20 Gauge

[Southern Sportsman]

One more thing: I know the "reason" has to do with the wads, but it still makes no sense to me that Federal can get 1 1/2 ounce of their HWT pellets in a 3" 20ga shell, yet they can only get 1 7/8 ounce in a 3 1/2" 12ga shell?

I always figured it was to keep cost a little lower too. The first Remington Hevi shells I bought were 3.5 1 7/8 ounce loads. I felt a little let down knowing that was fewer pellets than 1 7/8 of the same size lead and a lot less than the 2 ounce loads I had been using.

I really don't think it has anything to do with cost. However, it seems there may be fewer "fliers", and by going to smaller shot (such as a #7 rather than a #6), you can still get dense patterns with pellets that penetrate farther. A #7 Fed HWT has penetration comparable to a #5 copper-plated lead pellet, actually even greater at longer ranges.

More recently, I've started using the Federal HWT in the 12 gauges. Even though it only has 1 7/8 oz of #7's, they hit a whole lot harder than those #7's in other "factory" loads. I'm not getting hardly as dense a pattern as with 2 1/4 oz MagBlends, but believe the HWT is every bit as good a long range load, while providing noticeably less recoil --- something I really notice with the 12's. Lots of good choices with a 12, but with the 20 gauge, Federal has really trumped their competition.

The 'hevi shot" is 12 g/cc in density so just slightly heavier than lead (10-11 g/cc). The heavyweight shot used by federal is 15 g/cc. It doesn't sound like much but the Fed loads are nearly twice as dense as lead. While I sincerely question the effectiveness of a single "hevishot" number 7 pellet at 50 yards (especially given their piss poor quality control in pellet size), no doubt the Fed 7s are deadly at that range.

 

[TheLBLman]

While I sincerely question the effectiveness of a single "hevishot" number 7 pellet at 50 yards (especially given their piss poor quality control in pellet size) . . . . .

Had a fellow, somewhat jokingly, but ironically maybe more true than not say, "All the MagBlends have in them is a bunch of "Hevi" brand #6 pellets, which are so misshapen and odd sized, they can get away calling the load a 'BLEND' of 5, 6, & 7."

If you've ever opened up a straight #6 Hevi shell, you'll find pellets smaller than 7's and larger than 5's. By comparison, cut open a Fed HWT and you'll find uniform pellets of whatever shot size is stated. However, I did kill a turkey at nearly 50 yards with a load of Hevi straight 7's a few years ago, so they must be deadly (head shots) past 45 yards. But the Feds HWT are unquestionably much more lethal in terms of penetration.

 

[SKFOOTER]

One more thing: I know the "reason" has to do with the wads, but it still makes no sense to me that Federal can get 1 1/2 ounce of their HWT pellets in a 3" 20ga shell, yet they can only get 1 7/8 ounce in a 3 1/2" 12ga shell?

I always figured it was to keep cost a little lower too. The first Remington Hevi shells I bought were 3.5 1 7/8 ounce loads. I felt a little let down knowing that was fewer pellets than 1 7/8 of the same size lead and a lot less than the 2 ounce loads I had been using.

I really don't think it has anything to do with cost. However, it seems there may be fewer "fliers", and by going to smaller shot (such as a #7 rather than a #6), you can still get dense patterns with pellets that penetrate farther. A #7 Fed HWT has penetration comparable to a #5 copper-plated lead pellet, actually even greater at longer ranges.

More recently, I've started using the Federal HWT in the 12 gauges. Even though it only has 1 7/8 oz of #7's, they hit a whole lot harder than those #7's in other "factory" loads. I'm not getting hardly as dense a pattern as with 2 1/4 oz MagBlends, but believe the HWT is every bit as good a long range load, while providing noticeably less recoil --- something I really notice with the 12's. Lots of good choices with a 12, but with the 20 gauge, Federal has really trumped their competition.

Which 12 gauge shotgun and what choke are you shooting the HW 7's thru Wes??

 

[Southern Sportsman]

While I sincerely question the effectiveness of a single "hevishot" number 7 pellet at 50 yards (especially given their piss poor quality control in pellet size) . . . . .

Had a fellow, somewhat jokingly, but ironically maybe more true than not say, "All the MagBlends have in them is a bunch of "Hevi" brand #6 pellets, which are so misshapen and odd sized, they can get away calling the load a 'BLEND' of 5, 6, & 7."

If you've ever opened up a straight #6 Hevi shell, you'll find pellets smaller than 7's and larger than 5's. By comparison, cut open a Fed HWT and you'll find uniform pellets of whatever shot size is stated. However, I did kill a turkey at nearly 50 yards with a load of Hevi straight 7's a few years ago, so they must be deadly (head shots) past 45 yards. But the Feds HWT are unquestionably much more lethal in terms of penetration.

If you have a good pattern with the hevi 7s no doubt you can center ones head up at 50 and kill them. Of course some of the pellets that hit him will likely be notably larger than 7s. But if something happened and I make a poor shot and have to rely on the "edge" of the pattern I dont have much confidence that a single hevi7 pellet would do it at that range.

 

[TheLBLman]

Which 12 gauge shotgun and what choke are you shooting the HW 7's thru Wes??

Mossberg 935 with the Indian Creek tube they recommended for #6 shot.
Some say not to use vented choke tubes with the flite-control wads, others say it doesn't matter.
The flite control wads don't seem to have any issues (that I can tell) with the Indian Creek (ported) tube.

If you have a good pattern with the hevi 7s no doubt you can center ones head up at 50 and kill them. Of course some of the pellets that hit him will likely be notably larger than 7s. But if something happened and I make a poor shot and have to rely on the "edge" of the pattern I dont have much confidence that a single hevi7 pellet would do it at that range.

I agree. That's why I switched over to the Fed HWTs. :tu:

 

[SKFOOTER]

Which 12 gauge shotgun and what choke are you shooting the HW 7's thru Wes??

Mossberg 935 with the Indian Creek tube they recommended for #6 shot.
Some say not to use vented choke tubes with the flite-control wads, others say it doesn't matter.
The flite control wads don't seem to have any issues (that I can tell) with the Indian Creek (ported) tube.

If you have a good pattern with the hevi 7s no doubt you can center ones head up at 50 and kill them. Of course some of the pellets that hit him will likely be notably larger than 7s. But if something happened and I make a poor shot and have to rely on the "edge" of the pattern I dont have much confidence that a single hevi7 pellet would do it at that range.

I agree. That's why I switched over to the Fed HWTs. :tu:

Wes, does your IC choke have the wad stopper rings inside it??

 

[TheLBLman]

Wes, does your IC choke have the wad stopper rings inside it??

I don't know.
All I know is those flite-control wads usually hit the target at 40 yards.
When I purchased that IC choke, the only thing I knew to ask (or get a recommendation for from IC) was which of their chokes did they recommend for my gun and my shooting #6 shot. At the time, I believe I was specifically using #6 Winchester Extended Range shells (which are no longer available). Nothing gave more uniform patterns for me than those Win. Ext. Range shells, but the #7 Fed HWT's are pretty close and a whole lot more "potent".