Straight 7s vs straight 6s?

[TheSportsman]

Let's talk... Which one and why? 3.5 2 1/4oz hevi loads....

[Tom Foolery]

I've killed with both, straight 7's for me.


Plenty of penetration for way out there and the density through the 20" in case you are off one way or another.

[Happy]

#6's for me. Not knocking the #7's but I have shot them with #6's and #5's only. They both do all I need. Prefer the 6's though.

[surehuntsalot]

#6's

[Gooserbat]

In Hevi I live #6

[decoykrvr]

At ethical ranges, and even at ranges which allow for gross misjudgment of range,  I've been amazed at the lethality of the Hevi-13, 12 gauge, 2 oz., 3", 7's.  At least 85% of the longbeards which I have killed, since their introduction, have been harvested w/ this load.  My dedicated turkey gun in 31/2" is a BPS Browning which produces great patterns w/ both the 21/4 oz., Hevi-13, 6's and 7's, but the pattern w/ the Hevi-13, MagBlends, and their knockdown surpasses any load which I have ever evaluated.  The performance of the 3", Hevi-13, 7's, has almost precluded me hunting w/ other loads, and my evaluation of the 31/2" Hevi-13, 7's and MagBlends make them my go to loads in 31/2".  As an aside, I always put a Hevi-13, 7 in the chamber, and two 6's in the magazine.

[Longshanks]

Hunt with both. Most consistent results I get are with Hevi 13 3/2/6's and Hevi 13 3/2/7's. If I had to choose it would be 7's.  They pattern 270+ out of my guns. 50+ more pellets in a 10" circle @ 40yds with all of my guns. Density as long as there is a decent size pattern at 25yds is my choice every time.

[birdhunterdave]

#7 for me, plenty of knockdown and I like having the extra pellets.

[longislandloco]

#6

[stinkpickle]

I've been shooting #6s, because the #7s aren't available locally.  However, I will hunt with either.

[pdaugherty]

I've shot both and killed turkeys with both. I'd have to say though that my favorite and best pattern is with the 3in/2oz/7 Hevi-Shot. They hit hard and it's almost impossible for a turkey to get out of that dense pattern.

[SKFOOTER]

Hunt with both. Most consistent results I get are with Hevi 13 3/2/6's and Hevi 13 3/2/7's. If I had to choose it would be 7's.  They pattern 270+ out of my guns. 50+ more pellets in a 10" circle @ 40yds with all of my guns. Density as long as there is a decent size pattern at 25yds is my choice every time.

What gun and choke is throwing the 270+ patterns??

[bluetick58]

straight 7's 12 gauge heavyweight 7's 20 gauge

[Waynesworld23]

I prefer sixs but that's what I have always shot and it's what my dad shot and started me on and the htl sixs hit like a hammer.

[BINK McCARTY]

When I first got my SBE2 w/24" bbl. I paired it up with a Rob Roberts Final Strut .650 choke & H-13 /3.5" / 2.25oz. /#7 shot....fired @ 1090 FPS I was pickin these same pellets out of a piece of 5/8" particle board whereas they hadn't penetrated enough but to be stickin' half way out. Now,I've made this point before on other posts' and folks have said I'm wrong,or 5/8" particle board isn't a turkey head & neck....which IS true(it's not head & neck) ,but as for ME PERSONALLY it didn't then, and, as well now STILL doesn't set well with me. That being said,I got devastating patterns out of this same set-up with the Roberts Final Strut .650 choke tube in the form of 336 hits in a 10" circle @ 40 yards. I have never hunted with this set-up so I can't speak as to it's lethality ....but I can speak on behalf of Federal Heavyweight #7s....they hit HARDER @ 60 YARDS than do lead #5s @ 40 YARDS. They blew COMPLETELY THRU this same 5/8" particle board AT 100 YARDS.....and they (goes without saying) knock turkeys off their feet.....LITERALLY. There are 411 pellets in the 3.5" / 1 7/8oz. load of 7s ....I average around 180 in a 10" circle @ 40yds. I never tested #6 shot in this load,and don't foresee myself or anyone testing them either unless they find some stockpiled,because Federal discontinued them from the HW line and currently only produce #7 shot. I would encourage you to try a box of them and see how they do for you!!!! Oh yea,Federal advises not to shoot ANY of their flite control wad loaded shells thru a ported/wad-stripping choke tube. Trulock makes a Heavyweight specific choke tube that seems to be gettin' good results Trulocks # 800-293-9402-George Trulock (owner) very nice fella,eager to help any way he can.
Hopes this helps,any questions please don't hesitate to gimme a shout on here and even thru my e-mail ( binkbenelli@gmail.com)  ifn you need to!!!!! Happy huntin'!!!!!!!!!!!