Let's talk... Which one and why? 3.5 2 1/4oz hevi loads....
I've killed with both, straight 7's for me.
Plenty of penetration for way out there and the density through the 20" in case you are off one way or another.
#6's for me. Not knocking the #7's but I have shot them with #6's and #5's only. They both do all I need. Prefer the 6's though.
#6's
In Hevi I live #6
At ethical ranges, and even at ranges which allow for gross misjudgment of range, I've been amazed at the lethality of the Hevi-13, 12 gauge, 2 oz., 3", 7's. At least 85% of the longbeards which I have killed, since their introduction, have been harvested w/ this load. My dedicated turkey gun in 31/2" is a BPS Browning which produces great patterns w/ both the 21/4 oz., Hevi-13, 6's and 7's, but the pattern w/ the Hevi-13, MagBlends, and their knockdown surpasses any load which I have ever evaluated. The performance of the 3", Hevi-13, 7's, has almost precluded me hunting w/ other loads, and my evaluation of the 31/2" Hevi-13, 7's and MagBlends make them my go to loads in 31/2". As an aside, I always put a Hevi-13, 7 in the chamber, and two 6's in the magazine.
Hunt with both. Most consistent results I get are with Hevi 13 3/2/6's and Hevi 13 3/2/7's. If I had to choose it would be 7's. They pattern 270+ out of my guns. 50+ more pellets in a 10" circle @ 40yds with all of my guns. Density as long as there is a decent size pattern at 25yds is my choice every time.
#7 for me, plenty of knockdown and I like having the extra pellets.
#6
I've been shooting #6s, because the #7s aren't available locally. However, I will hunt with either.
I've shot both and killed turkeys with both. I'd have to say though that my favorite and best pattern is with the 3in/2oz/7 Hevi-Shot. They hit hard and it's almost impossible for a turkey to get out of that dense pattern.
Quote from: Longshanks on May 02, 2016, 08:21:46 AM
Hunt with both. Most consistent results I get are with Hevi 13 3/2/6's and Hevi 13 3/2/7's. If I had to choose it would be 7's. They pattern 270+ out of my guns. 50+ more pellets in a 10" circle @ 40yds with all of my guns. Density as long as there is a decent size pattern at 25yds is my choice every time.
What gun and choke is throwing the 270+ patterns?????
straight 7's 12 gauge heavyweight 7's 20 gauge
I prefer sixs but that's what I have always shot and it's what my dad shot and started me on and the htl sixs hit like a hammer.
When I first got my SBE2 w/24" bbl. I paired it up with a Rob Roberts Final Strut .650 choke & H-13 /3.5" / 2.25oz. /#7 shot....fired @ 1090 FPS I was pickin these same pellets out of a piece of 5/8" particle board whereas they hadn't penetrated enough but to be stickin' half way out. Now,I've made this point before on other posts' and folks have said I'm wrong,or 5/8" particle board isn't a turkey head & neck....which IS true(it's not head & neck) ,but as for ME PERSONALLY it didn't then, and, as well now STILL doesn't set well with me. That being said,I got devastating patterns out of this same set-up with the Roberts Final Strut .650 choke tube in the form of 336 hits in a 10" circle @ 40 yards. I have never hunted with this set-up so I can't speak as to it's lethality ....but I can speak on behalf of Federal Heavyweight #7s....they hit HARDER @ 60 YARDS than do lead #5s @ 40 YARDS. They blew COMPLETELY THRU this same 5/8" particle board AT 100 YARDS.....and they (goes without saying) knock turkeys off their feet.....LITERALLY. There are 411 pellets in the 3.5" / 1 7/8oz. load of 7s ....I average around 180 in a 10" circle @ 40yds. I never tested #6 shot in this load,and don't foresee myself or anyone testing them either unless they find some stockpiled,because Federal discontinued them from the HW line and currently only produce #7 shot. I would encourage you to try a box of them and see how they do for you!!!! Oh yea,Federal advises not to shoot ANY of their flite control wad loaded shells thru a ported/wad-stripping choke tube. Trulock makes a Heavyweight specific choke tube that seems to be gettin' good results Trulocks # 800-293-9402-George Trulock (owner) very nice fella,eager to help any way he can.
Hopes this helps,any questions please don't hesitate to gimme a shout on here and even thru my e-mail ( binkbenelli@gmail.com) ifn you need to!!!!! Happy huntin'!!!!!!!!!!!
I used to shoot the hevi13 straight 7s. Took several, several birds with them. No problems at all but the birds weren't quite as dead as I liked. Whatever that means. Switched to 6s and I satisfied my concerns, valid or not
I shoot Heavy13 3" 2oz. #6s and they work so well for me I will likely never try another load.
I have shot birds a little farther than I should have (on accident) and 95% of my birds dont ever even flop!
That load, out of my Stoeger with a Pure Gold choke with rifle sights is more than I could ever ask for or expect.
I love shooting without a scope, and I patterned my gun to make my POA and POI the exact same.
hevi 7 for me. In fact #7 are all I shoot out of 12's or 20's. I love the pattern density.
