Hevi-Shot

[Chuck Norris]

Are they worth the price? Any other shells shoot as good?

 

[REN]

you are gonna get some opinions in this one, however lets be clear on a few facts.

They WILL pattern better out of the majority of guns then lead

They are heavier then lead so they WILL hit harder then lead

They are heavier then lead so you can use a much smaller shot size like #6 or #7 that will hit like a 4 or 5 in lead.

They are WAY more expensive then lead

NO it is not something you HAVE to HAVE to kill turkeys.


now with all that being said IMO it is well worth the change. My gun patterned MUCH better with it to further ranges. With that I gained much more confidence in shooting which equals more birds on the ground.

The way I look at it is you only shoot 4 in a year (if that many) so really it is not all that expensive in the grand scheme of things. In addition you spend tons of money on gear, guns and gas to hunt...why not get the best ammo you can.

just my opinion but I will shoot it as long as i feel the cost is worth it (which is about $24-$28 a box). If i found a lead load that would pattern how my gun does with Hevi i would be fine with shooting it though

 

[Spurhunter]

What REN said. Yes, they are worth it. I shot winchester extended range for several years until I tested them side by side with hevi shot. There was NO comparison. 2 gallons of gas cost more than a hevi shot shell making the shell the cheapest part of the hunt. AND the most critical.

 

[woodsman87]

you are gonna get some opinions in this one, however lets be clear on a few facts.

They WILL pattern better out of the majority of guns then lead

They are heavier then lead so they WILL hit harder then lead

They are heavier then lead so you can use a much smaller shot size like #6 or #7 that will hit like a 4 or 5 in lead.

They are WAY more expensive then lead

NO it is not something you HAVE to HAVE to kill turkeys.


now with all that being said IMO it is well worth the change. My gun patterned MUCH better with it to further ranges. With that I gained much more confidence in shooting which equals more birds on the ground.

The way I look at it is you only shoot 4 in a year (if that many) so really it is not all that expensive in the grand scheme of things. In addition you spend tons of money on gear, guns and gas to hunt...why not get the best ammo you can.

just my opinion but I will shoot it as long as i feel the cost is worth it (which is about $24-$28 a box). If i found a lead load that would pattern how my gun does with Hevi i would be fine with shooting it though

Is it 24$-28$ a box for the five shell boxes or ten? If it is the ten shell boxes I gotta find them where you shop!

 

[woodsman87]

Also, I love the hevi-shot, but hate the brand Hevi-Shot and there are two big reasons. From my experience with the many many Hevi-shot brand Hevi-shot I have bought the actual shotshells are terrible. The ends come apart and the bb's and other things fall out the end. Also, the rim part of the brass gets bummed up really easy and my gun, Remington 11-87, would get to where it couldn't grab them to eject them. Both of these problems would start to happen midway through season after loading and unloading so much. I guess if you never unloaded your gun or killed one everyday it wouldn't do that.

When Remington owned Hevi-shot and first came out with the shells they were awesome, simply because they didn't dang fall apart.

I use the Winchester extended range now, same price as Hevi-shot brand, and I think it is the same kind of metal. The shells on them do not tear up. They pattern as good as Hevi-Shot does too, out of my gun/choke that is.

Maybe Hevi-shot shotshells have changed, and if one of you tells me they don't tear up anymore I may go get me some. But I quite using them, and I have gone through many of them before I finally got tired of fooling with them.

 

[woodsman87]

I have also had great patterns with, I think cannot remember fully, is just the lead federal Mag-shoks with the flight controlled wad in them. Twice as cheap as hevi-shot, and I am about as comfortable with them as I am with the heavy metal shells.

And I always use #5s or #6s. I have never gotten good patterns with #4s. Or not as good as 5s or 6s at least.

 

[Andy S.]

IMO, yes they are worth it IF your gun/choke combination will shoot them accurately (POA=POI) and uniformly without voids in your pattern. The two main things that stick out in my mind since switching to Hevi-Shot is the turkeys flop less right after the shot and they bleed a TON more. My .02

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Definitely worth it in my opinion! I said that i would not pay that price for shells when i was doing fine the way i was, until i shot a gobbler with the 2-3/8 oz load of #5's and he did not quiver! Killed another the next day with the same results. I killed two hens with one shot at 40 yds this past fall and let me tell you, i had a bloody mess! Broke wings broke legs and jelly heads.

Its high but i buy a box every time i can just so i have it, imfixing to invest in about 4 lb. Of tss so the hevi and federal heavyweight will be stockpiled.

 

[Spurhunter]

The two main things that stick out in my mind since switching to Hevi-Shot is the turkeys flop less right after the shot and they bleed a TON more. My .02

Andy, I believe this is due to the irregular shape of the pellets. Kind of like shooting a deer with an old round ball vs. a bullet that opens up on contact. I might be in left field with that analogy but it makes sense to me.

 

[REN]

you are gonna get some opinions in this one, however lets be clear on a few facts.

