got with longbeards why would I shoot anything else :OGturkeyhead:
I have Federal pre FC 3" and 3.5",Winchester XX(red shells) Winchester (grey box) shells
I shot some of the long beards and they didn't do anything for me really.
In my Ithaca 37 Turkeyslayer will use Fed Thugs cuz I have 3 boxes of #6.
My 3 1/2" guns will probably be the Win. Longbeards as I was low on 3 1/2" ammo and bought Longbeards.
Turkey thugs for me, plenty of them on hand, still can buy new ones for under $10/box, and they pattern great. No need to change.
I'm going to choot em in the lips with Winchester High Velocity Supremes (Black Shells) Copper plated #5's :z-winnersmiley:
Quote from: RAY on March 08, 2014, 10:58:10 PM
I'm going to choot em in the lips with Winchester High Velocity Supremes (Black Shells) Copper plated #5's :z-winnersmiley:
Same here, I have 12 boxes of the 3.5" #5's & 4 boxes of 3" #5's, but I have long beards in 3" and 3.5" #5's to pattern "Many Years of Turkey hunting!"
I was wondering if we are all getting caught up in the numbers game to the point that we feel we have to get 200 or 250 even when we are shooting Lead at 40 Yards? Will Longbeard make all other Lead turkey loads obsolete, etc.? Some of us have substantial amounts of time and money invested in other combos, and I have a hard time believing that those combos are suddenly obsolete just because a super-duper shell has arrived. (I do believe that it is an unbelievably awesome shell, btw.)
I believe that the Supreme, High Velocity, and SuperX loads by Winchester will still sell well. But each year, more and more people will likely migrate to the new Longbeard shells. It's already happened before with HTL. All it takes is for a bunch of people, especially those on TV to start claiming that they are 60-70 Yard shells.
I guess I like the idea of having 40+ Yard shells, and Under 40 Yard Shells for different situations. It seems that most people will sacrifice everything in order to gain the tightest possible pattern at 40 Yards. Some combos pattern great at 30, 35, & 40 Yards; but may not be the very tightest combo at 40 Yards.
It will be interesting to see how the Lead Turkey load market shifts over time.
I refuse to buy them simply because I don't want to jump on the bandwagon.
Quote from: CASH on March 09, 2014, 07:17:42 AM
I refuse to buy them simply because I don't want to jump on the bandwagon.
IMO your not missing much. Last year I did jump on the Thug bandwagon (but they never said you could shoot 60 yards) and they work great still for me. No sense in using the Win LB when I still have 4 boxes of them.
Quote from: 29810434 on March 08, 2014, 08:55:37 PM
still use Winchester supreme.No need to change I never shoot over 40 yards anyway.
Now Double xx, but yeah this.
I have 5 boxes of Winchester "Supreme" HV 3.5" #6 shot. They throw excellent patterns out of my Benelli SBE and really knock-em dead. I see NO reason to change.