As everyone knows a lot has been made of all the Heavy Shot configurations as of late, but what works best outof my 3" Rem. 11-87 is:
Winchester 3" #5 lead (2 oz.) I'm shooting a Wright's turkey choke (.660)

I just don't think a 3.5 is necessary so why punish yourself?

im 13 and my dad said if i want to start shooting big rifles i should shoot 3.5" shells. I want #4's in either winchester or heavyshot. So if you can tell me whats the best.

The best advice that I can give is go to http://allaboutshooting.com/ and you can find a guy by the name of clark bush. I have been talking with him over the last few weeks and he has an un-limited amount of information. He is a former world record holder in still target shotgun shooting in the mens division and his wife is a world record holder in the womens division. He also tests and patterns new shotshells for shell manufactures and recommends what the best shell and choke is the best for a particular brand of gun. He has shot every shotshell and choke combination imaginable...some that I haven't ever even heard of. His email is at the website and he can give you a tremendous amount of help, free of charge or obligation. From my talks with him, 3" shells will almost always pattern better than 3.5" and #6 shot has more than enough energy to knock down a bird from any "ethical" range. I would definitely talk with him and see what he recommends for your gun.

In the past, I have shot a 3.5" #5 shot Federal with flight control wad out of a Remington 870 SPS-T with thumbhole using a Primos Jellyhead choke tube. I have had decent patterns out past 40 yards. I am always trying to improve my pattern and I am going to try a few other combos this year, starting out with a Strut Stopper Xtreme choke using 3" Winchester HV #6 shot. Your gun will shot differently than mine, so you will have to do some experimenting with it.

Best of luck.

thanks for the info guys. Expecially r33h.

Don't know why a 13 yr old needs to be shooting 3.5 inch? I agree that no one needs thats really. If you like a big gun and big load then sure. Whatever is your fancy I guess but I'd have to respectfully wonder why your dad says that. Lots of debate on #4 versus #6 as well. More knockdown in #4 but more pellets in #6. I've dropped gobblers like a rock at 50 yds with #6 so I'd take more pellets personally.

I shoot your gun and I can tell you that even the same brand of shells from different years will pattern differently with my gun. I have an Indian Creek Choke and can get unbelievable patterns with white shell Hevi-13 in 1 7/8 oz. I switch to the Hevi-13 in red 1 5/8 or bronze 2 oz load and I get crap patterns.

Winchester X-tended was always the most consistent regardless of what choke I had in and what length barrel etc. If you only want to buy one box I'd get that load. Split the difference and go #5 and see what you get.

I don't think they make the white Hevi-13 shells anymore...do they? If so, please let me know where your supply is

Yup, you're right. I stocked up a bit and have a buddy in Ohio who has scoured the net and sporting stores across the US to gather up a few more boxes for us. I am afraid I can't divulge his sources

I'll keep the annual sighting to using other shells to start and hopefully just fire one white shell to be sure. That means I should have another 10 yrs or so if I don't miss when I'm out hunting I never miss [8D]

Have to send Environ Metal an e-mail one of these days. Give them the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" speech and see if they'll start with that load again. I have heard of so many guys who have found the same thing as me. It's all about marketing something new and getting everyone to go out and buy the latest greatest load. Hopefully they'll do like Coke and re-intro this load and call it Hevi-13 Classic

The red hevi 13's never did anything for me also. The Rem. hevi shot 3.5 mags work the best for me, but just like the white 13's, they don't make them anymore. I found two boxes of them last year and bought them. I will be using themfor the next few years. I may try out the new Rem. Wingmasters this year. Ammo and guns have gone up in price in the past few weeks, so a box of 5 wingmasters will cost about 30 bucks[:'(]. I'm just curious how they do.

My opinion is that its not what shell you want to shoot, but what shell patterns the best in your gun,
In my winchester 1300 I tried 2 different chokes & 3 different shells before I got a good pattern.
In my Benelli Nova I tried 3 Or 4 chokes & 4 or 5 different shells before I was happy.

I usually shoot remington turkey loads, I dont remember which kind I shoot though, I usually shoot #4 shot.