HEAVYWEIGHT VS. COPPER PLATED LEAD

[Born2Hunt]

Are the heavyweight or extended range loads that much better than copper plated lead to justify the extra cost associated with them?

[LifeNRA]

Dont know you have to pattern them out of your gun to see if they will perform any better. Then kill a bird with it!

[Fullfan]

I tryed the Fed. Heavyweights last spring. I tested them out to 50 yds. Good pattern and they shot through a new sheet of 3/8 plywood. I used the #6 shot. Since the price of Nitros have gone through the roof I will be shooting them again this year.

[LETMGROW]

Fullfan--- What length shell are you using?

[ronin]

I compared all of the brands of Hevyshot, Hevyshotclones, and Winchester copper plated xrange out of my 12 Ga. 3.5 last year. The Remington Hevyshot was the clear winner in pattern, power, and range. Repeated the process with my son's 3" and had the same results. Interestingly, the Winchester was a close second everytime. Hevyshot is my primary, Winchester is the back-up ammo for me.

[Turkeystalker]

Try winchester extended range.....

[ronin]

For me, the extra price is always worth it. The extra 10-20 yards coupled with the down range "umpph" is very important to me.

[HeviShot]

That's what I'm talkin about the extra "UMPPH"!!

[WaCoyote]

I'm a believer in all things premium but not when it comes to turkeys.

I use bonded bullets, Tungsten and Bismuth for ducks, Hevisteel for pheasants. I Believe in premium ammo.

But for Turkeys? Not me, I get great patterns at 40 yds, decent patterns at 45 yds with Fed flight control 6 shot. I may not penetrate steel at 40 yds but I do penetrate a turkeys dome at 40 yds.

The reason is simple. Most shots are under 40 yds. They are stationary targets so if you do your part the shot will do it's part. I don't feel like I have enough to gain to justify the cost of all the different shot sizes to try as well as a new choke and yet another black and blue shoulder. If you hit a turkey in the head and have a good pattern, it's gonna die. I'd rather spend a lot on a choke than on shotshells.

On the other hand, my daughter shoots a 20 ga. so I did pattern hevi-shot for her and got some great patterns from federal 3" loads.

[Fullfan]

LetMGrow. I was shooting the 3.5, 1 7/8oz #6. They sure did the job...

I was shooting it out of a Suoer X-2 with a Tru-Gol choke.

[huntn4bucks]

I've killed many turkeys with copper-plated lead and even a couple with Hevi-shot. I typically hunt close quarters so distance is not a major factor for me. Almost all of my shots are within 30 yards.

Last season I tested the Federal Premium Mag*Shok HEAVYWEIGHT loads and the Federal Premium Mag*Shok FLITECONTROL lead loads. I tested 3 1/2" #5s & #6s from my Benelli SBE with a .675 constricted choke. Surprisingly both loads in the #5s performed almost identical. If I remember correctly, I paid about $10 a box for the lead loads and about $24 a box for the HEAVYWEIGHT loads. Since performance was about the same and the price was significantly less, I stuck with the lead loads. The turkey I killed opening day didn't know the difference.

[snapper]

I use Rem. heavy shot. I haven't found another load that shoots as good out of my gun. So yes, for me the extra cost is worth it.
If I could find cheaper shells that patterned as well...I'd prob. use them. Like wacoyote said...If you have a good pattern and hit 'em in the head and neck, he's gonna die.