Hevi 13, Mag Blend, or Win. Ext. Range??

[Chris Downs]

I've been shooting an 870 SPS-T for years, with a Kicks GT tube and Win HV Supreme 3.5 #5s.  No real complaints about this combination, but have thought in recent years about trying some of the hevi shot or ext. range shells.  I'm willing to get another choke and try some of the expensive stuff, but don't really know where to start.  I've heard some good stuff about hevi shot and the Indian Creek tubes, but never seen them in action.  I know each gun is different and I'll have to pattern it to find out what it likes to eat...just want some info from guys that have used the shells mentioned and what chokes work best for you.  Thanks guys.

[FttFttVroom!]

Here are some load/choke combos from my 870 SM with 23" barrel......all are 3.5 inch loads

Winchester XRHD 6's / .665 Kicks GT = 179 hits in the ten @40yds

Hevi 13 6's / Jellyhead .660 = 173 hits in the ten @40yds

Hevi Magnum Blend / Jellyhead .660 = 186 hits in the ten @40yds

Hevi 13 7's / Jellyhead .660 = 271 hits in the ten @40yds

[Gobble!]

Right now I'm using:
870 SM
.665 Indian Creek
Hevi13 3.5" 2.25oz #7s
324 in a 10" circle at 40 yards
Only shot from that lot I fired at 40

In the past I used te same gun and choke but with
Hevi13 3.5" 2.25oz #6
196 in a 10" circle at 40 yards
Only shot I fired at 40

[HuntSource]

Yep, you have to align your load with the choke in your gun. That said, I haven't had much success with #6s in Winchester's XR load. (I don't really see the point in #5 in the XR version.)

I like straight Hevi-13s in #6 and #7 rather than the blend. With tight chokes to maintain core pattern density, the #6 load will give you a few more yards of maximum range due to its greater penetration ability. The #7 will allow you a wider, more forgiving pattern if you use a more open choke, yet still retain adequate core pattern density to the range it will still penetrate adequately, which is well beyond 40yd.

Back to the blend, there just aren't many #5 or #6 shot in that load in the few shells I've cut to inspect. I found roughly 5/8oz of those pellets in a 3", 2oz load, which means that it's 1 3/8oz of #7. I don't think many would argue that 5/8oz of larger shot would extend the range of the load. Thus, you're still limited to the maximum penetration range of #7. Nitro infers blending helps the quality of patterns, but I haven't seen it. Some would argue the merits of the higher velocity the blend is presumably driven (i.e. 1200 vs 1090fps), but the difference is less than 50fps in the loads I've chronographed.

[HuntSource]

As for choke tubes, I've tried many of them. IC is good for sure. However, I have had the best success to date with the Rhino for Hevi-13 #6s and more open (i.e. .665") Jeb's for Hevi #7s. Even so, once you start getting into that class of choke, very few of them are really poor performers. Sumtoy and Rob Roberts both make great chokes as does Pure Gold. I'd buy (or borrow if you can) a few to test and see what works in your gun.

[Chris Downs]

Thanks guys...really appreciate the info and suggestions.

[SKFOOTER]

What size is your Kick's choke Chris??

[archery1]

BOY...........I AM SURPRISED ON THE LOW REPLY RATE

[bawana]

Here's my results:

Rem870 SM 3.5 shells

Hevishot #7 Carlson's .660  224/10@40

Magblend Remington .670 193/10@40  with 3 inch shells 196/10@40

Federal HW #7 Carlson's .660  164/10@40

All the patterns look good, with a minimum of 10 kills to a maximum of 18. I know any of them will kill a bird, still not sure which I'm going to use.

[Chris Downs]

What size is your Kick's choke Chris??

.655...works great with 5s and 6s in the Win Supreme HV shells I shoot.