HEVI-SHOT Magnum Blend Loads - Are These the Same?

[Full_Fan]

I've been a big fan of the original Magnum Blend loads from HEVI-SHOT (top box in the photo).  Not sure if the pellets were the same material as their straight HEVI-13 loads but I would assume so?  Anyway, I noticed that the HEVI-SHOT Magnum Blend box changed last year or the year before (bottom box in the photo).  I was wondering if anybody knows whether the loads changed at all or if today's Magnum Blends are the same as the pervious one?  The specs seem to be the same but I was more wondering on the pellet material?

It's interesting to me that they discontinued their straight HEVI-13 loads but still make the Magnum Blends in 28ga, 20ga, 12ga, and 10ga.  I've had good luck with the 12ga Magnum Blends but have always used shells from the old box design.  Before I purchase the new box design, I just wanted to make sure they are the same product and will perform the same...?  Thank you for any responses.

[bbcoach]

I'm a Hevi-13 7's guy from 2010.  That's all that I put through my 835 with 300 plus at 40.  I've stockpiled enough to last my lifetime, so I won't be changing.  With this being said and after looking at the Hevishot website, it seems these Mag blends are basically the same shell with a few Hyped-up marketing GIMMICKS.  1. They have added the word Tungsten on their packaging to give the APPEARANCE that tungsten plays a BIG role in the makeup.  It states 12g/cc so nothing has really changed there, other than MARKETING HYPE.  2. Their website also boasts a GREATER distance then we can discuss here as well but only patterning this shell in your choke and gun will tell the FACTS.  3. With the changes they made to their components after having such a QUALITY product in their early offerings, you can't be sure these shells in a new package will perform as the early offerings would but maybe from 2017.  IMO Hevi-shot has lost market share since their early debacle.  I have plenty of the early lot numbers in the HEVI 13 7 loads, so I'll stick with a TRUE winner in my book. As I stated in #2, only patterning will Answer the question presented IMO. 

[Full_Fan]

Thanks for the reply!  I too was/am a diehard fan of their early H-13 offerings and it's too bad they don't make them anymore.  I might be wrong, but the Magnum Blends came out a few years after their initial H-13 offerings.  I'm not sure if the pellet composition was the same as the early straight H-13 loads or not back then??  I always thought H-13 was meant 13 g/cc and now like you mentioned, it states 12 density on the new Magnum Blend boxes.  I agree that they have lost market share since they first came on the scene.  I just want to know if they change the pellet composition in these Magnum Blends from what it used to be 5+ years ago.  I think I'll give them a call and see what they say but there's no way to know for sure if what they tell me is true.  Like you said, patterning would be the only way to compare patterns which is only one element of load performance.  Thanks again for the comments.

[Full_Fan]

I just got off the phone with HEVI-shot.  The rep said they dropped the original straight H-13 line due to customer demand for the heavier H-18 product line and it didn't make financial sense for them to keep both lines in production.  However, they kept the Magnum Blend line for a little more cost concise customer.  He said the pellet composition in the current Magnum Blends is exactly the same as it was 25+ years ago in the early H-13 loads.  So the new Magnum Blend loads should shoot the same or very similar to older lots of the same shell.  I'm going to buy a box and see what the paper says.

[bbcoach]

As you stated, the Hevi-13 shotshells were NASTY when they first hit the market.  The 7's that I have, and shoot are the original Hevi-13's (13 g/cc).  A little denser than lead and will flat out HAMMER birds at respectable distance.  The early offerings were putting up some 340 and 350 numbers in the 7's and the 6's in the 250 to 280 range.  I'm not a Big fan of the blends due to pellet count but those added 5's should give them some GREAT knock down.  I hope they pattern well for you. 

[Full_Fan]

I know the "old box" Magnum Blends patterned great for me so fingers crossed the "new box" Magnum Blends do the same.