I am not sure I have ever seen any 7's for sale around here. But 7's are very popular in Europe particularly the UK and 7 1/2's there are hard to find. Interesting.
I have a book at home that gives diameters. The bok must have been either a mis-print or maybe it was published in Europe because they listed 7&1/2 as exactly halfway between the other two.
7 1/2? I remember reading shot size is allowed to vary 1/2 a size . 7 1/2 can be either 7's or 8's and meet standards for being 7 1/2.
Funny you should say this. I always cut a couple shells open to see what the shot and wad look like. When I looked at the shot in the Federal and Remington El Cheapos, there was definitely more than one size of shot in there.
Kev <><
-- Edited by Mainehunt on Tuesday 8th of March 2011 02:18:30 PM
How many El Cheapos have you cut open? What shot sizes are in them?
Bob A.
I cut open 8 total shells from the last 8 boxes that I bought at Wally World. 4 boxes of Remington and 4 of Federal. These are the ones you buy that are 4 boxes in a larger box of 100.
After cutting them open, I could tell at a quick glance that there were some shot that were bigger than others. I thought that maybe it was just an illusion so I checked some of them with my dial calipers. (Sounds anal, I know, but it's been a boring winter up here) Some of the shot was .01 +/- than others which would make it a full size difference.
Makes me wonder if the ammo companies are using reclaimed shot to cut cost.
Maybe that can explain this one. I shot a crow the other day at about 20 or 25 yards, well within my comfort zone. One bird, one shot. Feathers everywhere, you would have thought I shot a pillow and the bird kept flying. Never went down.
I don't think there is anything particularly bad about reclaimed shot but is going to contain mixed sizes. Probably not the best choice for long range clays and game but at 25 yards it would have done the job. Not centered, no vital organs hit, no wings broken, it happens.
