Do a lot of reading about on this page. Tons of Hevi 7 stuff, but not much about the Federal 7s. I got the 20 ga rig to set up for next year and Im thinking the Federal 7 is the way to go.
And there's agood reason for that. Flite control wad seems to be the main culprit. These loads just don't seem to pattern as well as the Hevi-13 loads. Federal doesn't seem to want to change their wad anytime soon. Nor will they up the loads in the 12GA offerings.
Im more interested in its performance and how it hits than how many pellets its puts in a 10 inch circle. Im sure a lot less 15g 7s have to hit bone than a 12g 7s to get the job done. Does it seem to be a consistant load with a nice even spread pattern or are they all over the board with holes in the pattern? With the right choke does it seem to peak at forty or were there guys getting 50 yard guns out of this load? Any pictures of mushed heads with them at longer ranges 35 to 50?
Truth be told. If I have 30 to 40 pellets in a 10 inch circle at 40 yards, Im pulling the trigger, cant break that habit from my lead number 4 days.
I have not tried them in my 20 yet. Have a small stash of tss 8. Some of the guys have written about good #'s with that shell. Some guns will shoot that flight control wad. :anim_25:
I like how they pattern in my 870 20ga with a 21" barrel. With a hastings .562, I get an average the low 170's in the 10" at 40yds. I didn't get to test them in the field, so I can't tell you how they perform on the real thing.
168 in 10" at 40yds
(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd311/livin2gohuntin/pattern2011005.jpg)
174 in 10" at 40yds
(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd311/livin2gohuntin/pattern2011003.jpg)
Shane
TrkyHntr.......thanks, that helps. im setting up a youth model rem 870. Didnt measure the barrel.
Thats a pretty good even pattern, I like how its spread and as a plus looks like its putting up good numbers. How bad does it open up from 40 to 45 or 40 to 50.
I haven't tried them past 40yds.
Shane
They have been consistent for me in my 870 20 gauge. I had good numbers with a carlson .575 and remington super full choke tube. Shot one at 32 steps and they worked fine. Ill keep shooting them in my 870.
Rem 870 12g Hastings .665
200 in a 10in circle @ 40yds with the Fed HW 7's
Have tryed them in numerous other 12's with different chokes and no success.
Beretta 390 20g Pure Gold .570
Hevi 13 7's patterned better than the Fed HW 7's at 35 and 40yds despite having less shot.
*The Fed HW 7's seem to love the non ported Hastings chokes. Flight Control seems to be the issue.
Its a smokin shell in the 12 at 1300 fps..Its all in the choke as to what you get out of the pattern.. for hunting 125-150 pellets in a 10 at 40 is fine. The FCW in my opinion does more for marketing towards new shooters than it does for performance. "Flight control wad" just sounds magical to some. The 300 pellet count patterns from the much slower popular 12 gram shells is hard to look at after patterning with HW.. You can get your pellet count up with that shell though. Look for long parralel non ported chokes. You will get more density in your pattern than flush full chokes.
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee288/gobbler74/Pattern%20Pics%202010/IMG_0562.jpg)
I shoot Federal HW 7s in my 20 gauge. I have actullay seen the results from people I know with these shells. The Hevi 7s produce a lot of talk. I am getting a new Remington 870 20 gauge this offseason and going to use these shells with a Truglo SSX. I have a good buddy who shoots that setup in a 20 gauge 11-87 and is putting up 185-205 at 40 yards in 10". Seen his kills with the shells and they are devasting. In my 835 I am sticking with Hevi 6s or either Mag Blends, but in my 20 I will definitely be shooting Federal HW 3-1.5-7. Good luck!
Quote from: savduck on May 17, 2011, 09:21:42 PM
Do a lot of reading about on this page. Tons of Hevi 7 stuff, but not much about the Federal 7s. I got the 20 ga rig to set up for next year and Im thinking the Federal 7 is the way to go.
Check out the 20 ga section. There are lots of discussions about that load with patterns. Here are a few of mine.
http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,2473.0.html
http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,2474.0.html
Quite a few more just search and you will find that they are a VERY GOOD load out of the 20's.
150 or so is fine with that shell..I like coverage patterns myself for hunting. Some complain that is doesn't shoot 300. Others complain when its too much. I switched to pure gold tempest for that shell and get @180. That pellet means business..tss is one of if not the only advantage.
