ORIGINAL: dsheally
I used to hunt with the same type of set up. A Hasting's .660 choke
with the Win. H.V. 2oz. of #6's thatthrew a great pattern to
40-45 yards. I had several gobbler's get away from me with it so
I have changed my thinking. The #6 shot did not seem to have the
energy/momentum at that range to penetrate. I weighed the Win.
copper plated # 6 shot the other night. On my RCBS scale it weighed
1.9 grains per pellet. The Win. Extened range # 6's weighed 2.1 grains
per pellet. Not much of an improvment for the added cost!!! The Win.
H.V. # 2oz. # 5's weighed 2.8 grains per pellet. That's better IMO.
The Rem. Nitro lead # 4's weighed 3.2 grains per pellet. The Win. H.V
2 oz. copper plated 4's weighed 3.4 grains per pellet. I am not trying
to rain on your thread but if you are going to shoot in that 40-45 yard
range at a tom you may want to try heavier shot. I have been testing
# 5's and #4's with good results out to 45 yards. This is with a .671 to
.675 constriction.
While I dont dispute your weight conclusion, I still think that at 45 yds, which I consider my max range, that 7 #6's to the brain and spine would produce a kill. Remember, you dont need a total passthrough to kill a bird, simply penetrating the brain or spine will totally immobilize a bird. I have patterened the #5s, and just cannot get as good of a pattern as I can with #6's at any range. While the difference in weight is influencial, so is the number of hits. If you only have 3 #5's to the vitals vs 7 #6s, the odds are better that you will produce a kill with the latter, since your pattern will vary with each shot.
That said, I will try to keep most of my shots at 35yds, where I know the bird will be annihilated.
I guess I will state all the loads I tested, seefirst postfor all my chokes.
Win HV 3" in #4, #5, #6
Win HV 3.5" #4, #5, #6
Federal FliteControl Magnum's 3" #4, #5, #6
Federal FliteControl Magnum's 3.5" #5
Remington Duplex 3" #4x#6
Remington Hevi-Shot 3" #5 out of a StarDot
Remington Nitro 3.5" #4, #5, #6
Remington Nitro 3" #5, #6
I am going to do a shoot-off most likely between the Federal FliteControl 3.5" #5's and the Win HV 3.5" #6s...will post results when they it is done...
There were a few other loads that were tested too, but I forgot to write them down.
Shoot straight and be safe people
