Well I finally got out to do a little shooting today. Even though conditions weren't ideal I did get a few decent patterns. In past years, I've always used a Hevishot shell for long range/field load and keep a couple of Winchester XX Mag 3-2-6s just in case I set up where visibility is limited. Well this year I picked up a box of the Winchester HV 3.5-2-6s thinking they should pattern about the same as their slower counterpart being the payload was the same. Well, as the pics show my gun does not like the high velocity stuff. Some of the patterns are off the aim point a good bit since I was using the lead to dial in the sights before I tried the Hevi 7.
All shot at a lasered 40.5 yards
Temp: 42 F with slight crosswind
Benelli Nova 26" barrel w/ jellyhead .655 choke
Winchester 3-2-6 122 hitsWinchester 3.5-2-6 (2 different shots. The first one was so bad I thought maybe it was a fluke but the second one just confirmed that they didn't like my setup)70 hits
80 hits
Next I had a few #4s left from years back so I gave them a run
Winchester 3-2-4 77 hitsWinchester 3-1.75-4 66 hitsFinally, the money shot!
Hevi-13 3.5-2.25-7 298 hits Overall it looks like my gun doesn't like the Win. HV loads at all and prefers the Win. XX Mag in lead. After shooting that Hevi 7 pattern I remembered a store that had some of last years shells left over so Monday I'm going to clean them out of lot #300325