I have both shells and although I can generally get more shot with the H-13 load,I prefer the Federal HW7 load . If you can get a decent pattern from the Fed I would go with it. Th eFCW in 20 gauge is much more pliable than the wad in 12 and is more forgiving. They have also shown strong patterns in more open chokes with some preferring the factory full or ex full. I like the ones in the 560 range like 562 . Right now you can purchase some H-13 and still get a rebate . Check both mfgrs for rebates.
Ammo is going up June 1 again.
If they would bump up the payload (you get fewer 15g pellets per ounce already), I might try 'em. Heck, I would even trade some velocity for more pellets. But for right now, I have no need.
Quote from: gobbler74 on May 18, 2011, 08:22:06 AM
150 or so is fine with that shell..I like coverage patterns myself for hunting. Some complain that is doesn't shoot 300. Others complain when its too much. I switched to pure gold tempest for that shell and get @180. That pellet means business..tss is one of if not the only advantage.
Thats the same theory I have. Its pretty awesome to see all those pellets in a cerel bowl pattern, but at long range it doesnt take a whole lot to not have a pattern that tight on target.
Thanks for all the replies fellas. This is exactly what i was after.
Quote from: davisd9 on May 18, 2011, 07:14:29 AM
I shoot Federal HW 7s in my 20 gauge. I have actullay seen the results from people I know with these shells. The Hevi 7s produce a lot of talk. I am getting a new Remington 870 20 gauge this offseason and going to use these shells with a Truglo SSX. I have a good buddy who shoots that setup in a 20 gauge 11-87 and is putting up 185-205 at 40 yards in 10". Seen his kills with the shells and they are devasting. In my 835 I am sticking with Hevi 6s or either Mag Blends, but in my 20 I will definitely be shooting Federal HW 3-1.5-7. Good luck!
2ounce6s brings up a good point about the close shot with the wad. I might try some Mag Blends and see what they look like. I need to shoot the shells at 40 yards and 10-15 yards to know exactly what I am getting myself into. Thanks for the heads up! :)
I am switching to them exclusively in my 20 gauge this year. I ordered a couple Trulock chokes to try and a few boxes of shells. I plan to shoot them.
Quote from: savduck on May 17, 2011, 10:57:56 PM
TrkyHntr.......thanks, that helps. im setting up a youth model rem 870. Didnt measure the barrel.
Thats a pretty good even pattern, I like how its spread and as a plus looks like its putting up good numbers. How bad does it open up from 40 to 45 or 40 to 50.
They weren't even close to being as good for me in my son's 870 youth, 21" barrel, with Remington SF choke. A spotty 140-150 pellets in a 10" circle at 30 yards vs. 220+ with zero holes in it. We're staying with the Hevi-13 7's for that reason.
Quote from: Spuriosity on May 18, 2011, 01:01:56 PM
As has been pointed out, the HW 7s don't put up the numbers that HS 7s do, but they certainly do bring the heat. According to the ballistic calculator, a HW 7 pellet launched at 1300 fps will penetrate as deeply into ballistic gel @ 93 yds as a HS 7 @ 1090 will @ 49 yds. I just wish Fed would load 8s; penetration would still be more than adequate and pattern numbers would improve dramatically.
Id like to get my hands on some of that TSS, but I figure I better find a commercially package round that I will be able to pick up fairly easily. im gonna get some of those 8 and 9 TSS some day. That data is pretty impressive on the federals.
Quote from: 2ounce6s on May 18, 2011, 07:39:42 AM
My main concern with the Fed FC wad is close range (25 yards or less). Better have some very steady aiming because you are almost shooting a rifle with it in a 20ga (and even a 12ga till it gets out there a ways). Take a look at those awesome 40 yard patterns TrkyHntr posted again, not much wiggle room out there and a heck of a lot less closer to the gun. Not knocking your patterns pal but I'm one of those guys who need a little more spread.
No harm done. Everybody has there on preference as to what they want in a pattern. I like my patterns to be able to put a tom down at 40+ yds if needed. I hunt mostly public land, so when one of those hard hunted birds hangs up a little past 40yds, I want to know my gun is still capable of reaching that bird. That bird may not be there the next time I have the chance to hunt him.
Shane