Which Hevi-shot?

[drhntr178]

I am going to switch to one of the new turkey loads this year, no more lead! My turkey gun is a Benilli SBE w/ a 2X32 scope, and a .655 Ballistic Specialties choke. What is everyone experiece with the different types of hevi-shot alloys on the market and what are your favorites?

[OntElk]

I have been doing some research on this for a new gun. You also can find a good recap in the winter edition of Turkey & Turkey Hunting.

It seems that you may see some issues with the tighter constriction you are currently using. The various kinds use Tungsten? I believe whihc is very hard. As a result they seem to pattern better with less constriction.

I shoot the Winchester X-tended HD #5's through an Undertaker choke right now. I actually got good results with about 110 pelletes in 10 inch circle at 40 yds. This seems to match the results in the article I mentioned.

Pattern density in various loads and chokes was lower than this in most cases. The Winchester load is supposedly not as hard as some of the others and therefore was perhaps a better choice for the smaller constrictions.

The other interesting point whichI have only heard raised in this artcile was on ported chokes. One of these chokes features is to help seperate the wad from the load quicker. It was this particular authors question on wether these new heavy loads were designed to have the wad stay with the load longer to help keep pattern density further out. The ported choke tubes would arguably work against this and something to consider if yours is ported.

The new Federals are supposed to be the hardest so I am going to try these on the same set up I have now. That should give a good indication of this issue. With a .660 tube I would expect not as good performance with this harder load.

We'll see........

[jepcho]

In the past I've always shot the Remington Hevishot. This year I think I'm gonna give that new stuff from environmetal called Hevi-13 a try and see how I like it.

[superstrutter]

I use Remington Hevi-shot, not nitro, and it works great. The pattern at 40 yards is amazing. Rem. Hevi-shot 3.5 inches 5 shot is a deadly load. I use the high velocity, not the magnum. It costs about 25.00 for a box of ten.

[Mr. Longbeard]

The brand that shoots the best in your gun

I would try the major brands... Win Extended, Rem Hevi, Fed Flight Control...

I'll bet the Win Extended shoot the best

[drhntr178]

I am going to buy a box of each one (I wish they werent so expensive) and check which one shoots the best. Maybe even buy a couple of new chokes.
I have been using my current choke, custom made by ballistic specialties, and shells, winchester high velocity 3 1/2" #5's for the past 10 years. It has done well very well for me but I want to experiment a little.

[RedAllison]

drh you won't want to shoot ANY of the lead alternatives in that choke tube. A .655" is simply to tight for any of it. Try and stay above .665 with .670-.695 being typically the best for the heaviest loads.

Environmetal is the actual creators and patent holder for Hevi-Shot. Remington had a 5 year exclusive on it and that expired lastyear. That is EM is now marketing their own. Rems Hevi-Shot IS better than lead, but it is a far cry from the Nitros. But you probably will have to get a new tube and experiment with a few loads to really "dial er in".

The stuff works tho!
RA

[longbeardbuster]

I also have a Benelli SBE and I am shooting the Win Extended 3.5"
with a Comp-n-Choke .665". It is patterns absolutely awesome. One
word of advice that was given to me was that the Federal heavy
weight with the new style wading, Benelli says not to shoot it in
their guns. I am not sure exactly why but I did not want to risk it.

[drhntr178]

Longbeard, where did you hear that you werent suppose to shoot the Feds? I will take your advice, but thats a shame, those loads really sounded good. What size shot of the Win Xtend did you use? Also do you have a SBE I or II?

[squidkid]

with that tube constriction, i would probably bet that the hevi13 would pattern the best, that stuff really likes to be squeezed.