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Turkey Guns & Shooting => Turkey Guns => Topic started by: 224tth on February 27, 2012, 09:47:42 AM

Title: Federal Heavyweight wrong size? UPDATE
Post by: 224tth on February 27, 2012, 09:47:42 AM
I found some more #7 federal HW loads at Dunns.  I got 8 boxes total for me and a couple buddies.  We shot them in his gun this weekend.  When we walked up to the targets we noticed immediatly that the holes looked to big and patterns were thin.  We counted pellet holes and it was within 3 of last years pattern of #6.  We then counted total pellets in the pattern and came up with a count with 5 less pellets than what is listed for the #6. I know this has come up before, but how was it handled by federal?

thanks
224tth
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size?
Post by: goblr77 on February 27, 2012, 10:07:01 AM
I have 6 boxes of 20 ga federal 7's now. I was not planning on shooting many of them at paper but now I'm gonna have to test one from each box. I would hate for my pattern to fall apart and cost me a bird. This really irritates me.
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size?
Post by: Philippe on February 27, 2012, 10:12:11 AM
Contact federal and give them the lot numbers, they should be able to take care of ya.
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size?
Post by: savduck on February 27, 2012, 10:15:32 AM
Check your lot number. I patterned some federal 7s this weekend as well as another buddy this weekend with two different guns. We both shot averages that were about 30 to 40 pellets off others normal averages with the same set ups as reported on here.

I put the lot number in my post on the 20 ga section. Both of our ammo came from Dunns.

My lot number on 20 ga loads was 37UT456
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size?
Post by: SKFOOTER on February 27, 2012, 11:16:24 AM
Quote from: 224tth on February 27, 2012, 09:47:42 AM
I found some more #7 federal HW loads at Dunns.  I got 8 boxes total for me and a couple buddies.  We shot them in his gun this weekend.  When we walked up to the targets we noticed immediatly that the holes looked to big and patterns were thin.  We counted pellet holes and it was within 3 of last years pattern of #6.  We then counted total pellets in the pattern and came up with a count with 5 less pellets than what is listed for the #6. I know this has come up before, but how was it handled by federal?

thanks
224tth
Are you referring to 12 or 20 gauge loads???????
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size?
Post by: goblr77 on February 27, 2012, 11:31:20 AM
Quote from: savduck on February 27, 2012, 10:15:32 AM
Check your lot number. I patterned some federal 7s this weekend as well as another buddy this weekend with two different guns. We both shot averages that were about 30 to 40 pellets off others normal averages with the same set ups as reported on here.

I put the lot number in my post on the 20 ga section. Both of our ammo came from Dunns.

My lot number on 20 ga loads was 37UT456

Thanks for the info. I'm gonna check my lot #'s this afternoon. They didn't come from Dunn's so maybe they're ok. :thanks:
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size?
Post by: Aim@it on February 27, 2012, 11:58:23 AM
Sir, How does this happen? Has any one discovered the answer yet?
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size?
Post by: SKFOOTER on February 27, 2012, 01:11:54 PM
Uh, sounds like a Quality Control problem. :bike2:
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size?
Post by: 224tth on February 27, 2012, 01:57:53 PM
These were 3.5" 12ga #7(according to the label).  The 20ga #7 had the correct pellet counts.

thanks
224tth
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size?
Post by: goblr77 on February 27, 2012, 07:42:03 PM
Quote from: savduck on February 27, 2012, 10:15:32 AM
Check your lot number. I patterned some federal 7s this weekend as well as another buddy this weekend with two different guns. We both shot averages that were about 30 to 40 pellets off others normal averages with the same set ups as reported on here.

I put the lot number in my post on the 20 ga section. Both of our ammo came from Dunns.

