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Post by jimh on Sept 14, 2008 10:10:00 GMT -5
i know spring season is a ways away but now that i have this new toy to use next spring i'm starting to ask myself if i want to buck up and try some hevi shot. reason for this is some of the public land may eventualy go to it, and i sure would like to know how well my gun shoots it. from what i understand about it's pattering abilities, my standard mod. steel rated choke might be all i need for my normal out to 40 yrd shots. i do here about folks getting considerable more distance with the hevi shot ammo (i believe hevi shot is a generic term or is it a brand?) but i don't know how much stretch in truth it is. anyway for those who have used some now, whether it was for turkeys or water fowl how was your experiance? considering one box for turkey hunting would last me the rest of my life with my success rate price shouldn't be too bad.  |
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Sept 14, 2008 20:58:52 GMT -5
At 40 yards, any 12ga modified with any 2 3/4" turkey load should be able to kill a turkey.  Under 50 yards, the copperplated lead vs heavyshot arguement is a wash. The lead performs just fine and my opinion would be that heavyshot is a waste of money. The heavyshot is for over 50 yards. That's the only advantage over traditional copperplated loads. There are reports/reviews of turkeys killed at 75-80 yards. Now that may or may not be true...but I think 60 is a realistic range with a choke that will shoot the pattern tight enough. Regardless, if you plan on shooting over 50 yards routinely you must remember that at say 25-30 yards you have a pattern the size of a grapefruit. It's ok if you constantly have problems with birds hanging up just outside of range. Me, I have killed more birds running at 15-30 yards than I've killed standing still. I think a personal reflection needs to be done here. If you have a history of shooting birds at long range, then the heavy shot with super-extra full chokes will be ok. But if you're like me and the birds come in close and then kinda get froggy you're going to want to stick with a mod, full, or extra full shooting traditional rounds. |
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Post by jabba on Sept 15, 2008 6:27:54 GMT -5
I like heavy shot. But... I have only ever shot AT one turkey.
I do know my group has killed plenty-o-birds with heavy shot. To me what's impressive is heavy-shot ability to maintain dense patterns at 50 yards, while retaining energy. We shot heavy-shot and copper plated lead shells at plywood back stops at 50 yards... and I don't care what the magazines say... the heavy shot blew the hell out of the plywood compared to copper plated lead. The difference was not even close... it was seriously more destructive at that range.
Jabba
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Post by jimh on Sept 15, 2008 7:37:35 GMT -5
i hear ya jabba, what i will be interested to see is how well it patterns without a aftermarket choke, just useing a mod. choke (which is what beretta recommends for steel) any aftermarket choke MUST be Designed for hevi shot if you want to shoot some through it or it wont be pretty. i'm a big fan of chomp-n-choke for aftermarket chokes but up to at least last year they would not make a tight choke for it. so i might buy a box this fall and test a pattern or two, and Red if you are around you are more than welcomed to throw one down your barrel for grins if it strikes your fancy.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Sept 15, 2008 8:36:35 GMT -5
I like heavy shot. But... I have only ever shot AT one turkey. I do know my group has killed plenty-o-birds with heavy shot. To me what's impressive is heavy-shot ability to maintain dense patterns at 50 yards, while retaining energy. We shot heavy-shot and copper plated lead shells at plywood back stops at 50 yards... and I don't care what the magazines say... the heavy shot blew the hell out of the plywood compared to copper plated lead. The difference was not even close... it was seriously more destructive at that range. Jabba My whole point is that at 50 yards, the old loads kill birds just fine. All we're trying to do is go through a 1/8-1/4 of thin skin and fat to get to the neck - which is not one solid piece of bone. It's more like bubble wrap. It doesn't take but one bb to put down a bird. And the reason that birds are often hit but run/fly away at 50 yards is not because the lead loads are too weak but that the pattern is just too scattered to play the odds. If you arrange it that heavy shot and lead shoot the exact same dense pattern at 50 yards hitting the turkey target 10-20 times, there's no turkey that's going to get up from either. Likewise, if your compare the two loads with a very open pattern that might hit the turkey target les than 5 times, performance is going to be the same --- the bird's going to get away unless one of the pellets (from either of the two rounds) make a solid hit. |
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Post by jimh on Sept 15, 2008 8:52:01 GMT -5
Red my whole point is i'm trying to hear from folks that have actualy used it and what their actual experiance was with it. i know all the arguments for and against, and to tell the truth as soon as i buy a box i'll know myself how it patterns out of my shotguns. again if some of the areas go to a non toxic rule, your opinion and preferance pretty much goes out the window and is a moot point. i'm just trying to pre educate myself for future hunts and maybe start some new post while i'm at it!
