Federal Heavyweight #7 shot

[Bowfin]

Been thinking on buying a box of Federal Heavyweight #7 shot to see how it patterns. It says its heavier than lead so it must be tungston. At $3.00 a shot its pricy. I like the idea of more pellets but they are pretty small in it being 7 shot. Does 7 shot have good down range killing potential for turkey? Anyone use this stuff?

Also I see Hornady has some #5 nickel plated lead - anyone use this for turkey?

[DonBo]

Borch is really the guru on this stuff, hope he chimes in. But I can tell you, in theory the #7 heavy shot SHOULD have the same kinetic energy downrange as standard #5 or #6's because it is so much heavier. Just beware you may need a different more open choke to shoot the heavyshot than you would for the more standard turkey loads.

[Powerstroke]

I would say from my reading that when shooting heavier than lead shot you can value it one shot size larger based on the additional mass. So 7's could be thought of as a 6shot. I don't know that I would consider farther than a 40yd shot with 6shot or heavy 7's.

I'm not sure what you're idea of "downrange" is so I'm sure if that helps.

[Dave S]

Although it might be heavier than lead, have more pellets per round than a larger shot such as #6, 5 or 4 shot, I will withhold my judgement on these rounds until they stood the test of time. Until then, I will opt for a larger shot size i.e. larger wound channels and stick with my favorite #5's.

I've never been a proponent of smaller shot and encouraged against using it during turkey clinics. Turkeys are very tough birds and it takes a lot of knockdown power to put one down.

The onus is really on the hunter to filter through the marketing gimmics and do their own homework to determine what round will pattern the best through their gun. After all, pattering and knowing the limitations of the shot, the gun and mostly the hunter in good shot placement and judging distance are key factors in being successful during any hunt.

Aside from that as Don mentioned, Borch will have more info.

[goblueM]

I would be leery of #7, even if its heavy shot. Like Lep said, I stick to the trusty #5, I went away from Hevi #5 and went to Winchester, half the price for twice as many shells and I still get a good pattern

[Borch]

The heavyweight #7 hits like #5 lead due to it higher density and smaller surface area thus great penetration. It's actually denser than the hevishot and are about 200 feet per faster than hevishot loads and still gets good patterns. I have picked up some for my daughter's 20 gauge but haven't patterned it yet. The early word is it has been an very effective load from everyone I've talked to who's been using it. Stay away from wad stripping choke and don't choke it too tight. In some of the 20 gauge testing guys are averaging about 150 hits in a 10 inch circle at 40 yards and still carrying plenty of energy to get the job done at that yardage. I'd be conservative in regards to stretching it out much beyond that though. It's a nice load for those shooting 20 gauge guns to get more payload. It's a load that was very hard to find the first few years as they did limited production and it was bought up pretty quick.

My daughter shot #7 hevishot in her 20 gauge last spring and the gobbler she shot at 30 yards didn't even twitch. It's head and neck had LOTS of holes in it.

I prefer this load in 6 shot for the bigger wound channel like lep mentioned but for the 20's it should work out very well.

[Bowfin]

Thanks for all the input. I'm still kind of learning this turkey hunting thing. This will be my 3rd year hunting the big birds and have to admit I've been "Thunderstruck" ever since my first morning hunt when I called a young Tom to 30 yards and he busted me with my slate call in my hand and gun in my lap! I've called a few Toms within range my 1st 2 years but because of inexperience (under estimating their eyesight) and some bad luck haven't got a shot.

My first 2 years I borrowed a big heavy BPS with a 3 1/2" chamber cause the 3 1/2" magnums had to throw a better, harder hitting pattern than 3" magnums right? Wrong! After patterning the gun, the 3 1/2" mags ended up being harder on my shoulder than the target. I settled in with shooting Remington HD's in #6 shot at a maximum range of 40 yards.

This year I'm going with my trusty 3" 870 Wingmaster I've used for 30 years. I am borrowing a Rem-choke barrel with Primos tight-wad choke and will pattern it this weekend. I'm having trouble finding Remington HD's here in Duluth and looking for options in trying different shells.

Nice when people chime in on this site cause it quickens the learning curve for us novices.

[Archerysniper]

If you try the Hornadys I was reading the box yesterday and they recommend a improved cylinder or modified choke for the best patterns,that stuff must really hold tight.

[Borch]

My daughter 870 20 gauge has that same choke and it shoot the hevishot 6 & 7 and if a turkey is within 40 yards it's dead as long as she doe her part. Hevishot has a $5 a box rebate for up to two boxes per household so it's a bit more affordable It also shoots #6 federal cartridge lead with a good pattern out to 35 yards. Every gun is different especially when jumping to different gauges.

Don't get too hung up on shooting way out there. I like a gun that'll give a good kill pattern out to 45 yards and limit my shots to 40. That gives me some wiggle room in case I underestimate the yardage in the excitement. Farthest shot I've made is 45 yards. To be hinest most of the birds I've kill have been inside 25 yards. Get too close and a very tight gun shoots more like a rifle and misses of a moving head/neck are much more iikely.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Federal Heavyweight #7 1 1/2 oz load at 1100 fps will have more energy and more penetration than lead #4 in the same payload and speed at any given yardage. 329 pellets in the #7 load vs. 203 in 1 1/2 oz. of #4 lead.

[Muskie456]

I hunt with a guy that shoots 3" #7's. I have seen him ROLL birds at 40-45 yards. I mean not even twitch kinda roll.

[Tim_Anderson]

Hopefully we'll be testing the load in question this week. I'll let you know how it turns out...