Crow Busters Forum

Minnesota John · Senior Member

What are you paying for crow busting ammo??

Bob · Guru

I have been paying $ 5.20 per box plus tax comes to $ 5.62 per box. I just picked up 1,000 rounds today.

Bob A.

Pat B · Senior Member

Wal-mart value packs of Winchester is 29.00 per box = 7.25 per box of 25.
Federal value packs is 36.00 per box = 9.00 per box of 25
Remington value packs are not sold in the local Wal-marts.
Remington Nitro 27 and STS are 15.00 per box of 25.
One Skeet Club I know of sells Rem Gun Clubs (2 3/4 Dram Equiv) for 85.00 per case = 8.50 per box of 25.

That's what I'm being charged locally.

Pat B

TexasMatt · Senior Member

Minnesota John wrote:
here are the specs

3 1/4 dram equivalent
1 1/8 ounce pay load
1290 FPS

Are you sure about that velocity? I thought 3 1/4 dram pushed a 1 oz load at 1290fps, and a 1 1/8 oz load at 1250fps or so.

Regardless, I just stocked up on AA's for less than $4.60 per box after tax and rebate. Here's how:

Went to Cabela's, bought 4 cases.
I had them price match Wal-Mart, so the 4 cases were $75.70 each, so I paid $302.80+ tax, $325.
That earned me a $75 store credit, which I used to buy a 5th case. So I got 5 cases for about $332.
Then, I cut out all 50 UPC's, and mailed them to Winchester, and they will send me a $100 rebate.
So in the end, I'm out $232 for 5 cases.
Thats $4.64 per box for AA's, the good stuff.

Take your pick on shot size, velocity, or payload, the price is the same.

I don't know that the good shells make a whole lot of difference on crows, but I do notice a better hit % on doves. I think the AA's are throwing a more consistent pattern, which is more important for the smaller birds.

TexasMatt · Senior Member

Pat B wrote:

Wal-mart value packs of Winchester is 29.00 per box = 7.25 per box of 25.
Federal value packs is 36.00 per box = 9.00 per box of 25
Remington value packs are not sold in the local Wal-marts.
Remington Nitro 27 and STS are 15.00 per box of 25.
One Skeet Club I know of sells Rem Gun Clubs (2 3/4 Dram Equiv) for 85.00 per case = 8.50 per box of 25.

That's what I'm being charged locally.

Pat B

WOW, those prices are terribly compared to ours. The Federal, Winchester, and Remington Value packs are all about $21 dollars at our Walmarts. Cabelas has them on sale for $14.99 right now, so $3.75 per box.

Bob · Guru

Pat,

I just paid $ 20.80 plus tax on the Federal four packs. 3 dram load with 1 1/8th ounces of shot. Thats $ 5.20 per box plus tax.

The 2 3/4 dram load is a louzy load for crows, it's ok on a skeet field where you're average shot is under 22 yards.

Bob A.

jd1983 · Senior Member

Lately I have been reloading free bags of shot a guy I work with has given me:) so it's prolly around .10 a shell. If I have to buy every thing at full price it doesent pay to reload @ .20 a shell. And I am shooting any uni body hull ,1 1/8 oz #8 powered by red dot.
When the red dot runs out I can switch to promo powder and save some more cash. IMO you don't need a heavy field load to take crows. It just hurts your pocket and your shoulder over time.

Any body got any good hulls they want to part with let me know we can work out a deal. Rem gun clubs ,rem STs ,win aa ( the good one piece hulls.) post it in the buy sell trade section and we can talk.

SHANEDOG · Guru

JD
I get all my hulls free at the skeet club,I just got to pick them up....

Hizzoner · Senior Member

I haven't figured it out yet but I bought my reloading supplys in bulk, but I have the privelage of loading what I want and with a Ponsness/Warren 800B I can easily crank out 400 shells an hour! and what ever load I want smile

M12Shooter · Guru

Federal Top Gun 3 dram load at 65 bucks /flat locally. Remington Gun Club, or STS not available. Upon examination of internal components, shot was found to be of poor quality. Many deformed pellets and size not very consistent. Powder is of the flake variety and appears to be possibly Unique. Wad column a two piece construction.

