Nitro Hevi-Shot???

[3seasons]

I just wanted to gets your opinion on these shells. I looked a box today but couldn’t see paying $61.00 for a box of shells. I would like to pattern one before I pay that much money. I know that some of you shoot these shells, I just want some feed back on patterns (some pics if you have them) at 30 and 40 yds. And do they really kill them any more dead than a lead shell. What about the difference between #7.5 Hevi-shot and #5 lead? What about the MAX effective range of a 7.5 HS compared to a 5 L. I don’t want to start a huge debate just want some info.

I shoot Fed Flight control #5’s with 2oz. of shot, at 30yds.(tip of barrel to target with a rangefinder) I’ll put 55 in a 3” circle (never counted the number in a 10” circle, but my pattern is uniform.

[redbeard]

The only reason I went to Nitro Ammo's heavy shot was Federal 6's stopped patterning well in my Rem SP10.

From the looks of your pattern, I wouldn't worry. Even with Nitro's, my range for pullin' the trigger isn't any farther than copper Fed 6's.

[Strut10]

What's the Nitro shell going to do to that turkey (in your picture) for $6 that the Federal isn't going to do for 90 cents??

Just provoking the thought process.

[maytom]

[ QUOTE ]
What's the Nitro shell going to do to that turkey (in your picture) for $6 that the Federal isn't going to do for 90 cents??

Just provoking the thought process.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, at 30 yards, yes that is a dandy pattern. Most decent turkey loads/chokes can do that well at 25-30 yards. BUT!! It's at the 40 yard marker where the Nitro's shine. So yes, a $6.00 shell that gets the job done at 40-45 yards is well worth the cost in my opinion.

[gitcha_some]

60 dollars for a box of shells is just ridiculus and not worht gaining maybe 5 yards on your shot. look at your pattern why in the world would you want to switch? lol

[Strut10]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
What's the Nitro shell going to do to that turkey (in your picture) for $6 that the Federal isn't going to do for 90 cents??

Just provoking the thought process.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, at 30 yards, yes that is a dandy pattern. Most decent turkey loads/chokes can do that well at 25-30 yards. BUT!! It's at the 40 yard marker where the Nitro's shine. So yes, a $6.00 shell that gets the job done at 40-45 yards is well worth the cost in my opinion.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't know why it tickles me so much. But the Nitro Hevi-vs-lead subject is pretty funny IMHO.

From what I see, 3seasons' 30 yard pattern will squash a gobbler right quick. Also what I see is a pattern that could still use some tweaking. My 40 yard lead patterns look like that. There's no reason to believe his 40-yarders can't look like that, as well, with the proper choke & load combination.

Maybe it tickles me because it's just my modus operandi to call a bird inside 40 yards before I bust a cap on him. Beyond that (and giving a few yards leeway for range estimation) I do not feel I have sufficiently defeated the bird to justify ending his career. So no matter what the Nitro shells do on paper at 45 or 55 or 65 yards is irrelevant........to me. What an individual's preference is is just that, I guess.......individual. I just ain't paying no $6 a pop for irrelevance.

Carry on.

[Rhino]

Nothing wrong with your pattern right now!

Just my opinion but I'd pattern a lot of other shells before I ever considered paying $60/box for those Nitro's.

I also agree with Stut's philosophy on working them inside the 40 yard line. There's a lot of turkey ammo options and choke combinations at a reasonable price that will do a great job with that in mind.

Bottom line is I'll never know how Nitro's would pattern out of my shotgun.

[maytom]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
What's the Nitro shell going to do to that turkey (in your picture) for $6 that the Federal isn't going to do for 90 cents??

Just provoking the thought process.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, at 30 yards, yes that is a dandy pattern. Most decent turkey loads/chokes can do that well at 25-30 yards. BUT!! It's at the 40 yard marker where the Nitro's shine. So yes, a $6.00 shell that gets the job done at 40-45 yards is well worth the cost in my opinion.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't know why it tickles me so much. But the Nitro Hevi-vs-lead subject is pretty funny IMHO.

From what I see, 3seasons' 30 yard pattern will squash a gobbler right quick. Also what I see is a pattern that could still use some tweaking. My 40 yard lead patterns look like that. There's no reason to believe his 40-yarders can't look like that, as well, with the proper choke & load combination.

Maybe it tickles me because it's just my modus operandi to call a bird inside 40 yards before I bust a cap on him. Beyond that (and giving a few yards leeway for range estimation) I do not feel I have sufficiently defeated the bird to justify ending his career. So no matter what the Nitro shells do on paper at 45 or 55 or 65 yards is irrelevant........to me. What an individual's preference is is just that, I guess.......individual. I just ain't paying no $6 a pop for irrelevance.