My lot number on 20 ga loads was 37UT456

Just checked all of my new boxes. That's what lot they're from. Checked a partial box I had from last season's testing....same lot #. I was barely breaking 100 with a 21" 870 and RSF. Getting mid 130's with a Sumtoy .562. I acquired a  26" barrel and a SSX choke. Might try it Sunday if the weather is nice. If it will break 150, which it should, I won't complain.
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size? UPDATE
Post by: 224tth on February 29, 2012, 10:01:42 AM
The lot number of the 3.5" 12ga #7 heavyweight is 16VX595.

We cut open on of the shells.  It had 296 pellets, 112 maroon plastic beads, and some white buffer in it.

We emailed and left message for federal.  Buddy also caled Dunns(where ammo is from) and talked to "bill" who took buddies number and told him he would talk to federal rep.  Federal called buddy next day  and told him to mail them one box of the ammo and they would reimburse him for his shipping and "see what they could do about ammo". All * boxes we have are that same lot number.

I will keep you informed about what happend from here.


thanks

224tth
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size? UPDATE
Post by: Quax on February 29, 2012, 10:27:26 AM
My 3" numbers dropped significantly when I shot last yrs production shells vs 2010. I contacted federal and they told me to send them in and they would reimburse for shipping and shells I returned.
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size? UPDATE
Post by: K9Doc on February 29, 2012, 10:45:57 PM
There was a quality control issue at Federal.  Any 12ga 3.5" #7s with an "X" in the lot number is a bad lot.  ONLY but lot #s with a PTH in the #. 
DO NOT BUY LOTS with and "X"

Found out from Rob at GobblerGuns.com
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size? UPDATE
Post by: savduck on March 01, 2012, 02:30:56 PM
Shoot you know its bad when I just cut open a 3" #7 20 ga shell and it had 335 pellets and 107 maroon fillers. It has more pellets than the 3 1/2 load before you even pull the trigger.
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size? UPDATE
Post by: Ebby on March 02, 2012, 11:07:52 AM
Wow. Thats' surprising about the 20ga loads. Who wouldv'e thunk that you had more in the 20 from the get go.
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size? UPDATE
Post by: coyotetrpr on March 02, 2012, 09:09:26 PM
Looks like EM isn't the only ones cutting corners these days. The way I see it is we can go to lead, pay too much for mislabled heavy shot, or pay way too much for nitro ammo. In the companies defense tungsten prices are way up I think, and they are trying to keep their prices down. However, I willnot end this post by seemingly supporting big companies misleading the consumer. Be honest guys.
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size? UPDATE
Post by: agturkey on March 02, 2012, 11:16:04 PM
See my post in general forum
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size? UPDATE
Post by: 224tth on March 08, 2012, 10:05:10 AM
My buddy has been in contact with federal and so have I.  Sent them one box to check.  The checked and sent us a return tag for postage and we have sent them all 8 boxes.  They checked what they had in stock to make sure it was #7 and are replacing our mislabeld ammo with the right thing.  We had shot a couple and cut one open and they said that was no problem.

I am very happy with the speed of the response and how it was handled!

thanks
224tth
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size? UPDATE
Post by: MOStrutter on March 09, 2012, 01:25:36 PM
I just bought 6 boxes from Dunn's on Sunday.  Is this an issue with all boxes with that lot #?  And if so, will Federal replace those with the correct shells?
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size? UPDATE
Post by: savduck on March 09, 2012, 04:47:30 PM
MO, I saw your reply about being worried about the 20 ga and 12. My 20 ga shells from Dunns appear to be #7s. They just dont pattern worth a hoot compared to other lot numbers.

The other thing that worrys me is that everybody says they blow right through plywood at 40 yards. I use a piece of 5 ply plywood as my back stop. At 20 yards mine only penetrated the first layer of the 5 plys.
Title: Re: Federal Heavyweight wrong size? UPDATE
Post by: 224tth on March 21, 2012, 11:43:06 AM
We got our 8 boxes of replacement 3.5" #7 HW back from federal yesterday.  Will pattern them and let you know how the new ones pattern.

thanks
224tth