[Joe Hunter]

I posted some of this info a couple weeks ago, but after completing the Super-Target load dissection and patterning, I decided to put my findings on these three low-cost factory shotshell loads into one post so it would be easier for all to compare the data. These loads were purchased from a Walmart recently and I wanted to assess their component consistency, quality, and pattern performance from a full choke at 40 yards.

The powder and shot data were obtained by cutting open five shells from the same box as the shells to be patterned and counting and weighing the components.

Patterning was done with a 12-gauge Browning Citori having 28-inch Invector-plus barrels and using a Briley flush full choke measuring .036-inch constriction from a bore gauge. The 40-yard (muzzle to target) pattern data is the result of hits registered in a 30-inch post-shot scribed circle from ten separate pattern shots.

The attached pattern photos are of the pattern closest to the mean.

12 GA 2 ¾" WINCHESTER UNIVERSAL LOAD
1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (356 pellets) @ 1200 fps

PELLETS/SHELL (1 1/8 ounce = 492.2 gr)
In-shell pellet count / weight (grains)
358 / 474.4 gr
357 / 470.3 gr
357 / 470.2 gr
355 / 472.0 gr
354 / 467.6 gr
Mean 356.2 / 470.9 gr

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5/shell, #7 ½ = .095” dia.)
.101”, .100”, .100”, .098”, .098”, .098”, .098”, .098”, .097”, .097”, .097”, .096”, .095”, .095”, .095”, .095”, .095”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .093”, .092”
Mean pellet diameter / .09608”

POWDER/SHELL
16.5 gr
16.2 gr
16.2 gr
16.1 gr
16.0 gr
Mean / 16.2 gr (small flake powder)

40 YARD PATTERNS (Full choke / .036” constriction)
30” pattern totals (%)
278, 261, 260, 260, 250, 248, 247, 244, 242, 241
Mean pattern / 253.1 (71.05%)
SD / 10.968

12 GA 2 ¾" WINCHESTER SUPER-TARGET LOAD
1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (368 pellets) @ 1200 fps

PELLETS/SHELL (1 1/8 ounce = 492.2 gr)
In-shell pellet count / weight (grains)
381 / 475.6 gr
376 / 478.5 gr
374 / 477.1 gr
368 / 466.2 gr
342 / 444.9 gr
Mean / 368.2 / 468.46 gr

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5/shell, #7 ½ = .095” dia.)
.098”, .098”, .098”, .096”, .096”, .096”, .095”, .095”, .095”, .095”, .095”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .093”, .093”, .092”, .092”, .092”, .091”, .089”, .084”, .084”
Mean pellet diameter / .09348”

POWDER/SHELL
17.1 gr
17.0 gr
17.0 gr
16.9 gr
16.7 gr
Mean / 16.94 gr (small flake powder)

40 YARD PATTERNS (Full choke / .036” constriction)
30” pattern totals (%)
274, 267, 265, 264, 255, 254, 247, 245, 245, 233
Mean pattern / 254.9 (69.22%)
SD / 11.979

12 GA 2 ¾" FEDERAL FIELD & TARGET LOAD
1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (486 pellets) @ 1200 fps

PELLETS/SHELL (1 1/8 ounce = 492.2 gr)
In-shell pellet count / weight (grains)
491 / 516.8 gr
488 / 512.9 gr
487 / 512.3 gr
486 / 511.2 gr
480 / 511.7 gr
Mean / 486.4 / 512.98 gr

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5/shell, #7 ½ = .095” dia.)
.113”, .100”, .097”, .097”, .096”, .094”, .093”, .093”, .092”, .092”, .092”, .092”, .091”, .090”, .090”, .090”, .090”, .089”, .089”, .087”, .086”, .085”, .085”, .085”, .083”
Mean pellet diameter / .09164”

POWDER/SHELL
18.1 gr
18.1 gr
17.9 gr
17.8 gr
17.7 gr
Mean / 17.92 gr (small flake powder)

40 YARD PATTERNS (Full choke / .036” constriction)
30” pattern totals (%)
380, 366, 363, 350, 344, 343, 340, 323, 319, 319
Mean pattern / 344.7 (70.86%)
SD / 19.698

Here are a few more of my 12-gauge 1 1/8-ounce #7 ½ lead target load pattern numbers (shot with the same gun and choke as listed above) for your comparison.

40 YARDS / FULL CHOKE
5-shot mean from 30” pattern totals w/ same gun and Full choke as above
Win AA Heavy 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (377 pellets) / pattern 299 (79%)
Rem Gun Club 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (375 pellets) / pattern 272 (73%)
Rem Premier STS 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (408 pellets) / pattern 321 (79%)
Rem Premier Nitro 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (420 pellets) / pattern 321 (76%)
Reload (Green Dot) 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (402 pellets) / pattern 294 (73%)

I'm just the messenger, so you can be the judge. Good luck!

