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Mike27


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First off, Happy New Year Guys 

Federal Top Gun Loads, 12 Ga.

I've read old and new info, both good and bad on the top guns. I've read they are the same as federal 4 packs from walmart and also that the powder is different, along with other things. I shoot reloads and fedaral 4 packs. Ocassionally I get a hang up with my reload but not yet with a 4 pack shell. I can pick up the Top Gun shells for $4.98 a box right now, cheaper than the 4 pks. 

Anyone having any problems with this shells or any info. These are in the blue boxes.

Mike



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dogknott


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I have never shot any, but have freinds that have shot thousands of them thru varios guns/actions with zero problems.
i have never have tried to reload them.

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Low and Slow


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I shoot them all day long no probs ,unless I don't have any, where are you getting them for under 5.00??



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Mike27


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dog,

I should have been more specific. I have'nt tried reloading a cheap shell. My reloads are old federal gold metal hulls, brass bases, not the short steel base on the cheapies.



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Mike27


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Low,

Today in the newspaper was a Dick's Sporting Goods flyer. The Top guns are in there for the $4.98 a box. 12 and 20 Ga.



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M12Shooter


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I shoot 90 percent of my crows with Federal Top Gun shells, 3 dram #7 1/2 or 8 shot. No complaints with them at all.

Ted

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8fishermen


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Mike27 wrote:

dog,

I should have been more specific. I have'nt tried reloading a cheap shell. My reloads are old federal gold metal hulls, brass bases, not the short steel base on the cheapies.

 They actually reload great as long as you are using a wad designed for a straight wall hull. I reload a S3 clone in Claybusters with 1 1/8 oz of 7 1/2's for sporting clays. I run them around 1200 fps. Most reloaders turn their nose up at them but I really like them.



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chip


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My reloding days have been over for some time. I would think though that the steel casings would be less apt to resize properly, thus causing your jam ups, I used to love the remington blue peters hulls for my reloads. I would reload them a ton before they would crack. I have noticed that once in a blue moon I run across a brass hull mixed in my gun clubs on occasion. 



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Mike27


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8,

I hate to change my own subject.

I use a claybuster 12S3 for my Fed Gold Metals. I thought about loading up some cheap shells. My hunting spots are mostly in thick cover and sticker bushes. I just can't pick up all my spent shells without leaving some hand and face skin. 1 safe reload out of those cheapos would be sufficient. What problems did you have with your loader. I have a Mec grabber.

Mike



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8fishermen


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Mike27 wrote:

8,

I hate to change my own subject.

I use a claybuster 12S3 for my Fed Gold Metals. I thought about loading up some cheap shells. My hunting spots are mostly in thick cover and sticker bushes. I just can't pick up all my spent shells without leaving some hand and face skin. 1 safe reload out of those cheapos would be sufficient. What problems did you have with your loader. I have a Mec grabber.

Mike

 

 Mike,

 

I am with you on this one. I hate to see once or twice fired STS hulls stomped down in the mud in the bottom of the blind.

I have never had problems with the Mec Grabber reloading these hulls. I was referring to the folks themselves turning their nose up at the cheap hulls. Some folks will only reload Premium hulls like STS, AA, or Fed Paper Hulls. The steel heads will return to size with no problems. I use an old Mec Case Conditioner to re-size them only because my reloader does not have a collet on it. A friend reloads them for his handicap loads using a PW press. We both have great luck with the hulls. We only reload them once. I have also used Universal hulls by Winchester. These reload well. With the Case Conditioner I don't worry about two piece hull separation as it will force it back into place. I have yet to find ANY hulls that can't be reloaded with a little effort.

As far a brass verses steel heads, you may be surprised at how many "brass head" hulls are brass coated steel heads. Run a magnet through a big lot of "brass" heads and see what you get.