Remington Gun Club ammo was found to have very uniform shot charge with a power piston type wad. Powder was unknown and case of the one piece compression formed variety which is highly re-loadable. Sadly these Remington promo type loads are not being marketed in my area.

Ted

Minnesota John · Senior Member

TexasMatt wrote:

Minnesota John wrote:
here are the specs

3 1/4 dram equivalent
1 1/8 ounce pay load
1290 FPS
Are you sure about that velocity? I thought 3 1/4 dram pushed a 1 oz load at 1290fps, and a 1 1/8 oz load at 1250fps or so.

Regardless, I just stocked up on AA's for less than $4.60 per box after tax and rebate. Here's how:

Went to Cabela's, bought 4 cases.
I had them price match Wal-Mart, so the 4 cases were $75.70 each, so I paid $302.80+ tax, $325.
That earned me a $75 store credit, which I used to buy a 5th case. So I got 5 cases for about $332.
Then, I cut out all 50 UPC's, and mailed them to Winchester, and they will send me a $100 rebate.
So in the end, I'm out $232 for 5 cases.
Thats $4.64 per box for AA's, the good stuff.

Take your pick on shot size, velocity, or payload, the price is the same.

I don't know that the good shells make a whole lot of difference on crows, but I do notice a better hit % on doves. I think the AA's are throwing a more consistent pattern, which is more important for the smaller birds.

Matt I was sooooo close to doing that but did you find away limiting yourself to only 5 cases?

Thanks John

SHANEDOG · Guru

If the EPA has its way we will be using steel!!! disbelief

http://hotair.com/archives/2010/08/25/epa-considering-ban-on-lead-based-ammunition/

TexasMatt · Senior Member

Minnesota John wrote:

Matt I was sooooo close to doing that but did you find away limiting yourself to only 5 cases?

Thanks John

John, the Winchester rebate is only good for 5 cases per household, so I stopped there.

Minnesota John · Senior Member

Oh yeah out of respect for our more experienced hunters a case has 500 rounds in it and a flat has 250 correct????

Thanks

John

Minnesota John · Senior Member

Minnesota John wrote:

TexasMatt wrote:

Are you sure about that velocity? I thought 3 1/4 dram pushed a 1 oz load at 1290fps, and a 1 1/8 oz load at 1250fps or so.

I was wrong and you are 100% correct. The shells are only going 1255 FPS ashamed

Thanks

John

jd1983 · Senior Member

M12
on the flip side take any bag of shot and you are bound to find a few off sized shot per bag. And as far as deformed shot have you ever picked up used shot of a skeet range it looks like a soccer ball with dimples from set back durring firing and bashing into the other shot. Also the wad will be imprinted with dimples. For miss shapen shot look at heavy shot it is all messed up. So I am not so sure that round uniform shot pre-shooting makes the best pattern what if that round shot that looks perfect has air bubbles in it and when you shoot it it turns flatter than a cow patty when it comes out the barrel?
Just something to think about.
Shane- there are too many hull scavengers near me they shoot them hulls till they have to wax them to keep em closed. But I an always on the look out for a good uni body hull

chip · Guru

Pat B and Tm I am assuming the value pack at Wal-mart you are talking is the 100 round pack. If so you are getting a raw deal. They are 20.97 here. That is for 4 boxes of winchester or feds 8 and 7.5 shot 1 and1/8 ounce shot 3 drams 1200 fps. I just purchased Remington gun club loads same specs as above for 62.50 case price. I have 2 more cases comming from Pevely Missouri for 59.00 a case. I rarely shoot anything but gun club loads at bandits. I can buy the value packs though at Wal-mart for 20.97 all day. I buy them when gun clubs are scarce or if I have to drive far for them. I have been told I can buy the Noble Sport loads for 54.00 case price all day at Cape Girardeu which is only 20 miles from me. I have not heard enough about the Noble sport loads on this site, so I have not shot them. If some one will brag about them a little I might give them a try. I have 34 days til bandit season here and I am working evenings. That means I will be after them almost daily biggrin

Gadget Bob · Guru

Hi Chip,

You might want to PM Skip on those Nobel Sport loads... He has extensively tested about every shotshell available in the US and might be able to enlighten you on the performance of that shell.

