For sure in the 20 GA.TheLBLman":2258a3fh said:.....and without any doubt, the most effective 20 ga turkey shell "commercially" available.
Magnum Blend Hevi Shot Shells ?
- Thread starter slangstrang
- Start date
One can't go wrong with those either.timberghost35":2hdmpec6 said:
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Regarding those Federal Heavyweight #7's in a 20 ga . . . . . I've seen multiple birds shot over 40 yards with the pellets completely penetrating both sides of the breast. That's certainly way more than enough to shoot thru a turkey's head/neck (which is what most of us are aiming for, just seem to often get a few pellets in the breast). I believe the Federal pellets are 20% heavier than lead.Andy S.":1y8eci8m said:
Those particular #7's are providing energy/penetration comparable to a #5 lead, but with a pattern density comparable to #6 lead. Plus, for me, the Federal HW's #7's have produced more consistent patterns than the MagBlends.
Looking at the irregular & inconsistent sizing of the MagBlend pellets, I'm surprised they pattern as well as they do. Open a MagBlend and you'll find some pellets that appears to be closer to a #2 than a #5, and some that are closer to a #8 than a #7 ---- very inconsistent pellet sizing ---- but they still seem to pattern well in most guns. By contrast, the Federal pellets are perfectly round, just as one would expect.
Despite all our study and analysis, just get them under 40 yards, and it typically really matters little what you're shooting. :tu:
All the "special turkey" loads and chokes have been marketing genius on behalf of the sellers, and truth be known, contribute little to successful turkey hunting. In fact, I've seen many examples of too much choke and too much focus on "long-range" capability causing more losses than gains.
SKFOOTER":syrubtgr said:
From what I have seen this is only in the 3.5" shells. I have not seen a 3" shell with #4s in them.
SKFOOTER
Well-Known Member
It's the 3 inch shells also. Check out Rogers Sporting Goods listing of them.
PickettSFHunter
Well-Known Member
What makes the federal heavyweight 7's better than Hevi 7's in a 20?
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SKFOOTER
Well-Known Member
The shot in the Federal heavyweight shell is a heavier tungsten and all the shot is uniform in size.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
1. More dense (Federal HW #7's pack almost as much "punch" as Hevi #6)PickettSFHunter":1quddkom said:
2. 1 1/2 ounces in a 20 ga Federal Heavyweight ---- that's approaching a 12 ga payload better than any other commercially available 20 ga load.
Southern Sportsman
Well-Known Member
PickettSFHunter":1ga5teo6 said:
Lead is a little less than 11 g/cc. It is soft, so it deforms some when fired due to force of set-back and constriction through choke. Not terribly deformed, but not really spherical any more. The deformed pellets have a relatively poor ballistic coefficient, so patterns fall appart more quickly. The "shot lock resin" in the longbeards is said to prevent this pellet deformation thus improving patterns.
"Hevi" shot is 12 g/cc, so just barely heavier than lead. (The old "hevi 13" was 13g/cc). You get slightly more downrange energy, but not much. But, the shot is a hard alloy, so it does not deform when shot. However, many of the pellets are basically deformed when the put it in the shell. Very poor consistency in pellet size and shape, and most of the pellets in the blended shells are 7s or smaller with a few bigger sizes sprinkled in. The good patterns mostly come from large numbers of smaller pellets. They will flat mash turkeys at reasonable ranges, but so will lead. I know they have a faithful following, but IMHO, the magblends are not as great as they are held out to be. But slightly better than most lead (maybe not better than longbeards, but that's a judgment call)
Fed. Heavyweights are 15g/cc and are very uniform, pollished pellets. Because they are nearly 40% heavier than lead, 7s retain plenty of energy at 40yds +. Plus they have an excelent ballistic coefficient and more kinetic energy per square inch (i.e. Penetration) because they have less surface area but equal mass as larger lead or hevi pellets. And there are about 220 HW 7s per oz. More per oz than lead 6s.
TSS is 18g/cc and also perfect pollished spheres. It is nearly 65% heavier than lead, so you can shoot 8s and 9s (260-350 per oz)to 50+ yards, no problem. But it is not available in a commercial shell, so HW 7s are the best thing going for a factory 20 gauge load.
PickettSFHunter
Well-Known Member
Thank you very much. I shoot hevi 13 7's out of my 20 now. Is it the Fed HW that require a non ported choke or choke designed for them? I guess that's all that could keep me switching quickly is if I had to get a new choke. Thanks!
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SKFOOTER
Well-Known Member
Not so much in the 20 gauge shell as it's flight control wad"s petals are softer and more pliable than the one in the 12 gauge shell. In fact, those shooting the Federal HW 7's in 20 gauge Remingtons get great patterns with the Truglo SSX choke tube, which is ported.PickettSFHunter":2lv95zuu said:
Southern Sportsman
Well-Known Member
PickettSFHunter":5nup13gj said:
Federal does use the "flitecontrol wad" which can act screwy with some chokes. The wad is designed to stay with the pellet charge after it exits the barrel, and some chokes are designed to "strip" the wad from the shot, so the are competing with each other. It won't hurt the gun or anything, but it could throw off your pattern.
That said, I know of people who shoot them through ported chokes without any problem. I would probably try them with the choke you have. If it doesn't do what you want, then I would consider another choke.