They WILL pattern better out of the majority of guns then lead

They are heavier then lead so they WILL hit harder then lead

They are heavier then lead so you can use a much smaller shot size like #6 or #7 that will hit like a 4 or 5 in lead.

They are WAY more expensive then lead

NO it is not something you HAVE to HAVE to kill turkeys.


now with all that being said IMO it is well worth the change. My gun patterned MUCH better with it to further ranges. With that I gained much more confidence in shooting which equals more birds on the ground.

The way I look at it is you only shoot 4 in a year (if that many) so really it is not all that expensive in the grand scheme of things. In addition you spend tons of money on gear, guns and gas to hunt...why not get the best ammo you can.

just my opinion but I will shoot it as long as i feel the cost is worth it (which is about $24-$28 a box). If i found a lead load that would pattern how my gun does with Hevi i would be fine with shooting it though

Is it 24$-28$ a box for the five shell boxes or ten? If it is the ten shell boxes I gotta find them where you shop!

5 per box

I still find 3" magblends for $24 which is fine by me but i have a pretty good collection so i dont really HAVE to buy any any time soon.

 

[REN]

Also, I love the hevi-shot, but hate the brand Hevi-Shot and there are two big reasons. From my experience with the many many Hevi-shot brand Hevi-shot I have bought the actual shotshells are terrible. The ends come apart and the bb's and other things fall out the end. Also, the rim part of the brass gets bummed up really easy and my gun, Remington 11-87, would get to where it couldn't grab them to eject them. Both of these problems would start to happen midway through season after loading and unloading so much. I guess if you never unloaded your gun or killed one everyday it wouldn't do that.


I use the Winchester extended range now, same price as Hevi-shot brand, and I think it is the same kind of metal. The shells on them do not tear up. They pattern as good as Hevi-Shot does too, out of my gun/choke that is.

Maybe Hevi-shot shotshells have changed, and if one of you tells me they don't tear up anymore I may go get me some. But I quite using them, and I have gone through many of them before I finally got tired of fooling with them.

1. i have not had any issues with quality, when i shot the straight #7 i tried to always get the same lot#s as there seemed to be good and bad, HOWEVER with the magblends i have not found an issue from lot to lot.

2. the Xtended range is not the same as the Hevi shot...Xtended range is 10% heavier then lead and Hevi is %20 if i remember correctly

I shot the Xtended range for a while but switched as the Hevi just shot way better in my guns.

 

[muddyboots]

Worth it too me.

 

[Grizzly Johnson]

Only thing you will find better are NITRO shells (Production wise)..... they are about $8-$10 per shell.


Well that is unless you handload turkey shells..... that opens up a whole new game.

 

[Lawrence]

I think so
The I shoot the 3" blends

 

[Jarred525]

Worth it too me.

x2

 

[deerhunter10]

worth every single penny imo

 

[JChunts]

I have also had great patterns with, I think cannot remember fully, is just the lead federal Mag-shoks with the flight controlled wad in them. Twice as cheap as hevi-shot, and I am about as comfortable with them as I am with the heavy metal shells.

And I always use #5s or #6s. I have never gotten good patterns with #4s. Or not as good as 5s or 6s at least.

I shoot the federal 5s with the flight control wad. I've patterned them next to hevi-shot out of my 835 and can't tell much difference out to 40 yards other than the price.

 

[JChunts]

That still doesn't account for the knock down power you guys are talking about though. I have not shot a bird with the hevi-shots yet. I purchased some after last turkey season because my cousin raved about them.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Also, I love the hevi-shot, but hate the brand Hevi-Shot and there are two big reasons. From my experience with the many many Hevi-shot brand Hevi-shot I have bought the actual shotshells are terrible. The ends come apart and the bb's and other things fall out the end. Also, the rim part of the brass gets bummed up really easy and my gun, Remington 11-87, would get to where it couldn't grab them to eject them. Both of these problems would start to happen midway through season after loading and unloading so much. I guess if you never unloaded your gun or killed one everyday it wouldn't do that.


I use the Winchester extended range now, same price as Hevi-shot brand, and I think it is the same kind of metal. The shells on them do not tear up. They pattern as good as Hevi-Shot does too, out of my gun/choke that is.

Maybe Hevi-shot shotshells have changed, and if one of you tells me they don't tear up anymore I may go get me some. But I quite using them, and I have gone through many of them before I finally got tired of fooling with them.

1. i have not had any issues with quality, when i shot the straight #7 i tried to always get the same lot#s as there seemed to be good and bad, HOWEVER with the magblends i have not found an issue from lot to lot.

2. the Xtended range is not the same as the Hevi shot...Xtended range is 10% heavier then lead and Hevi is %20 if i remember correctly

I shot the Xtended range for a while but switched as the Hevi just shot way better in my guns.