Hi T-Matt,

Genius on your Wal-Mart price match, Cabela's store credit and Winchester AA cash rebate, triple play. You are da man!

See you on our dove lease next Wednesday afternoon. Don't forget to replace your plug in the Maxus. I have to do the same, but planning to try some Jack county crows on this Sunday morning first.

Regards,

Hizzoner · Senior Member

Get it right- "WITH STEEL THEY SQUEAL,WITH LEAD THEY ARE DEAD!"

Pat B · Senior Member

I know I am getting scalped.... but I live off the beaten path.
I do not live in a high population area. I do not live in the USA.
So import tax, transportation, etc come into play.
Even reloading, the components come dearly too.
The Canadian dollars is about 95 cents US right now. So 10$ Canadian is 9.50$ US.

I can reload for about 9.00$ a box with good quality components and extra hard shot, which gives me quality equal to or near the Nitro 27. If I have to order hulls, then the price goes to 13.50 per box. At 15.00 for a box of Nitro 27, I get a premium load, I get empty hulls to use, I don't have to load them for about 2 dollars a box more.

I know the price is steep but then golf ain't cheap either...

Pat

nhcrowshooter · Guru

About $9.00 a box of 25 to reload 2 7/8" 10ga, 1 1/4 ounce of magnum 6.

About $5.00 a box of 25 to reload 2 3/4" 12ga 1 1/8 ounce of magnum 6.

10ga is more expensive due to having to buy hulls (at least $30 per 100) and the cost of Remington 10ga SP10 wads is around $15 a bag of 250 vs. $9 a bag of 500 Claybuster wads.

The mighty ten is worth it though biggrin

Factory 2 7/8" 10ga shells from RST go for $12 for 10 in 1 1/4 ounce lead loads. Reloading not only keeps pressures down but saves a lot of money.

-- Edited by nhcrowshooter on Monday 30th of August 2010 01:24:00 PM

Bob · Guru

Wholly crap Pat,

$ 15.00 a box, thats what you pay now in Argentina for duck loads!

Bob A.

Hizzoner · Senior Member

Pat,
I've been to Normandie on 5 different trips,1 to bastogne,5 times to Ireland,and the exchange for U.S. dollar to Euro is a KILLER!! Imagine paying 9$ for an Amstel? You aren't too bad at all!!!

Pat B · Senior Member

Hizzoner,
I went to the Paris Air Show in 1989 or 1990 and back then a coke was cheaper than milk, and it still cost 5.00$ US for a can on the show grounds....

yotehunter57 · Veteran Member

Man I need a 12ga auto. I paid $6.99 for 16ga ammo at Wally World yesterday. I love my sweet sixteen, but ammo prices for 16ga sucks. But I guess I can buy a lot of ammo compared to the price of a new gun.

Shayne

jd1983 · Senior Member

For the " odd" gauges you will save money in the long run reloading your own
"roll your own" and keep shooting what you want
most gun clubs do a mass order to cut down on cost look into that.

yotehunter57 · Veteran Member

I picked up 4 boxes of Federal 16ga today from my gun shop mainly for doves, but hope the leftovers work on crows. They are #8s, 2 1/2 dram, 1165fps. I prefer 7 1/2s for an all around load, but 8s was all he had, or I go back to Wally World for #6s. The Feds cost me $7.50 a box.

