Anybody tried or uses the new Winchester or Remington steel shot?The Remington hypersonic steel or the Winchester Blind side. I am down to my last couple of boxes of Kent and works great but wondering if anybody has some experience with the others ? 
High grade steel shot
- Thread starter reddog
- Start date
I've tried them all over the years, in my opinion, stick with the Kent. Best value for money.
One to stay away from are the Federal "Speed Shok", I've been battling with them over their quality all season now. Any moisture (even from shells in pocket and light rain) and the shells seem to slightly swell where they wont chamber (in any gun). Bought a flat at the beginning of the season because they patterned well but now I've got about 1/3 the flat that is ruined and won't chamber, even after drying.
One to stay away from are the Federal "Speed Shok", I've been battling with them over their quality all season now. Any moisture (even from shells in pocket and light rain) and the shells seem to slightly swell where they wont chamber (in any gun). Bought a flat at the beginning of the season because they patterned well but now I've got about 1/3 the flat that is ruined and won't chamber, even after drying.
Turkeyslayer 1300
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Russell, Ontario
I have been running Kent for 7 years.
No complaints.
The Hypersonic is like a rifle shot in the blind, not pleasant. I tell guys to leave it at home. The Blindside is a gimmick and isn't fast enough in most loads for my liking.
No complaints.
The Hypersonic is like a rifle shot in the blind, not pleasant. I tell guys to leave it at home. The Blindside is a gimmick and isn't fast enough in most loads for my liking.
LuckyStrike
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver Island
I have been using KENT 3" 1-3/8 (1300fps) BB loads last couple of years on geese.
The stuff shoots smoothly ..... doesn't crack you like that fast ammo ....... Brings down the birds!
price is reasonable
Lucky
The stuff shoots smoothly ..... doesn't crack you like that fast ammo ....... Brings down the birds!
price is reasonable
Lucky
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
I have tried a lot of cannon fodder over the years and for my dollar I'll shoot Federal Ultra Shok! That stuff is devastating on birds, they look like they have flown into a brick wall in mid air when you connect with that stuff.
Can't beat the Kent for price and consistency. Lots of guys like putting a black cloud in for their third shot as it seems to be more effective a little farther out but personally I just prefer 3 Kent's. I bought some hypersonic but haven't fired any yet - when I run out of the Kent I have maybe I'll try them.
- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
i tried blind side and hevi-shot this year. They both worked. blind side worked better than hevi-shot. I actually wasn't impressed with those for the money. There were a few in the box that seemed like they were short of shot. The crimps were pushed in deeper than the others. I too will stick with kent.
tactical870
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Buckhorn, Ontario
I shoot Kent as well and have yet to find anything noticably better.
I tried Remington Hyper-Sonic BB in 3" and 3.5". They are not bad, need almost 1/3 less lead distance than most others due to their velocity. However it seems that the pattern they produce is less dense than most others, might be a side effect of increased velocity too. You can try using them as a 3rd shot to increase the distance - works quite well for me.
The next hi-end brand I'm planning to try is Federal Black Cloud. According to some reviews and comparisons, it produces a nice pattern and has a good stopping power.
The next hi-end brand I'm planning to try is Federal Black Cloud. According to some reviews and comparisons, it produces a nice pattern and has a good stopping power.
For black cloud, plan on getting a dedicated black cloud choke, without it me and a couple friends have all said the same, they dont pattern well without that choke.
With steel shot, ive tryed alot, ive had kent faststeel work really well and create a really good tight pattern, rio BB have worked well and i had the chance that Federal speed shok BB i found on sale for $11 worked well. Ive tryed remington in 3" and didnt like it, federal speed shok in #2 didnt work well and winchester #2 xpert steel worked ok.
What chokes do you normally use for different shots? What did you try with black cloud before switching to their dedicated brand-name choke?
I tend to use either improved cylinder or modified with all steel shots. Modified is better for longer-range, but not as good at close range when going after ducks in marshes.
I used to shoot kent but had some quality control (moisture resistance) problems with it, so shooting Winchester Supreme Drylok now - much happier with that (but I don't shoot enough for the price difference, which is substantial, to be an important factor). I bought a box of Blindside but it has not left my ammo chest yet.
Just for the info I also use a wad wizard choke which is much better than my stock Beretta chokes.The SWAT shooting Kents is deadly out to 40 and truly shines with those big 3.5" Winchesters on geese at same range.The supreme extended choke patterns the Kent and Federals well too.