Xtended range and hevi shot are both 12 g/cc making them the same.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

The two main things that stick out in my mind since switching to Hevi-Shot is the turkeys flop less right after the shot and they bleed a TON more. My .02

Andy, I believe this is due to the irregular shape of the pellets. Kind of like shooting a deer with an old round ball vs. a bullet that opens up on contact. I might be in left field with that analogy but it makes sense to me.

Hevishot is irregular shaped but it is way harder than lead, lead mushrooms or flattens on impact, hevi does not.

2 reasons Turkeys don't flop as much with hevi.

1. Harder shot equals better pattern so more shot on target/in killzone

2. Hevi is denser so it penetrates farther, breaking more bone, tearing more flesh and blood than lead. Even #6 and #5 hevi will penetrate to the heart and lungs and lead will not
I

 

[booth]

The old hevi 13 were 13g cc now they have dropped to around 12g cc. So a hevi 7 is equivalent to a lead 6.

 

[Spurhunter]

Rock, I was comparing hevi shot to xtended range which is round pellets of the same density. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Andy S.]

The old hevi 13 were 13g cc now they have dropped to around 12g cc.

This is news to me, when did this happen? I was under the impression that Hevi-Shot was 12g cc but Hevi-13 was 13g cc? Is this not the case?

HEVI-13 states "HEVI-13 pellets are about 20% denser than lead and penetrate far deeper." Lead density is 11.3g cc, so 20% denser would be 13.5 g cc. I could swallow 13 g cc, but if they are advertising their shot is 20% denser than lead and producing and selling something that is 6% denser, that is very misleading.

These have always been the density values that I learned and used in my calculations:

Steel - 7.5g cc, Bismuth - 9.6g cc, Unplated Lead - 11.3g cc, Hevi-Shot & Remington HD - 12g cc, HEVI-13 - 13g cc, Federal heavyweight - 15.2g cc, and Tungsten Super Shot - 18g cc.

 

[Andy S.]

Andy, I believe this is due to the irregular shape of the pellets.

I agree 100% and so does my good friend who has been shooting Nitro's since they first hit the market 10 or more years ago. We both agree the irregular shape of the shot is a key player in the killing power, as well as the denser shot, thus more penetration at similar velocities.

 

[sellsman11]

Only thing you will find better are NITRO shells (Production wise)..... they are about $8-$10 per shell.

I agree 100%. They are $6 around here.

 

[Andy S.]

I agree 100%. They are $6 around here.

FWIW, I paid $8/shell last year including tax for H517T 3.5", and I called my local vendor just now and he quoted me $45.89 including tax for those same 5 shells, so that is $9.18 per shell. My buddy just placed an order with Nitro last week and he too said the prices had went up some from last year.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

The old hevi 13 were 13g cc now they have dropped to around 12g cc.

This is news to me, when did this happen? I was under the impression that Hevi-Shot was 12g cc but Hevi-13 was 13g cc? Is this not the case?

HEVI-13 states "HEVI-13 pellets are about 20% denser than lead and penetrate far deeper." Lead density is 11.3g cc, so 20% denser would be 13.5 g cc. I could swallow 13 g cc, but if they are advertising their shot is 20% denser than lead and producing and selling something that is 6% denser, that is very misleading.

These have always been the density values that I learned and used in my calculations:

Steel - 7.5g cc, Bismuth - 9.6g cc, Unplated Lead - 11.3g cc, Hevi-Shot & Remington HD - 12g cc, HEVI-13 - 13g cc, Federal heavyweight - 15.2g cc, and Tungsten Super Shot - 18g cc.

It has been like that for a couple of years now, het still advertise the same and no one would know it if handloaders had not measured the density.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Andy, I believe this is due to the irregular shape of the pellets.

I agree 100% and so does my good friend who has been shooting Nitro's since they first hit the market 10 or more years ago. We both agree the irregular shape of the shot is a key player in the killing power, as well as the denser shot, thus more penetration at similar velocities.

I dont see how.that is possible, the one big thing is penetration, but the biggest thing is more pellets on target.

With lead you break one vertebrae where hevi that patterns better will break 10 vertebrate ( just an example)

Hevi patterns great but i guarantee that if EM produced perfectly round shot it would pattern even tighter. Deformed shot causes flyers.

Square bullets wouldn't kill any better than round ones...

 

[Andy S.]

....if handloaders had not measured the density.

Did you measure the density? If so, how? If not, who did? If not you, provide the source as I would like to read about their experiment and results. Thanks.

 

[Andy S.]

Deformed shot causes flyers.

How do you figure this to be the case? If it is true, one sure could not tell it by looking at my paper targets.

Square bullets wouldn't kill any better than round ones...

Our thinking is the irregularities in the shot cut and destroy flesh, tissue, organs and such jut as a serrated knife would when compared to a smooth blade knife. The result is a more nasty wound if you will. We do not have any scientific data to support this, just something we have theorized over the years of shooting Nitro and Hevi shells and witnessing their destruction on turkeys.