Bought a case at the NE Regional to try out. I got my butt handed to me on the FITASC but was not alone! Both shells are 1oz 7 1/2. The Diamonds are 1250fps and the Std are 1290


Standard AA shot


Diamond Grade shot


Wads look identical


Diamond powder


Std powder

Separate basewad on both hulls (looks identical)


Primers


Recoil on the 1250 Diamonds was noticeably softer than the 1290 SS although either is pretty easy to tolerate through a 9lb K80. The FITASC at the NE Regional certainly had some long targets and i definitely can't fault the shells for my poor shooting. One longer chondelle that gave folks on my squad fits was crushed, not broken, with my factory M chokes. Based on the results with that target i didn't see any need to go tighter which might suggest these shells pattern well at longer distances. The simple truth however is that i'm simply not good enough to give a valuable opinion on the performance vs other shells. I'll say that i do like them and feel like they hold a pattern well.

Oh one other thing i noticed- on both shells the powder was clumped up pretty solid and had to be lightly poked with a screwdriver to get it out of the base.

How hard is the shot? That's the question. And some of those pellets don't look fully coated. Is it worth another $14.00 per case over the Super Sport AA? https://www.trapshooters.com/threads/pe ... se.891825/

birdhunter39, Thanks for the work and info.

Thanks for posting.

I shoot a 725 with a gracoil and kickeez pad, weight is about 8.75 lbs.

maybe it is in my head but I think both of the above AA loads kick more than the 28 gram, 1350 fps Super target loads.

Definitely in your head

Interesting test-thanks for sharing that

If the shot swarm isn't in the right place, does it matter the type of shell?

Not at all!

Just wondered if you did a pellet count between the two shells. It looks like the copper coated shot looks to be a little bigger? Wondering if the diameter is the same as well.

Look at the link I posted. It has the ounce and one eighth comparison.

More and More as we become more gullible to the fine art of marketing we fail to
read the research provided by those who have the ability to Tell the Facts !
There again if one's ability to be successful on targets thrown , that only 2 % of the
shooters have the ability to hit , it's time to find a different playground to play on !
Any target beyond 50 yds that would require ( the advertised 8% ) to break , is not
a game changer , it's only one to reduce shooter base ! imo

Found the link and it was well done research. Not sure how well it will perform until it goes bang from my gun but the stats look promising.
I have been looking at several shells for the longer or edge on targets and I am totally impressed with the Remington STS nitro 27 1 1/8 at 1235fps. Winchester will get my next test.

I'm a little confused........as usual! Some comments referred to "SS" and Super Sports. The AA Super Sport 12ga 1oz is a 1350 shell. Not sure what we're comparing? Lite Handicap is 1290

That's right and those 1350's will do the job if you can handle the anglecadangle ?
IM all the way !

That’s a great question. All someone has to do is send some shot to someone with access to an XrF and the question will be answered. IME, Winchester and Remington deliver on what they say. But, it would be good to do as President Reagan said, “Trust but verify.”

Here's some work I did that you might find interesting.

https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewto ... 32&start=0

If you want to see all the pattern numbers go to the last page and see my post.

birdhunter39 provided some interesting component info, but I would be interested in seeing an apples-to-apples 40 and/or 50 yard full choke pattern test between the Diamond grade and standard AA loads to determine performance differences.

Good luck!

I have been looking at several shells for the longer or edge on targets and I am totally impressed with the Remington STS nitro 27 1 1/8 at 1235fps

I agree with Rev. I have been shooting these for a long time and they are one of the best.

My mistake on the reference to SS, I tend to think in terms of the 20 and 28ga aa 1300 loads with that name.

I’ll measure some pellets when I get a chance. Won’t be patterning as I don’t think it tells much useful as compared to actual breaks. IOW i feel more is learned swapping shells at one station and analyzing breaks than any amount of patterning and counting.