My secrets to the FCW

[Rockhound]

ok guys ive seen alot of post on the fcw and people trying to figure them dang things out so i though i would share. I have not shot the heavyweights at all reason being nobody carries them around here but i have shot alot of the lead.

Gun #1
Mossberg 835 ultim mag 20" barrel
Kicks 660
Federal 2oz #5s with fcw (cp lead)
I have not shot cardboard but shot turkey targets and consistently put 140s on the target, My last target is in the patterning section with 140 on paper and my densest part of the pattern is cut almost in half. If i was going to count i would say conservativly 160 in a 10 at lazered 40
Gun #2 #3 #4
Win. 1300, Mossberg 5500 mkii, Browning invector
Kicks 660
Fed 2oz #5 (cp lead)
the reason im putting all guns in same category here is all take same chokes and same choke was used. All three of these guns with this choke and shell combo put up consistently 140s+ in a ten at lazered 40
Gun #3
Browning bps 10 gauge
Kicks 690
Fed 2oz #5 (cp lead)
Ive only done limited patterning out of this gun with these shells and at lazered 40 put up around 115. but when i shot out of factory full choke it only put about 20 in the whole turkey target. Im going to try these shells out of a 680 sometime soon.



my conclusion is these shells need to be choked TIGHT and you will get extremely great numbers with them. These are the only brand chokes i have experimented with at the present time but i feel if you choke these shells down alot more that your normal wadded shell you will be more than pleased with results.



And on a side note when you figure these shells out the Hornady turkey loads will NO longer be considered junk...

[CASH]

There's an excellent article in the latest issue of Turkey Country magazine about shooting FCW's and which chokes to shoot them out of.

[Quax]

I've shot the FCW HW 7s out of my invector plus for last 3 seasons using a .660 nonported Hastings with good luck as well. My mobil choked Franchi shoots them well out of a .655. All 3" guns. Trulocks new HW 7 tubes are gonna be choked down as well. So yes, I think your right in many instances.

[packmule]

I agree with your observations from the limited testing I've done.  I shoot a 26" invector + BPS and got pretty poor patterns with a .585 Hastings and a .570 PG tempest shooting 3" #5s.  On a whim I tried a .643 SSX and the patterns have been really good with that combo. 

[darron]

I agree with your observations from the limited testing I've done.  I shoot a 26" invector + BPS and got pretty poor patterns with a .585 Hastings and a .570 PG tempest shooting 3" #5s.  On a whim I tried a .643 SSX and the patterns have been really good with that combo. 

I tried shooting the Feds through my SSX (20ga) last week and they put up better numbers than the hevi 7's. IN fact I increased my 10" count by almost 50 shots.

I plan to run some 12ga fed 7's through my ssx in my benelli M1 and see how it compares to the hevi 7's this week. The hevi 7's threw a heck of pattern. Due to their weight, even if I dropped lets say 30-40 I would still switch over to the feds just because they are heavier. I would need at least 200-225 to think about switching over. Anything less than 200 and I will stick with the hevi 7's.

[sippy cup]

I use a 675 non ported undertaker with them in my 870 I'm very pleased with that setup .

[Lucky Clucker]

I like the #5 in fcw, in my 3.5 single shot 12ga. It shoots them tight at 40,I just tried some of the new hornady's in 3 in,,#5. 1.5 oz and it did not shoot them worth a hoot, My gun is a full choke ,aat 40 yard it put about 12 pellets in the paper, not good, I would bet a tighter choke will produce better results, I'm going to get some heavy weight #7 for this gun ,hope it works.

[Rockhound]

I like the #5 in fcw, in my 3.5 single shot 12ga. It shoots them tight at 40,I just tried some of the new hornady's in 3 in,,#5. 1.5 oz and it did not shoot them worth a hoot, My gun is a full choke ,aat 40 yard it put about 12 pellets in the paper, not good, I would bet a tighter choke will produce better results, I'm going to get some heavy weight #7 for this gun ,hope it works.

Interesting i wander what the difference is I personally have not tried the hornady rounds just have speculated they would work the same. I MIGHT BE WRONG lol If my local dicks run them on sale for 5 dollars a box after season this year like they did last i may stock up on a few and test them through some chokes. If they dont shoot good ill just bust crows or something with ehtm

[devin4484]

Rockhound I have one question regarding your kicks choke for the 835.  Where did you get the .660?  Smallest I've seen for the 835 from Kicks is .670.

[Lucky Clucker]

I compared the wads from the FCW and the hornady wad,they sre almost Identicle, the flaps on the hornady are more flimsy and longer,but the wad is a bit thicker and a 1/4 in shorter,I think some of the shot escape the wad from the flaps,thew pattern looked like a sawed off gun had shot it,they hit hard but my gun did not like them, the FCW in buckshot and 5's pattern like a dream though, out of 00buck 12 pellets, it puts them in a 14 in . circle at 40 yards, we have dropped deer dead at 70 with them.

[Rockhound]

Rockhound I have one question regarding your kicks choke for the 835.  Where did you get the .660?  Smallest I've seen for the 835 from Kicks is .670.

It use to be there card shooter but they make a 665 now as there smallest