Top Gun Shells

K

Kenny

CGN Regular
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Location
London Ont area
Anyone having issues with top gun shells I shot theses few years ago with no issues. The latest batch I got will not fire reliable in either of my o/u. Switched back to super target guns work fine. Another shooter I shoot with, had similar issues.. They shot well in a pump gun. I got 9 cases of these to shoot up .
 
I've found reliability to be just about the same across every brand of cheap shotgun shell... Federal, Winchester, Remington, Challenger, Score, etc. No real issues with any of them.

Edit: I've only run them through pumps and semis though, no O/Us or SxSs.
 
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Are these the newer top guns with brass hulls instead of steel? I've gone through about 4 flats of top guns without an issue, but haven't tried any of the new ones.
 
Bottom barrel on a Browning? The Federals use a domed primer. This seems to be a problem from time to time. I have seen some folks use a longer firing pin on a Browning bottom barrel ...
 
with my 725 Citori Get couple of miss fires per box. Seems the gun is little harder to close with top guns in it , My CG miss fired on two shell as well. Switched to super targets and reloads ,,no problems. I shot Top guns for years, with not issues. that was few years back."" interesting". thanks for the replies
 
I think that Federal Top Guns, like most shotgun shells have steel heads. Some are brass plated but my magnet tells me they are steel. Winchester AA, Federal Gold Medal and Remington STS & Nitro 27 target loads use brass and cause fewer problems and reload much better ( and more often). The deep seated domed Federal primers have been a known issue for years with some guns, particularly in some Citoris. I've burned up a few truckloads of Top Guns in my Berettas over many years with no ammunition related problems but for important matches I always used Gold Medals.
 
I have shot many flats of Top Gun without problem.
Unfortunately, last year's batch of Canada Day specials are a problem, with 2 or 3 misfires per box.
Doesn't matter if shooting a Citori, Winchester Model 12, Cooey or Beretta - unreliable ignition.
Rotate the shell and try again, they usually go off.
My shooting buddy also got similar performance from his flat bought at Cabela's.
 
The first few years the federal had brass in the hulls but it has been years since I seen any of those on the shelves
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Ashcroft said:
I think that Federal Top Guns, like most shotgun shells have steel heads. Some are brass plated but my magnet tells me they are steel. Winchester AA, Federal Gold Medal and Remington STS & Nitro 27 target loads use brass and cause fewer problems and reload much better ( and more often). The deep seated domed Federal primers have been a known issue for years with some guns, particularly in some Citoris. I've burned up a few truckloads of Top Guns in my Berettas over many years with no ammunition related problems but for important matches I always used Gold Medals.
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Both Winchester AA and Federal Gold Medal are steel washed brass these days. Remington STS/Nitro are still brass.
 
Federal top gun that miss fire is nothing new . I have had them miss fire in numerous firearms . The construction of the federal 209a with its doomed strike area makes it harder to crush . Add to that federal seems to seat their primers deeper . I also reload and have had the same issue with federal component primers . More than not the shell will fire on the second attempt in my experience .
 
Maritime Storm said:
Both Winchester AA and Federal Gold Medal are steel washed brass these days. Remington STS/Nitro are still brass.
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That is sad to hear. I have not bought any factory in many years other than 28 and 410 AA hs and now must stop giving and selling off my vintage hull stash in 12ga since I like the brass
I assumed the 28 and 410 AA HS were still brass but never looked
Cheers
 
Winchester AA in 28 and 410 were interesting when they switched, you see some of them with the bases split in the box, a few members had to contact winchester for replacement boxes.
 
the spank said:
I haven't seen one of those boxes in ages!! I can remember buying them on sale for as little $12!! Those were the days.
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LOL. I have like 12 or 13 full boxes in a locker somewhere still . They would go on sale for 9.99 a box if you bought a full pallet and we would get together and split on a pallet load 1/2 each
My bud would take the 1X hulls and get six reloads out of them
Imagine trying that today with promo hulls
take care
 
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