 

[henrydog]

Thanks for counting and weighing. 16 yards any of that garbage will work. Confirms gut that the super targets are a tad better than the Feds. I have never shot Universals

 

[cantshoot]

You could shoot 27 yard targets with the Federals. Lots of holes in the others.

 

[Joe Hunter]

I've read and head comments about Universals and Super-Targets being the same or one better than the other, so I put that thought to work and came up with this info.

I would bet that there are many clay target and soon to be dove shooters (include me on both) that have or will be using this low-cost ammo in the coming months.

Which one is best for you? Well, now you can be the judge. Good luck!

 

[Steve12]

I posted some of this info a couple weeks ago, but after completing the Super-Target load dissection and patterning, I decided to put my findings on these three low-cost factory shotshell loads into one post so it would be easier for all to compare the data. These loads were purchased from a Walmart recently and I wanted to assess their component consistency, quality, and pattern performance from a full choke at 40 yards.

The powder and shot data were obtained by cutting open five shells from the same box as the shells to be patterned and counting and weighing the components.

Patterning was done with a 12-gauge Browning Citori having 28-inch Invector-plus barrels and using a Briley flush full choke measuring .036-inch constriction from a bore gauge. The 40-yard (muzzle to target) pattern data is the result of hits registered in a 30-inch post-shot scribed circle from ten separate pattern shots.

The attached pattern photos are of the pattern closest to the mean.

12 GA 2 ¾" WINCHESTER UNIVERSAL LOAD
1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (356 pellets) @ 1200 fps

PELLETS/SHELL (1 1/8 ounce = 492.2 gr)
In-shell pellet count / weight (grains)
358 / 474.4 gr
357 / 470.3 gr
357 / 470.2 gr
355 / 472.0 gr
354 / 467.6 gr
Mean 356.2 / 470.9 gr

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5/shell, #7 ½ = .095” dia.)
.101”, .100”, .100”, .098”, .098”, .098”, .098”, .098”, .097”, .097”, .097”, .096”, .095”, .095”, .095”, .095”, .095”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .093”, .092”
Mean pellet diameter / .09608”

POWDER/SHELL
16.5 gr
16.2 gr
16.2 gr
16.1 gr
16.0 gr
Mean / 16.2 gr (small flake powder)

40 YARD PATTERNS (Full choke / .036” constriction)
30” pattern totals (%)
278, 261, 260, 260, 250, 248, 247, 244, 242, 241
Mean pattern / 253.1 (71.05%)
SD / 10.968

12 GA 2 ¾" WINCHESTER SUPER-TARGET LOAD
1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (368 pellets) @ 1200 fps

PELLETS/SHELL (1 1/8 ounce = 492.2 gr)
In-shell pellet count / weight (grains)
381 / 475.6 gr
376 / 478.5 gr
374 / 477.1 gr
368 / 466.2 gr
342 / 444.9 gr
Mean / 368.2 / 468.46 gr

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5/shell, #7 ½ = .095” dia.)
.098”, .098”, .098”, .096”, .096”, .096”, .095”, .095”, .095”, .095”, .095”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .094”, .093”, .093”, .092”, .092”, .092”, .091”, .089”, .084”, .084”
Mean pellet diameter / .09348”

POWDER/SHELL
17.1 gr
17.0 gr
17.0 gr
16.9 gr
16.7 gr
Mean / 16.94 gr (small flake powder)

40 YARD PATTERNS (Full choke / .036” constriction)
30” pattern totals (%)
274, 267, 265, 264, 255, 254, 247, 245, 245, 233
Mean pattern / 254.9 (69.22%)
SD / 11.979

12 GA 2 ¾" FEDERAL FIELD & TARGET LOAD
1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (486 pellets) @ 1200 fps

PELLETS/SHELL (1 1/8 ounce = 492.2 gr)
In-shell pellet count / weight (grains)
491 / 516.8 gr
488 / 512.9 gr
487 / 512.3 gr
486 / 511.2 gr
480 / 511.7 gr
Mean / 486.4 / 512.98 gr

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5/shell, #7 ½ = .095” dia.)
.113”, .100”, .097”, .097”, .096”, .094”, .093”, .093”, .092”, .092”, .092”, .092”, .091”, .090”, .090”, .090”, .090”, .089”, .089”, .087”, .086”, .085”, .085”, .085”, .083”
Mean pellet diameter / .09164”

POWDER/SHELL
18.1 gr
18.1 gr
17.9 gr
17.8 gr
17.7 gr
Mean / 17.92 gr (small flake powder)

40 YARD PATTERNS (Full choke / .036” constriction)
30” pattern totals (%)
380, 366, 363, 350, 344, 343, 340, 323, 319, 319
Mean pattern / 344.7 (70.86%)
SD / 19.698

Here are a few more of my 12-gauge 1 1/8-ounce #7 ½ lead target load pattern numbers (shot with the same gun and choke as listed above) for your comparison.

