Xtended range or Hevi-shot mag blend?

[762hunter]

Left is the Hevi Shot MagBlend 3 1/2
Right is the Winchester Xtende Range 3 1/2 #5shot

I have been shooting the Xtended Range the past couple years with good results.
Needed some shells so decided to try out the MagBlend.

Think I like it.

I have adjusted my sights a bit to the right so time to shoot a couple more and see where its hitting. Gonna try it at 40 yards as well just to know what the pattern is there.

Dang shells get expensive when shooting paper.


Oh this is out of a Rem 870.

Been thinking about a Bsquare mount and scope of some sort.

What are ya'lls opinion? scope or no scope? reg scope or red dot?

 

[BigRod]

What tube are you using?

 

[REN]

how far are those shots from?

 

[ruger7mag]

I would go with the Hevi. As far as scope or no scope question, I would definitely get one. I use a Leupold 1.5-4x20 on a saddle mount and love it.

 

[Spurhunter]

how far are those shots from?

X2. Both targets look good but I'm quite sure these aren't 40 yard targets.

 

[Spurhunter]

As far as scope or no scope question, I would definitely get one. I use a Leupold 1.5-4x20 on a saddle mount and love it.

I use a B Square with a turkey scope but I recently aquired a Leupold 2-7 Turkey plex NWTF Edition I am swapping to. I love a scope on a turkey gun.

 

[Spurhunter]

I shot 3.5 inch XR 5's for several years but when I shot a longbeard at 42 yards and he ran off I switched to Hevi straight 6's. It's a Ford/Chevy thing I guess.

 

[deerhunter10]

cant go wrong with magnum blends imo!

 

[762hunter]

You are correct Spurhunter,
These were shot at 25 yards

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Being as how the hevi is 1/4 oz more. Its 6:1 half dozen to the other

 

[bowhunterfanatic]

Good looking pattern. With a pattern that tight I'd have to use a scope or shoot em all at 35 yards!

 

[762hunter]

Bigrod,
I am currently shooting the CompnChoke xxfull Turkey choke

 

[ruger7mag]

As far as scope or no scope question, I would definitely get one. I use a Leupold 1.5-4x20 on a saddle mount and love it.

I use a B Square with a turkey scope but I recently aquired a Leupold 2-7 Turkey plex NWTF Edition I am swapping to. I love a scope on a turkey gun.

I almost bought one of those scopes when I bought mine, but I figured I would never turn it past 4 power so i went with the 1.5-4. They will both work well though.

 

[Spurhunter]

As far as scope or no scope question, I would definitely get one. I use a Leupold 1.5-4x20 on a saddle mount and love it.

I use a B Square with a turkey scope but I recently aquired a Leupold 2-7 Turkey plex NWTF Edition I am swapping to. I love a scope on a turkey gun.

I almost bought one of those scopes when I bought mine, but I figured I would never turn it past 4 power so i went with the 1.5-4. They will both work well though.

I agree. The one I'm replacing is a straight 2.5 power and it served me well. I got this 2-7 in a package deal so I'm going to put it to good use. It's better glass than my old one too.

 

[KANATI McD]

Heavy shot mag blends. Step out to 40 yards and compare

 

[Gravey]

I switched to magblends last year and love 'em. I also have a scope and B-square mount on my 835.

 

[762hunter]

Here is 40 yards

and here is my setup

 

[762hunter]

I'm trying to tell myself I dont need a scope and forget about it but can see where it would be nice at 40 yards +

I have only killed 4 birds so I'm rather a Novice at this Turkey stuff

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

40+ yds ain't where you need a scope, from muzzle to 25 yds is where you need a scope. I personally dont like a cope on my Turkey gun. You have good sights there i would sight her in at 10 yds and make sure you still have a good centered pattern at 40 and let her rip

 

[KANATI McD]

Scope would be nice. But sometimes you gotta be extreme. Just dont think the scope would stay on when im belly crawling

 

[TheLBLman]

Just dont think the scope would stay on when im belly crawling

A good scope & mounts should be uneffected by a "belly crawl".
My preference on a turkey gun is the old version Nikon Monarch 1.5-4.5 x 20mm. It has a much smaller "footprint" than most of the "red dots" and other "turkey" scopes, with exception to special sights such as the Burris Fastfire (another excellent choice).

By the way, of all the turkey loads I've tested, the Winchester Xtended range shells have consistently produced the most uniform patterns. They are superior to copper-plated lead loads, but do not have the per-pellet energy of the Hevi-13 (or Mag blends) loads. I've generally found the Winchester Xtendeds to produce a larger (but very uniform) pattern than the mag blends, meaning they might be more ideal for a 2nd shot if needed on a wounded but fleeing bird (due to a slightly larger pattern).

