effective range of hevi-7's?

[bbcoach]

Have I missed something with the Hevi 7's.  I have used them exclusively for the last 8 or 9 years and have killed numerous birds with them.  One at a lasered 38 yards that was stone dead as soon as I pulled the trigger.  Every bird I killed with 7's, except one, have been stone dead.  What am I missing here?

[Borden811]

You're not missing a thing.  I've had the same experiences as you, as well as several buddy's I hunt with.  Some people love them, and have had nothing but success with them. For others, they've had different experiences, or heard they're ineffective, and feel the opposite way about them. I've only experienced great patterns, and very dead birds, every time I've pulled the trigger.  If it ain't broke...

[g8rvet]

Have I missed something with the Hevi 7's.  I have used them exclusively for the last 8 or 9 years and have killed numerous birds with them.  One at a lasered 38 yards that was stone dead as soon as I pulled the trigger.  Every bird I killed with 7's, except one, have been stone dead.  What am I missing here?

Sounds like you have missed nothing.  Literally!   

[bbcoach]

Just checking.  I saw a couple of posts with negative comments so it got me to thinking.  Every time I've pulled the trigger, it's been DIRTNAP period!!!!!  They have NEVER let me down.

[stinkpickle]

I had a low flyer on a 35 yard shot from a 3/2/7 completely penetrate the breast of a bird and end up just under the skin on the other side.  They penetrate just fine.  Also, the amount of flop isn't a good indicator of shell effectiveness.

[chipper]

In normal ranges 45 yards and in they are effective, I've killed a pile with them. They are too slow in my opinion from Environ Metal, the Nitro load and my handloaded shells are another animal all together, at 1200 fps they are extremely deadly to farther than should be shot.

[CrustyRusty]

I have had mixed results with the 7's, although they pattern very nicely on paper.  But I get great patterns and results as well with hevi 6's at 40 yards so I don't see the need for the 7's. 

I agree with others however and wish they were a bit faster.

[BINK McCARTY]

I had a low flyer on a 35 yard shot from a 3/2/7 completely penetrate the breast of a bird and end up just under the skin on the other side.  They penetrate just fine.  Also, the amount of flop isn't a good indicator of shell effectiveness.

I'm glad to see someone besides myself recognizes that the "flop factor" doesn't say a lot!!! My experience with 3.5/2.25/7 is an AWESOME pattern @ 40 =336 in the 10"....however,when I pulled the paper off the board there were pellets falling off from in between the paper & the board,and I KNOW they were from that load because it was a brand new piece of board!!! I also shot lead #5s and they penetrated further into the board than did the hevi-7s. As many have commented on here,I believe they are goin too slow (1090) as compared to the Magblend @ 1200fps. I believe the ONLY way to decide is to try them out!!