40 YARDS / FULL CHOKE
5-shot mean from 30” pattern totals w/ same gun and Full choke as above
Win AA Heavy 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (377 pellets) / pattern 299 (79%)
Rem Gun Club 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (375 pellets) / pattern 272 (73%)
Rem Premier STS 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (408 pellets) / pattern 321 (79%)
Rem Premier Nitro 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (420 pellets) / pattern 321 (76%)
Reload (Green Dot) 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (402 pellets) / pattern 294 (73%)

I'm just the messenger, so you can be the judge. Good luck!

View attachment 1760012 View attachment 1760013 View attachment 1760014 View attachment 1760015 View attachment 1760016 View attachment 1760017

Thanks lots work my friend
Steve

 

[Snooky]

I really like the Federals. Getting here in So. La. for $6.30 out the door.

 

[waverider]

Thanks for doing the work.

Jason

 

[Joe Hunter]

FYI -- I located some Federal Top Gun 1 1/8 oz 1200 fps loads, so I'll do the same dissection and patterning as I did with the Federal Field & Target load to see how they compare. It may be a few weeks before I can do the patterning, but I'll hopefully have time before dove season! I'll be hunting then!

 

[1100 REMINGTON MAN]

Excellent work again Joe Hunter.

 

[HVW]

Appears to me that the federals are better than the winchesters ?

 

[Brianmonster199]

Very interesting thank you!

 

[timb99]

Good work, and thanks for posting. Certainly good enough for singles. And probably short to mid handicap.

 

[timb99]

Appears to me that the federals are better than the winchesters ?

Flip a coin. None of the pattern percentage differences are statistically significant.

The Federal shells appear to have a bigger payload and more pellets, but partially because the pellets seem to be smaller.

 

[timb99]

Confirms gut that the super targets are a tad better than the Feds.

The pattern percentage differences are statistically insignificant. None of them are any better than the others. The Federals have more payload and more (smaller) pellets, probably more like 8's than 7-1/2's

 

[Rick Barker]

The pattern percentage differences are statistically insignificant. None of them are any better than the others. The Federals have more payload and more (smaller) pellets, probably more like 8's than 7-1/2's

I once tore apart several WIN Universals and Fed Field and Targets. What I found was the weight of the payload in Federals was actual as advertised 1-1/8 oz whereas Universals were significantly less than 1-1/8 oz.

 

[timb99]

Lots of holes in the others.

Looking for "holes in the pattern" is a waste of time.

All patterns have holes. Anywhere where there is no pellet strike is a "hole."

Holes are never in the same place, shot to shot.

Looking at one pattern and deciding that this one is better than that one because that one has fewer holes than this one doesn't make sense.

Look at the number of pellets in the pattern.

More pellets, higher probability of a strike on the target.

Only one thing makes holes smaller, and that is more pattern density.

If your pattern percentage is high there will be smaller "holes."

 

[henrydog]

All patterns have holes. Anywhere where there is no pellet strike is a "hole."

Holes are never in the same place, shot to shot.
"

I am a little ashamed the light bulb just came on. Way to many years with a rifle. You are 100% correct, no rifling in a barrel and just a bunch of lead shoved in a packet. The hole will never be in the same place. Thanks Tim

 

[Huntergold]

Has anyone done the same test on these 3 brands with #8 shot?
Also interested in a hardness test on the shot !

 

[timb99]

Here are a few more of my 12-gauge 1 1/8-ounce #7 ½ lead target load pattern numbers (shot with the same gun and choke as listed above) for your comparison.

40 YARDS / FULL CHOKE
5-shot mean from 30” pattern totals w/ same gun and Full choke as above
Win AA Heavy 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (377 pellets) / pattern 299 (79%)
Rem Gun Club 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (375 pellets) / pattern 272 (73%)
Rem Premier STS 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (408 pellets) / pattern 321 (79%)
Rem Premier Nitro 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (420 pellets) / pattern 321 (76%)
Reload (Green Dot) 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (402 pellets) / pattern 294 (73%)

One caution. Neil and I have both found that the weather affects patterns. That is, hot, humid, low air pressure days (lower air density) will result in higher pattern percentages than cool, dry, high air pressure days.

If you don't pattern on the same day or in the same (relatively speaking) temperature and humidity conditions, the results may not be directly comparable.