Estates are promo, if you want cheaper you might just go get a handful of rocks

 

Are there particular specifications you're looking for? That's usually more important to me.

 

Specifically flats of 8s with less than 1200fps

 

Federal Top Gun promo shells are about the exact carbon copy of Estate shell. Some studies have indicated that there is a better quality of shot in the Estate shells. Hard to tell if that is still true today. Winchester Super Target and Remington Gun Club are also two domestic lines of promo shells of similar quality of the Federal Top Guns.

 

Yes I would agree on the Top Gun being a carbon copy.

 

Get whichever promo load you can find. It's pretty tough to find promo shells in anything but 1 1/8 oz at 1200 fps. Here are a few of my pattern numbers to show you the kind of performance you might get from these shells.

Patterning results from a 12-gauge Browning Citori with 28" Invector-plus barrels using Briley flush chokes (30-inch post-shot scribed pattern circle, yardage taped from muzzle to target, true in-shell pellet count average from five shells, and true choke constriction from bore gauge).

40 YARDS / Full choke (.036” constriction)
10-shot average
Estate Super Sport 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (395 pellets) / pattern 283 (72%)
Federal Field & Target 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (486 pellets) / pattern 345 (71%)
Federal Top Gun 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (405 pellets) / pattern 276 (68%)
Winchester Universal 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (356 pellets) / pattern 253 (71%)
Winchester Super-Target 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (368 pellets) / pattern 255 (69%)

Here are more of my pattern numbers from some other 12-gauge 1 1/8-ounce #7 ½ lead target loads shot with the same gun and choke as above for comparison.

40 YARDS / Full choke (.036” constriction)
5-shot average
Win AA Heavy 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (377 pellets) / pattern 299 (79%)
Rem Gun Club 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (375 pellets) / pattern 272 (73%)
Rem Premier STS 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (408 pellets) / pattern 321 (79%)
Rem Premier Nitro 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (420 pellets) / pattern 321 (76%)
Reload (Green Dot) 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (402 pellets) / pattern 294 (73%)

Good luck!

 

Got any info on Federal ultra clay and field?

 

It's not Estate (Federal) who sets the retail price these days, it's the retailer. All of the promo shells seem to vary in price from time to time and dealer to dealer. The quality of Estates is excellent for what you pay, certainly better than others. I jump between Federal/Estates, Fiocci and Nobel when buying promo shells. Your are not buying STS's, nor are you paying for them.

 

I'm looking for competition shells and currently use those Estates. What would you recommend for competition shells? Would Fiocci/Nobel be good?

 

The cheap line Fiocchi shells are very good, I’ve shot several flats of them. For 16yd and short hdcp yardage about any of the promo shells will do.

 

You are a candidate for reloading

 

Kinda wish I had the equipment and time but working two jobs and not having the equipment is kinda difficult.

 

For Trap Fail,
I don't think that you will find much difference in 16 yard shooting between Nobels, Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics and Estate / Top Gun shells and for the first shot in Doubles. Handicap beyond the 23, and the second shot in Doubles if you are not a fast shot, is another thing. Everyone, myself included, worries about the the proper speed, choke and shells, but what costs most of us birds is a break down in fundamentals. That of course is harder to control. JMHO.

 

Sounds good. I'd hate to change from Estates but I'm going to check my local box store and gun club to see if I can find anything cheaper.

 

I see Federal Top Guns being mentioned
It could just be that I got several defective flats but...
the bottom barrel of Brownings seems to light strike the primer quite often
3 of 25 shots light strike pretty often
Everyone who I shoot with that has a Browning also had that problem, the top barrel does work perfectly though

 

I see Federal Top Guns being mentioned
It could just be that I got several defective flats but...
the bottom barrel of Brownings seems to light strike the primer quite often
3 of 25 shots light strike pretty often
Everyone who I shoot with that has a Browning also had that problem, the top barrel does work perfectly though

I believe you have a gun issue. Many Brownings have had this problem. I would suggest you get new firing pins which have been reported to be made longer to eliminate the problem.

 

Watching prices at WalMart.. everything continues to rise...

Federal 4 packs are $35 for either the white or red boxes and Super Target are up from $8 to just under $10ea and the Nitro 4 packs are steady at $52.

If I want Light 8s I'm stuck with STs... Federal are coming out at 1200 7-1/2s or 8s nothing lighter seen.

Not been seeing any Gun Club or Estates. While 12 gauge still fly out the door, plenty of 20 gauge and 22s on the shelves...

Just my observations...

 

White box Estates are garbage. The yellow box Estates are a great promo shell. 1oz 7.5s hits a 16 yard target about as hard as you can. Top Guns are close, maybe just as good. If Aquillas ever hit the market again and are priced in the $80 range, that's about as good as it gets. In my opinion they're like shooting a AA with a garbage hull.

 

White box Estates are garbage.

Not sure I have ever tested the white box Estates. Most of what I have tested has been the yellow/red box stuff. And it usually tests hard.

 

What is more important as far as brand or size/speed?

 

Speed is the most important!

I have never considered myself recoil sensitive, until I found that for 1 ounce or 1 1/8 ounce shells, anything 1200 or faster makes it hard for me to stay in the game for 100 targets.

1 ounce 1150 is my choice. Those are also the first shells that sell out anywhere I go.

Al

 

Why bother, first and last time I shot Estates, I needed 3 boxes to shoot a big 50. The primers were so deep set into the primer cup, I had multiple F to F. Ended up giving the remainder of shells away, vowed I would never, ever try them again. Just my experience, gun was a KX-6. No problems with any other ammo.

 

Winchester Super Target. If they're good enough for Keith Ditto to shoot 16's and doubles with they're good enough for me. I'm an extremely short yardage shooter. I use three of their offerings. 1oz 1180fps for 16's, 1-1/8 1145fps back to the 20-yard line and 1-1/8 1200fps after that. Shot size doesn't matter and all three break targets. But for night shoots and practice I'll use anything I can get.

 

Went shopping today and found Federal 8 shot 1 oz 1180 Top Gun for $84/flat. Would these Top Guns work for singles, 19 and the first shot of doubles? I also found out they have Clever shells. Would they be good as well for competition or stay away?

 

Federals and Estates are the same I believe, and it is hard to beat Wal-mart's Federal 4pk. at $34.00!

 

Very few shells I won't shoot, but the white box Estates made in France is one of them.YMMV
Steve

 

My Walmart had the yellow esrates @ $40 / 4 pack. Red bix federals are #34. Haven't seen any Nitros in over a year.

 

JH on #6 reply did some good homework.
I bought a 4 pack of Estates a year ago when short on supplies. I believe they were around $8. Shot at clays with one box. Subbed one of my extras so I could cut one apart.
The shot looked like it was chrome plated. Various size shot and pieces. Wad was 2 piece not a compression wad. Tried them once. Left three boxes at the club with a free sign on them.
C'Ya, MDeY