Shayne

dogknott · Member

Minnesota John wrote:

Oh yeah out of respect for our more experienced hunters a case has 500 rounds in it and a flat has 250 correct????

Thanks

John

Never seen a difference between a case or a flat count, just termanology, both 10 box's of 25. or 10 box's of 10 on the high $ stuff.

I picked up 5 cases of Federal Gold Medals for 66.88 a case, then got the 20$ a case rebate. Only reason I bought them is for loading steel and some REAL hot lead loads in 12 and 20

nhcrowshooter · Guru

dogknott wrote:

Minnesota John wrote:

Oh yeah out of respect for our more experienced hunters a case has 500 rounds in it and a flat has 250 correct????

Thanks

John

Never seen a difference between a case or a flat count, just termanology, both 10 box's of 25. or 10 box's of 10 on the high $ stuff.

I picked up 5 cases of Federal Gold Medals for 66.88 a case, then got the 20$ a case rebate. Only reason I bought them is for loading steel and some REAL hot lead loads in 12 and 20

Minnesota John is correct, a "case" of shotgun ammo was the term for a cardboard box holding 20 boxes or 500 shotgun shells. Winchester used to sell AA's by the case up until the late 80's that I recall. A flat is a cardboard box holding 10 boxes of 25 or 250 shotgun shells. Whether it was the ease of carry or because a case of 20 was getting expensive cases disappeared and flats became the norm. Younger shooters would not remember there was a time a case and flat were different by 10 boxes.

Hizzoner · Senior Member

Years ago a case was 500 rounds! smile

10gaugemeow · Newbie

6$ -10 rd 10 ga 3.5 mag 2.25oz turkey loads winchesters

M12Shooter · Guru

I remember when shotshells came in a wooden case. My old man used to give those wooded boxes to me so that I could play with them

Ted

jd1983 · Senior Member

Woowzers at that price so far this year I have had 2 times it would have cost me over 60 bucks just in ammo for 2 hrs.

-- Edited by jd1983 on Wednesday 29th of September 2010 03:02:53 PM

Bob · Guru

Ted,

If you can remember wooden cases you have to be up there in years! I have some in my museum, originals not reproductions.

I'm just taking an educated guess here but I think they quit making wooden case lots by the mid 1950's.

Bob A.

nhcrowshooter · Guru

Bob, do you know what the velocity difference is at 40 yards between a 2 3/4 dram load and a 3 dram load of 7.5's? I believe at the muzzle it is 1145 fps vs. 1200 fps.

I used 2 3/4 dram 1 1/8 ounce 7 1/2's for years on 16 yard ATA trap targets. They performed well enough for me to maintain an A average and occasionally AA for singles. The average shooter hits or misses a trap singles target at 32 yds from the muzzle. A little further if the shooter is "slow".

Anyway to answer my own question; the 3 dram load is 20 fps faster at 40 yards.

Seems to me that if you feel a 2 3/4 dram load is lousy on crows and a mere 55 to 20 fps increase in velocity is needed, you are pointing out 7.5's and 8's have very little room to spare in kinetic energy needed to bring down a crow.

Also we are just talking about 12ga here. You shoot a lot of crows with a 20ga and small shot. I don't know what load you use but Remington STS Premiere and Winchester AA's are 2 1/2 Dram 7/8 ounce loads, their muzzle velocity is 1165 fps. An insignificant difference in velocity from 2 3/4 dram 12ga loads.

Bob wrote:

Pat,

I just paid $ 20.80 plus tax on the Federal four packs. 3 dram load with 1 1/8th ounces of shot. Thats $ 5.20 per box plus tax.

The 2 3/4 dram load is a louzy load for crows, it's ok on a skeet field where you're average shot is under 22 yards.

Bob A.

-- Edited by nhcrowshooter on Tuesday 16th of November 2010 01:06:00 PM

Crow Busters Forum

Follow the Texas Crow Patrol on Facebook

Follow the Texas Crow Patrol on Facebook

Follow the Texas Crow Patrol on Facebook