I didn't think any "heavy" shot was softer than lead. The big advantage over lead, at least from what I understand, is that the "heavy" shot is denser, heavier, and harder than lead. By virtue of its hardness it doesn't deform when compressed in tight chokes like lead does, leading to fewer flyers.

I apologize if I'm wrong about this and, if so,wouldn't mind being corrected to learn the true story.

Check out the Winchester site for the X-tended shot...

http://www.winchester.com/products/newitems/whatsnewcontent.aspx?productid=28

Yes, it is advertised as being more dense and "softer" at the same time...look at the brochureon the bottom of their site. It was just released in #4 shot for this season...

I just looked up my sighting-in stats from last year, with the X-tended#6

45 yards
78 hits in a 7.5" circle
140 hits total (8x11 paper)
29 in the vertebra and skull

The first bird I dropped last Spring was in a small clearingat 52 yards, and he went down hard. It's also the one pictured in my avator...

Strut&Rut

I love your avator. I have pictures of my kids with most of my recent turkeys. This year my 10-year old gets to shoot. He's jacked up and ready to go after following me around the woods for 2 years and getting to run every call on display a couple of weekends ago in Nashville at the NWTF. But that is another story for another thread.

Actually, if you look at the graph closely it compares the hardness of Xtended shot to "competitive shot", not specifically lead shot. I suspectthe comparator isprobably Hevi Shot, because in the graph above comparing denisities (g/cc) Xtended is compared to both lead and steel. If the "Shot Hardness" graph used lead as a comparator I would expect it to say lead. Terms like "Competitive" are frequently used inadvertisingto refer to the competition (in this case I think the competition for Xtended is not lead but other variants of heavier-than-lead shot) without stating their name and giving them some free advertising. The caption states that "Xtended Range Hi-Density shot is softer than most shotgun barrels and chokes", but no mention of it being softer than lead.

http://www.winchester.com/products/newitems/whatsnewcontent.aspx?productid=31

I apologize if I seem anal, but my training as a clinical pharmacist results in close scrutiny of print ads.

At the end of the day it is results that count and you certainlyare holdingthe proof there in that pic of you and your daughter with a turkey cleanly taken at 52 yards.

I am fast becoming a convert to the world of heavier-than-lead shot.

By the way - I see you are from Storrs, CT. No doubt you followthe Lady HuskiesBB team. There is not a bigger fan of Tennessee women'sbasketball than me. We may need to give each other a wide birth on this board until the tourney is over :-). Good luck.

Mouthcaller...good pickup on that little bit of advertising.

I'm a PhD student, with about 5 months left to the finishline, in a science discipline. I should have picked up on that little trick...almost like saying...a significant trend...haha. You are probably right on the money with your interpretation, with hardness being compared to Hevi-shot. The big push is you can use the X-tended without buying a new choke. I just remembered reading that brochure quickly a few weeks ago, when I noticed that they were releasing #4 shot this year...

I was amazed at the difference in pattern density when I switched from the Winchester HVs. It really is astounding.

As for the Lady Huskies, everyone in Storrs doesn't have that swagger this season. They win tough games, but nothing like they did when they had Taurasi and Bird. The team just really lacks a true floor leader, but they have Geno riding them for everything they can give.

Now on the other hand, of course, our Men our again ranked #1, and I see your Vols actually have learned to play ball again...

But hell, the way both Carolina teams are playing right now, we may see them win both tournaments this year, matching the feat of the 2004 UConn teams (yep, had to throw that salt in the wound [8D]).

March should be interesting...

mouthcaller it's good to see you here. I'm in Jackson, TN as well. Come check us out at The Great Outdoor Store, I also shoot an 835 and we are Nitro/Rhino dealers (as well as Federal, Winchester alternatives). Look me up, I'll be in tomorrow and Friday. Ask for Jim.

Good luck,
RA

Hi Jim,

I've enjoyed reading your posts and have learned a lot from them. I knew you were in Jackson from your profile, but hesitated saying something for fear of being too forward. I ride the Yamaha Grizzly and stop in your place occasionally. I am anxious to meet you and trade a few stories. I grew up at Reelfoot and cut my teeth on ducks and geese, as my father and uncle were guides for decades. Though I hunt deer and waterfowl, since '81 mypassion is turkeys. When I started there were few turkeys and fewer hunters. Amazing how the sport has grown in our state.

Looking forward to meeting you soon.

Tom Lovell

Hey Strut&Rut,

Great news on closing in on that PhD. I went a different route and took a Pharm.D. with emphasis in clinical pharmacology. Congratulations on sticking it out. It is a very long road indeed.

I look forward to learning more about thisheavier-than-lead shotand comparing notes with you as the season progresses. When my 4 remaining shells of Hevi Shot are gone I intend to try the Winchester loads you are using, unless Red convinces me to go the Nitro route (he lives in my hometown) :-).

You guys got a great thing going in basketball up there. With the addition of Bruce Pearl (our men's coach) our goal at UT is to get to the level of Duke and UConn as a premier BB school, both men and women. The followingof both programs here is astounding,drawing over 20K for men's games and greater than 15K for women.

Enough basketball - its time to focus on more important things for awhile.

Best wishes for a great season

Tom

Mouthcaller,

Thanks on the kind words. We don't start turkey season up here until May, so I literally live for March Madness. It's one of the only things that keep me sane until I can hunt turks...that and the fact that trout season opens 2 weeks before the first day of turkey.

As for the Nitro loads, from everything that I've seen, read and heard...there is really no comparison. Coupled with a Rhino choke, your gun literally could probably kill birds out to 75 yards...no joke.

At this point in my career though (considering the student status with 2 kids) I can't justify $100 for the choke and $5-10 per shell for the combination.

If you can afford it, you won't ever understand how you hunted with an XXfull choke and lead shot [&:]