My 12ga m1 benelli with an ssx and hevi #7 will push 300 at 40 yards. Probably too tight as I have missed birds under 25 yards.
Quote from: SKFOOTER on May 06, 2016, 03:16:44 PM
Quote from: Longshanks on May 02, 2016, 08:21:46 AM
Hunt with both. Most consistent results I get are with Hevi 13 3/2/6's and Hevi 13 3/2/7's. If I had to choose it would be 7's. They pattern 270+ out of my guns. 50+ more pellets in a 10" circle @ 40yds with all of my guns. Density as long as there is a decent size pattern at 25yds is my choice every time.
What gun and choke is throwing the 270+ patterns?????
Beretta Xtrema 2 / Hevi 13 Choke 333 in a 10 @ 40. 3.5/2.25/7's
Beretta Outlander/ Jeb's .660. 270's in a 10 @ 40 3/2/7's
Rem 870/ Indian Creek .665. 289 in a 10 @ 40. 3/2/7's
Rem 870/ Hevi 13 Choke 250's-270's in a 10 @ 40. 3/2/7's
*Maximum performance inside 40yds has always been my goal.
*Shot several patterns over 270 out of a 870sm and Ventilator .655 (lead only choke so backed off of that)
*The 870's have been polished and deep cleaned.
*Berettas have just been deep cleaned.
*Beretta Outlander will turn 220's with Hevi 13 3/2/6's (Set up I hunted with this year)
7s for me, but I prefer the Federal load.
I have had some great success hunting with the Fed HW 7's. Just reached the point after allot of testing that I have more confidence with the Hevi 13 putting an average 100 more pellets in a 10 @ 40. Less gaps in the patterns, less expensive shells, and easier to find. Haven't seen any Fed HW 12 gauge 3" 7's in a store in allot of years.
Quote from: Longshanks on May 20, 2016, 05:05:20 PM
I have had some great success hunting with the Fed HW 7's. Just reached the point after allot of testing that I have more confidence with the Hevi 13 putting on average 100 more pellets in a 10 @ 40. Less gaps in the patterns, less expensive shells, and easier to find. Haven't seen any Fed HW 12 gauge 3" 7's in a store in allot of years.
I and others that hunt with me really like the HW 7's.
They are cheaper around here,have a better rebate I believe 10 bucks instead of 5? We get o 140-190 or so in the 10"
And around 270- 300 in the 20 with 3" shells in the 12 and 20 gauge so do have a lot less in the 10'" than with Hevi, at least with the 12 but it is enough for us. Have used for years prior the Hevi 6's in the 20 gauges and they were great but only got 120's or so in the 10". Magblends in the 12 gauges before we went to HW7's with patterns about the same as HW7's. Wish Fed would put a bit more shot in the 12 gauge 3"'though it is what it is.
Quote from: owlhoot on May 20, 2016, 06:50:16 PM
Quote from: Longshanks on May 20, 2016, 05:05:20 PM
I have had some great success hunting with the Fed HW 7's. Just reached the point after allot of testing that I have more confidence with the Hevi 13 putting on average 100 more pellets in a 10 @ 40. Less gaps in the patterns, less expensive shells, and easier to find. Haven't seen any Fed HW 12 gauge 3" 7's in a store in allot of years.
I and others that hunt with me really like the HW 7's.
They are cheaper around here,have a better rebate I believe 10 bucks instead of 5? We get o 140-190 or so in the 10"
And around 270- 300 in the 20 with 3" shells in the 12 and 20 gauge so do have a lot less in the 10'" than with Hevi, at least with the 12 but it is enough for us. Have used for years prior the Hevi 6's in the 20 gauges and they were great but only got 120's or so in the 10". Magblends in the 12 gauges before we went to HW7's with patterns about the same as HW7's. Wish Fed would put a bit more shot in the 12 gauge 3"'though it is what it is.
Would love to see a Fed HW 7 shell in a 3" with 2 ounces of shot. That would be serious. I guess it's just the weight of the shot or the wad they use that prevents them from doing that. We shoot the Fed HW 7's out of our Beretta 20 gauge. 170's in a 10 @ 40 and it turned the 20 gauge into a legitimate 40yd gun. Great setup for my kids and wife and I have harvested a couple of turkeys with it as well. Can't figure out why our local basspro stopped carrying the Fed HW 3" 7's in 12 gauge. Hevi 13 3/2/7's are $23.99 a box with a $20.00 rebate if you buy two boxes. $13.99 a box. There are some deals on shells right now.
Can't beat that price after rebates and your right, now at 10 bucks per box . In addition my local bass pro wants 28 a box for 3" 12 gauge. Crazy different prices in stores.
I was paying 22 and change for HW. 12 gauge at least last year.
I like the 6 in heavyweight 3in shell outta 675 constriction it'll throw knockdown amd I'm very confident in it so it's a mind thing on that end lol
7's
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7s are the answer.
2016's 7s.
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