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For those of you who shoot lead

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BigRod

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If you shoot lead, what do you shoot? 3" or 3 1/2"

Brand, shot size, once shot, etc.

Me personally, I'm old school I shoot, Winchester #5 in 3". However this is the first year I'll be hunting with a 3 1/2 gun. Again, I have no interest in shooting the hevi, or mag blend this year. Unless you can convince me other wise.
 
When I shot lead, I shot 3.5" WHV #4s (2oz of shot starting at 1300fps) and I must say I was more than pleased for the ten or so years I shot them. If I were to go back to lead today, I am fairly certain they are what I'd shoot. They are not that bad on your wallet either, about $2.25/shell. Best of luck with your decision.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting ... t104567580
 
BigRod said:
Unless you can convince me other wise.
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If you lived close to me, I would give you a 3.5" MagBlend and see if that would do it, I'm thinking it might. :) I have been VERY impressed with them both on paper and on turkeys out of my setup. Stone cold killers is what they have been for me.
 
IF i were to shoot lead i would start with the Winchester HV 5's.

people say WHY pay that much for turkey ammo, i say WHY NOT? you only need 4 max a year so why not shoot the best thats available to you.

you dont NEED to shoot hevi to kill turkeys, then again you dont NEED camo to kill a turkey or a 7mm to kill a deer.
 
Final steps TC said:
Winchester supreme 3.5" 2oz #5 will do a number on them !!
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Know them well :whistle: and my load of choice.

I would have no issues loading up with the same load in a 3" version with 1 3/4" shot. I hunt with a guy who shoots this and he kills the poop out of them.
 
Setterman said:
Final steps TC said:
Winchester supreme 3.5" 2oz #5 will do a number on them !!
Click to expand...

Know them well :whistle: and my load of choice.

I would have no issues loading up with the same load in a 3" version with 1 3/4" shot. I hunt with a guy who shoots this and he kills the poop out of them.
Click to expand...

These shoot good out of my 3" gun but it likes the gray box just a little better
 
Winchester Supreme high velocity 1300 fps 3" #5 or #6 shot, have killed from 6 to 45 yards and 3 hens in 1 shot with these loads and my gun.
 
Kent Diamond Shot (lead) for me. I've tried 3.5s but settled on 2-3/4 1-1/2 ounce of #5. Have also used the 1-5/8 ounce with equal success.

I have a 500 by 40 building that some friends and I would try new turkey loads every spring in. We shot inside to completely eliminate wind effect. Those 1-1/2 ounce loads never got any oohs or ahhs on paper but definitely work on turkeys.
 
Winchester 12 gauge 3" 2oz #5's for me.

But I have been setting my sons 20 gauge up shooting the Federal Heavyweights and Hevi Shot and both are very impressive!
 
I have always got better results out of the winchester xx red hull shells that the black HV ones. The 3-2-6 is my favorite. With two of my guns last year, one went 141 and the other 144 for thier best 10" at 40. That was thier best, but both consistintly were in the low to mid 130's. One of those guns is a 3.5" auto, but puts up better numbers with that 3" shell that any of the lead 3.5" I have tried. Now if you switch to hevi, it's a whole different ball game! ;)
 
I seemed to get the best patterns from either the Winchesters and/or the Federals (with the Flight Control wads). Just depended on the gun and chokes.

However, if your particular set-up will pattern them to your satisfaction, my top pick in a lead load might be the Fiocchi shells. They make some wicked loads, and their pellets are nickel-plated (rather than copper). Nickel is "harder" than copper, resulting in less pellet deformation and greater penetration. Another plus to the Fiocchi shells is that they are no more expensive (often less) than Winchesters and Federals.

I've been using the Fiocchi shells for years now squirrel hunting and the antedotal evidence is that nickel-plated go thru both sides more often (#6 shot) than other shells using copper-plated lead pellets. Many pheasant hunters out West swear by those Fiocchi "Pheasant" loads, and use nothing but Fiocchi shells. It is the "pheasant" loads I've been using for squirrels, and this particular load is putting more emphasis on extreme velocity (pushing 1500 fps) than pattern uniformity.
 
I have shot them all..my gun shoots the Federal 3.5" #6 shot the best. Have been using them since the mid 90's
 

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