Apex Ammo

[Ol Timer]

For all those that are using Apex 20 ga. Ammo from Apex have you seen a difference in your patterns lately, I been using there ammo since 2020 #9 and # 7/9 blends  and had great success out of my Remington 870 until the last few boxes since last year's 2024 shells.  I ordered another few new boxes this year to test them out and I'm seeing a different pattern again all the shells are ordered directly from their factory. I had a few shells from prior years and they patterned completely different and better than the newer shellsover the last 2 years purchased. Just curious if anyone else has noticed a change.

[TrackeySauresRex]

Not really sure, Is the 7/9 blend allowed in Nj?

[Number17]

The .410 is an entirely different hull than it used to be. Brighter red, shorter brass, and a slightly smaller diameter.
My older shells failed to eject one time on a 301 .410. I thought the smaller diameter might help with that.

[Notsoyoungturk]

When I was zeroing my red dot on my Mossberg .410, I had a box of the Apex Ninja #9 that seemed to vary patterns from shell to shell.  I was using a lead sled so I know it was not me. Most times, it takes a couple of shots to be happy.  It took me 10 shots to feel really comfortable because I had to shoot the same shot over a couple of times due to pattern differences.  I have never had that experience in the past.

[Tail Feathers]

Tested some 2024 year apex 9's this spring.  Best pattern numbers ever out of my sa 20.  Had a new choke in my CVA so not a good comparison.

[Sungrazer]

I sure hope not, just bought a box today! Every time I get in truck to leave the store my Dad's voice pops in my head " you just paid $54 for 5 Turkey shells!"
Plan to confirm POI/POA tomorrow if not raining.

[Ol Timer]

Exactly Joey I didn't expect to get a lot of responses on this post because of that factor cost most  fokes will dial in a pattern and think everything is fine year after year, but I wanted to share my experience with what's been happening lately with checking my setup before I do any hunting. I travel to several states and don't have time on the road to check if thing is just  ok.  Let us know Sunglazer your experience.

[deathfoot]

I tested my 20 before this spring with March 2024 and it shot low. Still a great pattern, just low. So I zeroed it back in.

I had wondered why. I just assumed it was my Holosun red dot. But maybe not

[Dougas]

I always zero in a new sight and check zero of an old sight with bird shot first. If it is close, I finish it out with my turkey loads shooting out to 50 yards. I start at 20 yards and then 30 and then 40 and lastly 50 yards. I need to know what the pattern looks like at all of those ranges.
If I can't afford to do that then I can't afford a license and tag and have no business being out in the woods turkey hunting. The  financial investment of knowing your gun is zeroed and patterned is as important or more so, as the rest of the financial investments in turkey hunting.

[Happy]

Just some food for thought. The way you store ammo matters. I know a guy that does competition shotgun shoots. He has an easy 3 grand in his gun. He was complaining to me about slight shifts in impact from shot to shot, and it was enough to keep him out of the money. Per their rules, they have to shoot the ammo supplied to them at the shoot. I told him to take his shells from now on time and tap the base on the table a few times before he loaded up. He is winning money now. Storing shells on their sides will have a negative effect. Over time, the buffer and pellets will settle on the bottom side.

[Sungrazer]

Finally had good weather and my day off coincide with an opportunity to verify POA with POI today. New box of Apex 20ga. 1 5/8 #9 shot with new graphics on box but same part/model number I had last season - GT20.
WOW! Best pattern I've had yet with my silver eagle O/U, Pinhoti.585 Trulock choke. Ready for my 1st season to start next week. Can't figure out how to share the pic or I would.
This load is most definitely what I'll be hunting this season.

[Bowguy]

Not really sure, Is the 7/9 blend allowed in Nj?

No but I believe they're waiting in game code changes to allow 9 tss. They initially tested 410s and tss down to size 9 before covid.

[deathfoot]

Just some food for thought. The way you store ammo matters. I know a guy that does competition shotgun shoots. He has an easy 3 grand in his gun. He was complaining to me about slight shifts in impact from shot to shot, and it was enough to keep him out of the money. Per their rules, they have to shoot the ammo supplied to them at the shoot. I told him to take his shells from now on time and tap the base on the table a few times before he loaded up. He is winning money now. Storing shells on their sides will have a negative effect. Over time, the buffer and pellets will settle on the bottom side.

I have now turned my boxes of apex so they aren't sideways. Not sure if this will help but I don't see how it can hurt so I did it. Thank you.

[ShortMagFan]

After the 2021 season I bought a box of every brand TSS I could and patterned them all thru several chokes

Found the magic combo of one brand that consistently put 350+ in the 10". But of course post covid ammo shortage and it was out of stock

Well it came back in stock before the 2022 season and I bought 10 boxes. Did not pattern even close to the same. So had to start over finding a choke that shot that load well in my gun

I've still never gotten back to the patterns I was getting from the 2021 shells. Just to make sure I wasn't crazy I shot my last two of the 2021 shells last spring thru the gun/choke that did beat with them. And for sure just like I remembered, 350+ in the 10"

Long winded way of saying if you find something that shoots to your liking, buy a bunch of the same batch. Components can be identical but a small variation on powder or wad or crimp that the manufacturer may or may not know about can change a lot


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[zelmo1]

Mrs Z questioned why it took so long to load up a few TSS as opposed to my trap loads. Answer is simple, trap shooting is a volume sport, killing turkeys cleanly is a consistent result sport. My wording sux but you get the idea. I measure my powder and shot so they are identical or at .001+ or -. We shoot our guns a lot and usually it in not a painful experience to get back to zero. On the dedicated turkey guns, no removing or changing anythin, it is usually 3 shots and done. On my SBE 28 it can be a little longer due to the removal of the green dot so I can shoot ducks. Good luck and shoot a lot, Z