I just bought a box (25) of 3.5" Hevi-Shot 4x5x7's for $153. I realize that it's a lot of money for shells, but I look at it like this: I'm probably going to shoot less than 5 shells while patterning and that'll leave me 20 shells. If I shoot7 shells per year, combining patterning and hunting, that leaves me with 3 years worth of shells. That's $50 per year.

I know for a fact that, if given the choice, I'd buy other boxes of ammo just to see if they'll pattern good probably amounting to more than $50 per year. Heck, 2 boxes of the good stuff is more than that.Now I don't have to. I'm set.And as Gamblinman said, I'm also paying for the R&D that has went into these shells. To me, that's priceless.