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Post by jimiowa on Sept 15, 2008 9:13:39 GMT -5
Never have used it personally. But I agree with the move to non toxic shots on pulic land, especially along waterways and marshes. It is certainly worth checking out!
When I was working at Walmart there were a lot of waterfowlers that came into the store. And of those that used it I heard nothing but rave reviews. The only way you will know for sure is to buy some and try it in your shotgun.
Besides I have no problem with you spending your hard earned money and giving us a full report on your experience! ;D
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Post by jimh on Sept 15, 2008 9:20:23 GMT -5
well i better buy some and shoot this weekend because after the following weekend i'll be laid up from surgery for a while and shooting will be a no no for a bit i'm sure.
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Post by jabba on Sept 16, 2008 6:45:33 GMT -5
I like 3 1/2", 2 oz, hevi-shot loads of #4's for doves and clay pigeons. I use even meaner loads for pheasants and turkeys. Just kiddin'...  Jabba |
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Post by jimh on Sept 16, 2008 7:18:27 GMT -5
well considering my shotgun is only chambered for 3" i gues if i wanna shoot some 3 1/2" i just have to force the bolt home a little harder, right? i do have to think those 3" turkey loads out of this beretta will be a little easier on the shoulder than my pump. but those 3 1/2" shells i shot out of my BPS were pure punishment on both ends. good god they hurt to shoot.
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Post by jimiowa on Sept 16, 2008 8:27:06 GMT -5
I shot a couple 3 1/2", 2 oz turkey loads in my son's Nomad and have accepted the fact that my feeble old body was not made to absorb that kind of punishment! If 3" loads won't do the job,I'll leave the 3 1/2" to the younger stouter guys!
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Post by jabba on Sept 16, 2008 13:27:21 GMT -5
Those 3 1/2"ers can be pretty brutal. Especially thru a light weight pump gun like my 870 super-duper-mag (that's gone now) or my Benelli Nova. I keep saying I am gonna get a mercury dampener... but neve actually do.
Jabba
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Post by jimh on Mar 17, 2009 22:44:46 GMT -5
well i still have yet to pattern any of htat hevi shot out of the Beretta. if things go right this weekend i might get to throw a few out of it. i also need to pattern the 20 ga for my son. and yes after i decide on the load for the 20 ga i will need the midget to spend some time behind the trigger too so we know what he can and can not hit. i'm thinking about getting a box of 20 ga hevi shot in 5's for it. the youth hunt may very well be the only hunt i go on this spring as i have a ton of commitments going on this year. well that and the economy sucking every penny i have out of me.
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Post by dovehunter on Mar 18, 2009 9:31:46 GMT -5
Never tried it (Hevi Shot) and don't have plans to do so. I've killed birds out to 60 paces with conventional Federal Premium Turkey Loads of no. 5 shot. Considering the places where I hunt, getting shots over about 25-30 yds. is a rarity anyway. If I what I am using is doing the job for me why change. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I'll admit to being skeptical of new things. Years ago I was the last engineer in my office still using a slide rule when everyone else had switched over to those new-fangled electronic calculators.
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Post by twomoons on Mar 21, 2009 20:02:47 GMT -5
Maybe if a fellow was brush busting and huntng fall turkeys this might be usefull, I wouldn't know I haven't ever shot a turkey over 30 yards away. Here for spring turkeys we try and call them in close and braggin' rights are to the fellow who gets his turkey the closest. My problem is I don't own a shotgun young enough to even handle steel let alone hevi shot. Bill was braggin' to me though about how much better this stuff patterns and kills so he would be the one to ask.
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