 

Good luck and stop putting those prize hulls in the briars. Once the crimp opens the crow or the guy next to you will never know the difference. biggrin



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Big Honkers


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Before I had a good supply of STS hulls I reloaded Top Gun hulls a lot. They work fine. Some guns, however, seem to be more sensitive towards the steel hulled cheapies VS the premium hulls. I would reload the Top Guns 5 times or more before they would start to crack. I have a MEC hustler.

If your gun cycles the 4 pack shells fine then I would see no reason why Top Guns would not cycle. Buy 'em up!

BH

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Glen


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I've found a way to defeat those pesky briars once & for all. Go to your local Harbor Freight or Tractor Supply or home improvement store & get one of those pistol grip grabbers. They are about 30" long & will reach waaaaay back in the brush for you.



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Mike27


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Thank for the info guys,

I picked 10 boxes today.

How do you make a good deal a great deal?

Regular price $5.99 a box

Sale price $4.98

Add a $20 reward cerficate

At check out, get a surprise $10 off $50

Grand Total $20

You can't beat that with a stick



-- Edited by Mike27 on Wednesday 4th of January 2012 11:19:32 PM

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8fishermen


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Mike27 wrote:

Thank for the info guys,

I picked 10 boxes today.

How do you make a good deal a great deal?

Regular price $5.99 a box

Sale price $4.98

Add a $20 reward cerficate

At check out, get a surprise $10 off $50

Grand Total $20

You can't beat that with a stick



-- Edited by Mike27 on Wednesday 4th of January 2012 11:19:32 PM

 That's nice right there!



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Greg
Mike27


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I ran some shells through 2 guns and did'nt have any problems. Even had a couple squirrels and crows meet up with some top guns.



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Bob


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I tried some Federal Top Guns this season and they worked just fine on crows for me.

Bob A.

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Critter


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Picked up a couple boxes of Top Gun at Walmart last night. 12ga, 3 dram, 1oz, 7.5 for $4.77 a box. I prefer 1 1/8 oz but thought I would try these.

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Critter wrote:

Picked up a couple boxes of Top Gun at Walmart last night. 12ga, 3 dram, 1oz, 7.5 for $4.77 a box. I prefer 1 1/8 oz but thought I would try these.

 Are those the 1330 fps "Sport Loads"? They really smack the crows but are a bit snappy on the recoil end of things.

 

Ted



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M12Shooter wrote:
Critter wrote:

Picked up a couple boxes of Top Gun at Walmart last night. 12ga, 3 dram, 1oz, 7.5 for $4.77 a box. I prefer 1 1/8 oz but thought I would try these.

 Are those the 1330 fps "Sport Loads"? They really smack the crows but are a bit snappy on the recoil end of things.

 

Ted

 A 3 dram 1 ounce 12ga has about 1235 fps M/V.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/amm.html



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Mike27


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Federal Top Gun 1oz. loads in 7 1/2 are 1180 and 1250 FPS



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8fishermen


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I haven't hunted with them but they will smoke a clay.



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Greg
M12Shooter


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Tried a few boxes of Federal Sport Loads this past summer. They were 1 ounce, # 7 1/2 loads at a MV of 1330 fps. They really spanked the crows but were a bit snappy on the recoil end. Didn't pattern them but I would assume at that velocity patterns would not be all that good.

Ted

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Critter


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They weren't the sport loads. I will pattern them before the first of Feb to see how they shoot in my gun. I prefer the Winchester sport loads, 1 1/8 oz at 1330 and they pattern spectacularly out of a mod choke in my 870. Smacks crows with authority, too bad they are $8.00 a box most places.

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wingmaster


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Know when i reload i use AA Win hulls all the time. I got 4 to 5 reloads from them. Never had a hang up while reloading. I reload 20ga at that time for squirrels. They came out at 1290fps use no5 shot in a Rem 870 fix choke Mod but shot like a full choke. When i did go for some crow shooting i reload them down to 1240 fps no 8 shot. Know i just out buy them & have use Federal 4 pack or Rem & have had no hang ups in gun biggrin



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