870 question

[jblackburn]

With all the information abour Hevi-13 and the magnum blend, I can't help but want to try it out, despite the cost per shell.  All my birds have been taken with an 835 using Winchester Supreme #6s, and well, I have an if it ain't broke, don't fix it attitude about my Mossy.

That being said, I won an 870 Express at a calling contest last year and have not really found a load that makes me happy. I'm also going to get a new choke. 

Basically, what brand an diameter of chokes are working for you guys that have newer 870s shooting hevi-13 or the blend?  Any info on where to start looking would be helpful.  I've read good things about Indian Creek and Pure Gold chokes and was wondering if what other options would be good.

Thanks!

[Hersh]

I have been using a Primos tightwad choke tube in mine and have had good success with it. Dont know the actual constriction on it though.

[gooblnfever]

i shoot a rhino .660 in my 870 and it performs great

[Shellwaster]

I've got a custom single shot with an Indian Creek choke with .660 constriction. I first started shooting 3" Hevi13 2oz #6 with a consistant pattern of 210-215 in a 10" circle at 40 yards. I recently experimented with this choke in my 870 with 3" Nitro #4,5,7 blend and at 20 yards I had 100% of the shot in a 10 inch circle.
IMO the Indian Creek is a good choice. I've recently bought a Rhino .660 for the 870 and can hardly wait to compare the two.

[njdevilsb]

I have been using a Primos tightwad choke tube in mine and have had good success with it. Dont know the actual constriction on it though.

This choke isn't mentioned very often, but my dad has one in his 870 shooting Hevi #7's and it put up some high numbers, in the 280's at 40 yards.  It surprised both of us honestly.  I believe that choke is a .660.

[allaboutshooting]

With all the information abour Hevi-13 and the magnum blend, I can't help but want to try it out, despite the cost per shell.  All my birds have been taken with an 835 using Winchester Supreme #6s, and well, I have an if it ain't broke, don't fix it attitude about my Mossy.

That being said, I won an 870 Express at a calling contest last year and have not really found a load that makes me happy. I'm also going to get a new choke. 

Basically, what brand an diameter of chokes are working for you guys that have newer 870s shooting hevi-13 or the blend?  Any info on where to start looking would be helpful.  I've read good things about Indian Creek and Pure Gold chokes and was wondering if what other options would be good.

Thanks!

I shoot several 870s both in 12 gauge and 20 gauge. They are just good guns, reliable and can throw excellent patterns. I would encourage you to really clean, "deep clean" the bore of that gun. The last one I purchased needed some time spent making sure all the "gunk" that usually is in them was cleaned out.

The standard Hevi-13 and the Magmum Blend shells all do well in those guns. I prefer the standard loads with #6 or #7 shot but it's all really a matter of personal choice.

Chokes that do well for me in those guns include the SSX, Wright's #3, Pure Gold, JEB's and Hevi-13 turkey chokes. All different designs but all do well. I'd be happy to go to the turkey woods with any of them.

I hope that helps some.

Thanks,
Clark

[West Augusta]

I bought a 24" barrel for my Express. A .665 Jellyhead and a Limbsaver pad to tame the 3.5" MagBlends which throw 265's at 40. Before all that I was getting very poor numbers.

[rempumpman]

Have shot the 870 for over 40 years now and it's still my choice in shotguns; there are so many great choices in shells and chokes but I use nothing but the remington nitro's thru a jellyhead choke and can tell you that nothing escapes death when I pull the trigger; I don't shoot 3.5 in shells but there are many here on this forum that do and they are more able to help you in that area; use only 3 inch mags and to be completely honest with you, I use a lot of 2 3/4 inch magnums shells to kill alot of my turkeys; the older I get, the more joy I have in trying to get my turkeys in 25 yards or less; at that distance (no further than 25 yards) alot of well made 2 3/4 in mags shells will do the job every time; my brand choice of shells has always been remington; trust me, there are alot of great shells by other brands as well and to each his own, but for me those "green turkey slayers" have never failed me yet;

Good luck this spring......rem

[ncturkey]

I think that Indian Creek and Pure Gold chokes would do well with the Hevi 13 or the Mag-Blend loads. I have both of those chokes. I have not shot the Pure Gold yet. But I have shot the Indian Creek with Hevi 13 3"- 2 oz - #6 loads in my Remington 11-87. They pattern well in my gun. Good Luck with your 870.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Pure Gold or Indian Creek .670 both shoot about identical patterns.  My .669 Indian Creek shot excellent that I used to have.  But so does my Pure Gold .670.  Both are great chokes, and both stand behind what they sell.  

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Another good choke if you can find it is the MAD Super MAX .675 choke and the Hevi-13 2oz #7 loads.  I'll show you what I call a tremendous pattern from a 2oz load of 7's.  

Here's the 10".  Now I originally counted this one at like 318 shot, but I recounted and thought I may have been high.  But it really is very hard  to tell on a lot of these shot that overlap.  But it's somewhere in between.



And here's the 20" pattern.  Anytime you can put 500 shot or very close to it in a 20" circle from this load at 40yds tape measured you have dang near done the impossible from my findings.  Most chokes do good to put even 460.

[jblackburn]

Awesome info!  Thank you all so much!  I will keep you all posted as to what I do and will hopefull have some awesome pattern pictures to post!

[jblackburn]

Ok, so assuming I can find one, I think I am going to go with the Indian Creek choke.  I have been reading posts here on OG and reviews from other sites about shells, and I am not sure what direction to go.

Here is what I am thinking:

Magnum Blend - I like the idea of different shot sizes, more numbers than straight 5s, but fewer than 7's. So the question is, are effective. (I understand they will kill, but for the price per 5 that I will pay for these or the hevi-13, I want the best performance possible).

Hevi 13 6 or 7 - 6s biggers size, more energy at the 40 - 50 yard mark, 7s smaller less energy at a distance, but more numbers.

Ok, so between the hevi 13 6's and 7s, what are most of you preferring?  Anyone know what the energy difference between the two is at 40?