RE: Nitro Shells
You are correct, in my opinion, that 7.5 shot is not worth much past 40 yards. Nitro says they act as a buffer that holds the larger shot in a tighter pattern. But I still will not use the loads with 7.5 shot.
I patterned some 10 GA loads with #4 shot and #5 shot. The best shooting load was a 3 ounce load of nickel plated #4 shot that averaged 135 plus pellets in a 10 inch circle. That was at 50 yards. The factory loads of #5 shot at that same range put less than 40 pellets in the 10 inch circle. Yes, that's nearly 100 pellets less. Even the worst of the Nitros put 75 plus pellets in the circle. If you do the math, you will find the Nitro shells are actually CHEAPER!!! I pay less than $3 per shell from Nitro or I could pay $1 each for 3 factory shells. The limit is 5 gobblers in Alabama so if I kill my limit I will have spent less than $15 on shells AND have the knowledge that I can easily bring down a bird at 50 yards with one shot.
No jakes!