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SMALL TOWN BLEND OR NINJA?

Started by WW, May 24, 2022, 02:00:05 PM

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WW

Which shell patterned better in your 20 gauge? I'm torn between the 7.5 & 9 blend vs the straight 8.5 's

Dtrkyman

Never shot Apex, but is there a reason you are not going straight 9s?

RutnNStrutn

Never tried the Ninjas, but I'm very happy with the Small Town Blend for my 20.

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Gooserbat

NWTF Booth 1623
One of my personal current interests is nest predators and how a majority of hunters, where legal bait to the extent of chumming coons.  However once they get the predators concentrated they don't control them.

ChesterCopperpot

Quote from: Dtrkyman on May 24, 2022, 02:50:18 PM
Never shot Apex, but is there a reason you are not going straight 9s?
I don't like duplex loads so if the options were only the Small Town Blend or the Ninjas I'd shoot the Ninjas. That said, the straight 9s out perform the Ninjas hands down out of every gun I've run them through. I got a good deal on a bunch of Ninjas and so I'm still shooting them but the straight Apex 9s pattern better out of every gun I own.


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WW

Quote from: Dtrkyman on May 24, 2022, 02:50:18 PM
Never shot Apex, but is there a reason you are not going straight 9s?

It's probably just a mental thing...I feel better about having a 7.5 mixed in with the 9's. I also figure that if the 8's th pattern about same as the 9's in my gun, that's a plus.

joey46

Never was impressed with any duplex load.  The Apex 8 1/2 work fine in my 12 ga.  Don't over choke.

Turkeybutt

I'd go with the 9's. I think you will be pleased.

Dtrkyman

Confidence is key WW.

I was a little skeptical at first, then when I went all in on reloading I could only get 9.5 shot, Hal assured me of their performance and he wasn't joking.

think I bought 2lbs of those 9.5s and killed a bird every time I touched the trigger on them.  Have switched to 9s at this time and even loaded some 7.5 for legal reasons.

VA Gobble Addict

federal TSS patterned better than apex in my gun
Print by Madison Cline, on Flickr

jordanz7935

Theres only a difference of like 30 pellets when comparing the STB and Ninja loads... They should be pretty close in how they pattern, but every gun is different. I have heard from handloaders that the blended loads usually put up tighter core patterns than straight #9's. Ive killed one gobbler with the STB loads in my 20 ga, @ 35 yards he hit the ground hard and didn't flop.

Wigsplitter


Gmed

Ninja shoots well in every gun I have. Neither of these patterns is zeroed, but were after the shot!



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rakkin6

I have two 12 and two 20 gauges. The small town blend patterns better out of my Mossberg 835 than straight #9 but straight  #9 pattern better out of my Franchi Affinity 3.5. My 20 gauge Franchi Affinity 3 shoots #9 better and my Benelli 20 gauge likes the Small Town Blend better.


  So I say it depends on your choke constriction and what your gun likes. But a box of each and see. But honestly you should be good with either of them. When you are shooting either of those loads you are sending a lot of pellets down range.

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DE OPPRESSO LIBER

Louisiana Longbeard

small town blend has been fantastic out of my Benelli, I bought some 20 gauge small town blend for my sons gun and it has shot very well also