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winchester universal are they crap?

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August1940

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I shot some Winchester universal 1 1/8 # 8 3 dram loads at league last nite. From the 26,

I couldn't hit the side of a barn. I tried shooting high, low, behind, in front, never found a place where I could hit. I'm ashamed to say how many misses I had.

Haven't shot them at paper, as I just bought them. Are they really that bad??

I shot two practice rounds with some of my 1 ounce reloads, and shot well also from the 26.

I can't find much info on them as to what others think of them.

what opinions do some of you have??

Thanks August
 
#3 ·
I bought 2 Value Packs from Walmart and I'm not impressed. I shot 4 boxes the first day in Handicap with a low score. The 2nd day I decided to buy Top Gun and my score was better. The Winchester Universal seemed to recoil about like a 2 3/4 dr eq load where the Top Gun seemed like a 3 dram load. In Canada we buy a lot of Winchester Super Target shells and they work just fine. I refuse to buy Gun Clubs for Handicap because I think they have soft shot but are adequate for 16 yards.
 
#4 ·
At handicap, I figure I will lose a bird or two per round when I use promotional ammo, like Universals, Gun Clubs, Top Gun, etc. For registered handicap events, I use AA's or STS. At 16 yards, it doesn't seem to make a difference.

I use the cheap stuff for my first shot at doubles, the AA's or STS for the second shot. I can't really justify my reasoning, but it seems to work.

bluedsteel

bluedsteel
 
#11 ·
I am not afraid to shoot the Federal Top Guns from any yardage, I do prefer the 3 dram 7.5s, and I am now reloading all my loads in the Top Gun Hull, I called Hodgdon and they said to use the Federal Gold Medal Loading specs.

So I load Top Gun w/26 Grs 800-X 1 3/16ths # 6s Windjammer Wad, Fed 209A Primer
@1300fps @7200psi

Shootoffs 37.4 Grs Longshot 1 1/8th oz #6s Windjammer Wad Fed 209A Primer
@1530 fps @8900psi


Line Load 20.5 Grs Promo 1 1/8th oz 7.5s windjammer Wad Fed 209A Primer 1250fps
@9500psi

These are proven hard working loads and do their job efficiently.

Am purchasing the Federal 209A cheaper than Winchester 209 primers.

Now the only Rio Primers I use are in the Rio Hulls, I lost my supplier.

All shot used is Magnum Shot

Gary Bryant
Dr.longshot
 
#12 ·
1530 fps? Holy Mackerel Andy... Can't shoot at our place. The shot will be beyond our salvage area.

I shoot GCs, Super Target, and kemen for handicap. all about the same to me. But top of the line for ATA handicap
 
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#14 ·
I have shot the Wal-Mart Federals and Remingtons without a complaint...but I hate the Wal-Mart Winchesters. They kick way more than the other two and with poor results. No more for me! Of course, I just saw the Wal-Mart prices today and they won't be selling me ANY shells any time soon!!!! Martinpicker
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Dust maker.

Actually I did try shooting at the target. I reminded myself of all the rules, head on stock, don't look at barrel, concentrate on target, shoot as quickly as I could after seeing the bird leave the house.

I even tried shooting with one eye (my right eye). I shoot with both eyes open all the time.

That is what made it so frustrating.

I did shoot some of the Winchester Universal 1 1/8 # 8's from the 16 this Sunday, and had pretty good results.

I moved back to the 23, used the same loads, and had way more misses.

I then shot some of my reloads Win AA hulls AA pink wads, win primers , 19.6 grains of Red dot. ! oz. of # 8 sparta shot, and shot 48 of 50 from the same 23 yard line.

I know you were joking about shooting at the target, but believe me , I was trying everything but throwing the shells by hand at the target.

Any way, I appreciate the replies from you all, at least I know there might be something with the Winchester shells, besides me just being a rather poor shooter. I am going to relegate these shells to the close yardages until they are gone, and then no more for me!!

Regards august
 
#16 ·
Awhile back my dad found several cases of 3dram, 1 1/8, of #6...yes #6 shot in the universals. He shoots them as a back up shell on buddies. Its UNBELIEVABLE how hard these shells will crush a target.

I rarely shoot new shells but dad shoots top guns, gun clubs, and universals all the time. He says he can't tell the slightest difference between the 3.

I love to reload the universals. Use AA loading data...and go smoke targets. BYG
 
#17 ·
Over the past few years I have bought the Winchester Universal four paks at WalMart from time to time. Just to stockpile extra shells, as I normally shoot Remington STS or Winchester AA shells at ATA shoots.

I use the Universals for practice, both singles and 27 yard handicap. I don't notice much difference in the breaks I get. I do prefer the 7 1/2's for handicap shooting. As far as recoil I don't notice it much as I have a ProSoft stock on my Perazzi TMX and it has a Wilkinson barrel.

I shot 50 of these shells last Saturday and saved the hulls, which I usually throw away. I was going to throw them away at home but I decided to try and reload them as I was reloading some Winchester Super Targets in my PW reloader, (which by the way reload better than AA's) and they reload GREAT !! Try it yourself. I have reloaded the Winchester Super Target hulls 5 times and they still look and load bitchin, these hulls are overlooked by most. But, by far the Universals load the best and look as new.

Tom Strunk
 
#20 ·
I am in California and agree with Bill Hom. I opened several of these Winchester Universal shells and the shot was not uniform, it was very soft, and due to it being so soft there were clusters that were formed together.
 
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