One thing to keep in mind:

The "heavier" the material used for the pellets, the fewer pellets per ounce. Thus, 2 ounces of Win. Xtended #6's have more pellets in them than 2 ounces of Hevi-13 #6's. Thus, as you got to "heavier" materials, you may need to go to smaller shot sizes, i.e. most are using #8 or #9 size shot in the TSS material, as it "penetrates" comparably to a #5 or #6 lead, while offering greater pattern density.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Just dont think the scope would stay on when im belly crawling

One thing to keep in mind:

The "heavier" the material used for the pellets, the fewer pellets per ounce. Thus, 2 ounces of Win. Xtended #6's have more pellets in them than 2 ounces of Hevi-13 #6's. Thus, as you got to "heavier" materials, you may need to go to smaller shot sizes, i.e. most are using #8 or #9 size shot in the TSS material, as it "penetrates" comparably to a #5 or #6 lead, while offering greater pattern density.

Hevi and xtended range are both the same density, both are equal in pellet count if the payloads are the same. Both are 12 grams per cubic centimeter

 

[TheLBLman]

Hevi and xtended range are both the same density, both are equal in pellet count if the payloads are the same. Both are 12 grams per cubic centimeter

I had been under the impression that the Hevi-13's were of a denser material than the Winchester Xtendeds.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Hevi and xtended range are both the same density, both are equal in pellet count if the payloads are the same. Both are 12 grams per cubic centimeter

I had been under the impression that the Hevi-13's were of a denser material than the Winchester Xtendeds.

I think at one time they actually were, with hevi at 13 g/cc but now both are equal in weight.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Clean out your p.m's wes

 

[Andy S.]

I think at one time they actually were, with hevi at 13 g/cc but now both are equal in weight.

If I really wanted to be sure, I would do a test to determine the density (mass per unit volume) of the shot in the shells you own. Reason I say this is because I talked with a Hevi-Shot rep few days back and he assured me the density was still 13g/cc in the Hevi-13 loads. I also asked this same question to another rep few years back and he too told me that they were 13g/cc. In the end, 12 versus 13 isn't that big of difference, just thought I would point this out.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Straight from the shot-man himself this guy has handled and tested more shot than anyone here dare dream....

Here's a basic chart showing the approx, nominal pellet counts per ounce of shot of various materials and sizes; assuming true shape, true size and true density.

Lead Shot

Lead #2: 89/oz Lead #4: 136/oz Lead #5: 173/oz Lead #6: 222/oz Lead #7: 295/oz

12g/cc Shot (Hevi-Shot, Hevi-13, Win XRHD, Rem HD)

12g/cc #2: 81/oz 12g/cc #4: 125/oz 12g/cc #5: 159/oz 12g/cc #6: 209/oz 12g/cc #7: 278/oz

13g/cc Shot (ITX Extreme Turkey Trauma-13, Nitros Megaweight)

13g/cc #2: 75/oz 13g/cc #4: 115/oz 13g/cc #5: 147/oz 13g/cc #6: 193/oz 13g/cc #7: 256/oz 13g/cc #8: 352/oz

15g/cc Shot (Federal Heavyweight, Tungsten Spheres)

15g/cc #2: 65/oz 15g/cc #4: 100/oz 15g/cc #5: 127/oz 15g/cc #6: 165/oz 15g/cc #7: 219/oz 15g/cc #8: 301/oz

18g/cc Shot (TSS)

TSS #2: 54/oz TSS #4: 83/oz TSS #5: 106/oz TSS #6: 139/oz TSS #7: 185/oz TSS #8: 254/oz TSS #9: 362

 

[Andy S.]

Straight from the shot-man himself this guy has handled and tested more shot than anyone here dare dream....

I am all to familiar with his knowledge from other turkey hunting forums and his data you presented here, but I am not familiar with his testing procedures. If you will, ask him how he determined Hevi-13 to be 12 g/cc, and furthermore, ask him what his sample size was (how much testing he has done). In other words, if he cut open one shell and did some random test, I would not be near as compelled as if he tested numerous Hevi-13 shells/shot with a detailed testing procedure that could be duplicated for verification. Run that rabbit down if you have the time. I'd like to hear his answer to both of my questions (how he came to this conclusion and what level of testing was done to get there). Thanks.

 

[Andy S.]

Rock - I, too, am trying to contact Hal to ask these questions as well. I PM'd him on another forum site, awaiting his reply now.

 

[TheLBLman]

Or, we could just consider going with the Federal Heavyweights!
They ARE 15g/cc, trumping the density of everything else out there in a commercial load. If you can find them in a #7, I highly recommend you buy them. But good luck finding those #7's except in 20 gauge.

Check out this comparison below of the Federal Heavyweight #7 pellets vs. Standard Lead #5 pellets!
http://www.chuckhawks.com/federal_20gau ... y_load.htm

I was unable to find the Federal Heavyweight 12 gauge in any shot size smaller than #6's last year. Because the shot was SO dense, those loads had a lot fewer pellets, and the #6's just weren't giving the pattern density I wanted. But if could find them in a #7 . . . . . . !!! Better yet, wish they would make them available in a #8 Heavyweight. In the meantime, I'm shooting Hevi-13 straight #7's and/or the H13 "Blends" as my chambered 12 ga. turkey load. (The 20 ga. is carrying the #7 Heavyweights.)