The world markets fluctuate based on availability of materials and global demand for that finite supply. Econ 101. We have been witness to an amazing Renaissance of metal alloys that have found an eager market in the shotgunning and hunting industry. With high demand, comes higher prices.
I have loaded, shot, and loved, TSS. The price for that shot material continues to spiral upwards, long ago crossing my threshold to personally rationalize it's price, regardless of it's effectiveness. HeviShot is quickly approaching this same situation, with shot that is less impressive than TSS. Federal HeavyWeight shotgun shells are awesome, but the mad scramble to find a few boxes of these once they are released for sales has become a cartoon of itself.
Things change, and our ability to make intelligent and rational adjustments to these changes is an ongoing challenge for us as turkey hunters. The day may come when TSS, HeviShot and HeavyWeight shot in a shotgun shell cease to be available except for the rich. The day may come when turkey hunters begin to reel in our expectations of how a shell performs at certain distances in order to guarantee the ultimate goal of a 1-shot kill on gobblers.
Lead, in any number of it's incarnations, may again become the only shot available to the general buying public in a price range not requiring a 2nd on the house.
In light of this possibility, what do you think is the best lead 20 gauge shotgun shell on the market today? Will Winchester ever produce and sell a 20 gauge #6 shot Longbeard XR shell? I don't want to stop chasing gobblers, but if I need to take a step back concerning ammunition, I can be flexible and hunt within the limitations of my equipment and still love this sport.
FC
If it gets to that point, I'll go back to lead and a 12 gauge.
My buddy gets good patterns out of a Beretta 391 20 gauge, Primos choke and Fiocchi Heavy Pheasant lead 6's. In a one shot test, my SX3 20 gauge doesn't pattern them worth a darn.
Considering what I spend on my gun and gear, and gas to get to hunting areas, seems silly to worry whether a shell costs $2 or $6. That line item is inconsequential in the big picture of expenses.
Buy enough now to last you.
Quote from: 01Foreman400 on January 17, 2015, 03:14:43 PM
Buy enough now to last you.
This ^ I have enough of HTL loads in 12 and 20 to last 25 yrs if I limit out every yr
The best lead rounds in the 20 gauge i used last year was the federal turkey thugs #5 shot, i got 109 in a 10" circle at 35 yards
I have several boxes of the Federal 3" #5's and #6's "PRE FLIGHT CONTROL"
these shells have no problem with killing birds out to 35-40 yards
Quote from: surehuntsalot on January 18, 2015, 08:23:32 PM
I have several boxes of the Federal 3" #5's and #6's "PRE FLIGHT CONTROL"
these shells have no problem with killing birds out to 35-40 yards
Have you tried any of the Federal, 20 gauge, 3", copper-coated lead, FC loads? They look like they would be some bad medicine on a gobbler's softer parts. http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/shotshell.aspx?id=835
Quote from: FullChoke on January 18, 2015, 09:55:03 PM
Quote from: surehuntsalot on January 18, 2015, 08:23:32 PM
I have several boxes of the Federal 3" #5's and #6's "PRE FLIGHT CONTROL"
these shells have no problem with killing birds out to 35-40 yards
Have you tried any of the Federal, 20 gauge, 3", copper-coated lead, FC loads? They look like they would be some bad medicine on a gobbler's softer parts. http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/shotshell.aspx?id=835
I have some of these also, I get good hunting patterns out of the .570 Hastings choke with these (90-110 in the 10)
I'm eyeballing those shells as well. If they pattern as well as the Heavyweight I may make the switch. Would be nice to get them in #6 lead...
My gun throws a pretty dang mean pattern with the old Remington super full choke and the Fiocchi 3" nickel plated #7.5's. I'd have no reservation at 35 for sure.
With the rebate Federal is offering on the HWs it puts them around 3 bucks a shell at a qty of 10. I myself tried to justify TSS and couldn't make it happen when comparing it to HW. I have shot both lead and HW out of my gun and can justify the HW over lead with a 1 to 2 dollar price difference.