Numbers With Other Than #7's

[Neill_Prater]

The ammo of choice around here seems to be Hevi 13's, number 7's in particular, but I'm sure many of you have played around with, and/or hunted with other shells, so I'm wondering what is considered a good pattern for, say, Winchester Xtendeds 3-13/4-6 loads? Obviously, with a quarter ounce less load, and slightly larger shot, the count is probably going to be significantly lower than some of the numbers posted with the 7's, but I'm curious what those numbers are? What about #5's? 

I've never bothered to count pellet holes in the past, but realize it gives a benchmark against which to measure. For example, I shot a Hevi 7 through my old 11-87 with the Lohman choke last week, and got a 40 yard count of around 190. I thought that was great, compared to what I've hunted with for years, but realize some tweaking could improve that by perhaps 20%. I'm guessing that the count with Xtended 6's, with which I've hunted for several years, and taken several birds at 50 yards or farther, would be 100 or less, but would have to do some counting to tell for sure.

Anyway, I'm just curious. Neill

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

I haven't shot the Winchester Xtended Range shells, but I have shot the Hevi-13 3" 1.75oz #6 loads.  Not all will shoot this good, but here's one I did manage to shoot that was real good for that load.  

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

I had the wrong picture.  I got it fixed now. 

[mossy835]

I had the wrong picture.  I got it fixed now. 

Really a nice tight pattern, I would use it all day long.

[jfair]

I shoot an 11-87 in 3.5 inch.  With Jellyhead .665 and with Hevi 6's I average 180.  I only put through one shot with 7's and I really liked them as they shot same POI as 6's and I got 242.  Mag blends were in the 160's I think - I didn't count them.  Up until this year I shot the Federal FCW 6's 2.25 ounce loads and I was getting consistently in the 110's with the factory super full choke.  I have tried all sizes of lead in most brands and the larger the size the worse my gun patterned.  4's are terrible in my gun.  The best I can get is in the 70's.

[goblr77]

835 Star Dot Hevi 2.25 oz 6's.

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[Reloader]

One of my better setups with  the 3" 1.75oz #6 XRs is a 1300 with a Star Dot .667 choke for 140-160 hits at 40yds.  It still gave 100-110 hits in the 10 at 50yds.  A solid 50-52yd head knocker for sure.

I was never able to get H13 type patterns with that shell in my other turkey guns, but it was a solid 45-50yd performer in most.  They usually gave 10-30 more hits than the best lead loads, but held counts further than lead.

With the 3-2-6 H13s and the OW H13 6s I was able to get 190-225 hits depending on which rig and usually held kill patterns a touch past 50yds.  I have never matched the patterns of the 3-2-6 with the 3.5-2.25-6 shells in any gun, but enough on this forum have to consider them a good shell. 

If all you desire is a solid 50yd rig, h13 6s, MBs, or ER 6s will usually do it with the proper choke for the gun at hand.  H13 7s are so popular because they increase the hit count hence increase the effective range.

Good Luck

Reloader

[new2turkey]

This is with a TruGlo GobbleStopper Xtreme choke and 1 5/8oz 3 inch 6s Hevi...


Wish I would've picked up 2oz but I didn't realize I picked a lighter load. I would only expect patterns to imprive with the 2oz load.

[archery1]

I SHOT THE OTHER WEEK WITH MY MOSSBERG 835 WITH A SUMTOY CHOKE @ 60 DEGREES ,LIGHT WINDS..  ALL 3" SHELLS. FEDERAL MAG SHOK 6 SHOT 2 OZ. I GOT 130 IN A 10" AT 40 YARDS.. 3" SHELL HEVI 6 SHOT  2 OZ. I GOT 200 HITS IN A 10" @ 40 YARDS AN 3"  HEVI 7'S   2OZ. SHOT  I GOT 251 IN A 10" AT 40 YARDS. THE FEDARAL MAG SHOK 3" 5 SHOT 2 OZ. DIDNT PUT UP 100 HITS AT 40 YARDS. I DIDNT PATTERN ANY 3.5" SHELLS AS OF YET OR ANY WINCHESTER XTND RANGE

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Here's another one for you.

MAD Max .680 Moss 835 Hevi-13 3.5" 2 and 1/4oz #6

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

I'm just the opposite or at least in my 835.  The 3" Hevi-13 loads won't even come close to shooting with the bigger 3.5" loads.  It's nite and day difference.  

[Gobble!]

Remington 870
.665 Indian Creek
Hevi13 3.5" 2.25oz #6s
194 in a 10" circle at 40 yards