Carry on.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now strut, I know in your short lifetime, that you seen some birds hang up at 40 yards or maybe a little farther way. I agree, it's sweet when they waltz inside of 25 yards, and I'll take them all the time at that range as well. BUT!!! It's those stubburn toms that decide not to take a step closer than 40 or abouts that I'm referring to old boy!! I'm in no way stating that anyone should take shots at an extreme distance, but it's sure nice to know that your gun can get the job done at the "40 yard" marker when the situation presents itself. I realize that you don't like or care for Nitro's, by your many posts on it.
Hey that's great, were all entitled to our opinions.
I guess I'll stick with my $6.00 a piece Nitro's, after searching for many years to find the right choke/load combo that gets the job done, it's not funny to me wasting a lot of time, effort, and money on many different chokes and turkey loads to finally get there. Best of luck this spring to you Strut , Carry on!!

[EKYhunter]

The Nitro-Rhino combo is awesome! If you ever tried them you would understand. What I like about this combo is you don't have to waste time, money, a sore shoulder, or whatever trying to find the best load/choke combo. You go with Rhino/Nitro from the start and you're golden! 3seasons, what gun are you using?

[terry264]

$6.00/shot=====Kroger/Butterball time, LOL.

[Strut10]

[ QUOTE ]
you seen some birds hang up at 40 yards or maybe a little farther way.........It's those stubburn toms that decide not to take a step closer than 40 or abouts that I'm referring to old boy!! I'm in no way stating that anyone should take shots at an extreme distance, but it's sure nice to know that your gun can get the job done at the "40 yard" marker when the situation presents itself.

[/ QUOTE ]

I will assure you that any tom at "the 40 yard marker", in front of any of my turkey guns, is a dead turkey.

The ones that want to hang up at 48 or 50 or 55 yards have just delayed their date with the reaper by a day or two. I have walked away from lots of gobblers that decided to hang up and look. Most of them (definitely not all) have died a day or few days later. I refuse to take a long shot. Period.

Since 1981 when I started this madness, my average shot distance has been 28 1/4 yards. That being said.......on average, I could use low-brass #8 shot from Wal-Mart for 15 cents each. $6 per pop with the Nitros doesn't interest me in the least.

[Rhino]

EKYhunter the Rhino choke is simply an awesome choke with many other loads besides those $6 Nitro shells. I've been using a Rhino choke for a long time now and have killed birds beyond my preferred cutoff range when I misjudged the yardage. It happens sometimes.

I just can't see where those $6 shells will kill them any deader than the shells I've been using.

The best investment I ever made to virtually eliminate misses was to put a scope on my shotgun. If that's what you're trying to help prevent and don't have some type of scope on your shotgun, I'd invest those $ in a scope first.

[3seasons]

EKYhunter I'm shooting a Rem 870 3" with a 21" barrel. Wood thumbhole stock and a Bushnell red dot scope. I also use a Preston Pittman choke and Fed FC #5's. I've tried 7 different chokes and about 14 different loads over the years. (nice to have friends with all the latest and greatest gear) This is what shoots the best out of my gun. At 30yds my pattern is, other than a couple of fliers, 13in across.

I plan on sticking with what I'm using now. I've had a lot of success with this setup. I was just curious.

I'm like Strut10 when it comes to calling in a bird. Most of the time if I can’t get him less than 50yds (30yds ideal) I won't shoot. I'll just keep working at it until it happens or I will learn a lot in the process. I took three birds a couple of years ago at 43, 47, and 58yds. I've taken two over 60yds one was an oooppps (field bird) the other was on purpose, but I'm not about to make it a habit. The majority of my shots are 30yds or less the closest was 5yds.(way too close)

I was just curious, I know that these shell are tough, but I was just wondering on the lethality of a 7.5 at farther distances. (Neck, skull, or wing breaking ability)

Thanks for all of your inputs. Post some pics of patterns if you have any I’d like to see them.

[EKYhunter]

Rhino, I totally agree with what you said about the choke. I've shot 3.5" loads out of Benelli from Federal, Remington, and Winchester and they all pattern very well. That choke does do a good job with most any load it seems.

3seasons, if you were shooting a 3.5" gun I was going to offer to send you two nitro 4x5x7.5 to try out.

[paintbrush]

I'm another guy who will not pay 6 bucks for 1 shell.The winchester shells I use work just dandy for me.Can't ever recall the lead bouncing off of any of the turkeys I have taken.
I keep my shots within 40 yards and have yet to lose a bird I have shot at.I've taken over 40 birds over the years.I feel no need to try and stretch the limits of my gun by trying shots beyond 40 yards.Just need to know your choke /shell limitations and apply them to the hunt.