Its been years since several other shooters and I dissected all the factory shells we could lay hands on to compare wads, shot, etc but, imagine those Federal’s are like any other: the shooter either puts the shot cloud where it needs to be or they do not.

I am surprised the industry has not yet started offering 7/8oz 12ga loads more readily available … I was fortunate enough to shoot the red course at Sarasota last week with a pretty stellar NSCA Super Veteran and by the halfway mark he was commenting on every station about the ability of the 7/8oz loads I was shooting to do everything the 1-1/8oz loads everyone else on the course was using. (And I never did disclose the fact that 7/8oz is reclaimed shot!)

 

That's been my experience; 7/8 oz #8.5 at 1,300 fps, supplemented by a few 1 oz #7.5 at 1,300-1,350 fps for the really long shots. Depending on the difficulty of the course, M/IM over Paradox/LM. #7.5 only in the tight barrel. I'm partial to the Nitro 27 1,350 fps in factory ammo, but I just today ordered 4 flats of HOA 1 oz at 1,290 fps - wanted some red Remington unibody hulls for segregating reloads, and it's nice to buy hulls loaded with something I'd like to shoot. Rogers/$130 per flat.

The only 7/8 oz 12 gauge commercial load I've run across is Fiocchi, and it's uncommon. There are relatively few shooters buying 24 gram international loads, too; I don't know if I've ever run across them in big box, sporting goods or local gun stores.

I've always wondered why a box of commercial 7/8 oz 20 gauge costs the same as a box of 1.125 oz 12 gauge; we know from reloading that the actual component cost of the 20 gauge load is noticeably less. I guess the manufacturers believe the price elasticity between gauges is low and a price incentive to shoot more 20/less 12 would have minimal effect on their volume...or they just protect their higher margin/profit on the 20 gauge.

 

They do have a bit of recoil. I wish they would produce an 1145fps version or a 1oz version. Oddly enough with the money grab going on by BigAmmo, you think they would realize they could sell product with less ingredients for the same price.

 

Like 20 round boxes?

 

I use them for informal trap shooting and I think they work fine. Never had any duds or light reports. I have used in both a 12ga and 20ga Citori. I can't say how they might work in an auto.

 

That's about all I shoot. No problem with them.

 

I have shot them for years now without an issue. They have worked well in a BPS, BT-99, AL 391, Gold Hunter Superlight, and Citori 625. Still have a large stock waiting to go. Have not been lucky in the last month though, been missing the shipments (if they came in) at 5 different stores locally.

 

I've shot hundreds of those packs and have never had any issues. I was a little concerned that my A400 would have issues with them, but they perform perfectly in it.

 

Our local Walmart has had a steady supply of the Federal Field & Target 100 packs for the past 3 years. I shot 1000's of the 20 ga with not one problem. I prefer the Federal 100 packs over the Winchesters. My buddies have shot 1000's of the 12 ga Federal 100 packs and I have not witnessed any problems. In August of 2021 the 100 packs of Federal shells was $24.96 by July of 2022 they were $34.42 and they are still that price..

 

Right now, I see a lot of Estate, Fiochi, and Herters shells showing up at my clubs. But those horrible Winchester Universal shells are avoided like the other Covid-19 plague! Myself and others have shot many Federal Top-Gun shells, they work good, I have no complaints about performance. But I'm a hard-core reloader and my favorite hulls are Remington Gun-Club.
I don't want to mix a straight wall hull with tapered wall components, not a good idea.
Mike

 

No issues at all..I shoot the Federal 12 gauge. Much better than the Winchester 100 packs in my opinion.

 

I like the top guns (federal promos) in 7.5 shot especially, great dove load, even sharpie and hun load in a pinch. OP I own several A-5’s and M-11’s, you might need to get a new recoil and action spring or try setting the rings up for heavy and lightly oil the magazine tube until you find the sweet spot where it recoils gently but is reliable. There are no two ways to set them up, they are all different.

 

My Auto 5 is in nice shape and I've got it clean and oiled. It ran those 2 boxes like a champ and didn't miss a beat with some 1-1/8 oz 1145 fps Top Guns I put through it.

Given that these are somewhat stouter than a usual target load, I might try running the rings in the heavy setting and leaving a fair amount of oil on the mag tube.

 

I am surprised the ammo makers don't follow the food industry with shrinkflation, take a box of 1 oz shells drop to 7/8 ounce and keep the price the same. And so on 1 1/8 down to 1.


cdb

 

Shhhhh……

don’t give them any ideas

 

Buy them up. Better price per box than buying a flat. I’ll continue to reload but I see plenty of them being shot at my club.

 

I've shot them over the years and never had an issue with them. Like 1958's post above, I would prefer a 1 oz. load and don't know why promotional loads aren't manufactured that way. The 100 packs at Walmart tend to have a bit more recoil than what I like, but the price is generally very good and I don't perceive any difference between them and top of the line loads.

 

The 1 ounce "Game Loads" sold by the box of 25 are more expensive than the 1 1/8 oz loads in 100 packs. Doesn't make sense to me.

 

I won’t shoot 1 1/8oz just to save a few dollars. I’ve been getting Noble’s from True Shot Gun Club in 1 oz 7.5 or 8 at 1250 fps for under $100 a case delivered and tax included. That is only a few dollars more than I would have to pay for the Walmart 1 1/8 oz shells after driving all over town looking for them. And that is if I am lucky enough to find them. Most folks seem to think Walmart is doing them a favor. I think they are just aggravating me.

 

I must be mighty lucky because the Walmart 5 minutes from me seems to restock their supply of them about every other day. No complaints here.

 

Opinions on the 100 ct packs of Federal 12ga that you can find at Walmart?

Fed Field & Target vs Win Universals vs Estate Super Sport | Shotgun Forum (shotgunworld.com)

 

So, $8.50/box for promo crap (plus tax), making it more like over $9/box OTD. I would think at that price point, you might find others online

 

I'm not seeing better deals online, but I'm not shopping. I do get emails frequently with ammo prices. We bought shells when they were less than $6/box including ttax while everyone else was hoarding toilet paper. We could still buy 100 packs of Estate Super Sports 1 oz #8 for $22.17 with no limit on quantity in January 2021.

I did see Dunn's has Winchester Super Target and Federal Top Gun for $99.99/flat with free shipping.

 

I just don’t think federal promo is that bad, my reloads are better but promos are now cheaper. I bought a 1958 A-5 that was basically new, the springs were still compressed just due to age I guess, it kicked badly and would run target loads on the heavy setting. When I pulled the springs they looks brand new with no wear just shorter than the new ones. Anyways the new springs made a world of difference but as I said everyone’s A-5 is different.

 

You will find the amount of oil you use on the mag tube on an a5 makes all the difference in the world on how they kick to much oil they will rattle your teeth and the type of oil you use will also make a big difference I have a light 12 a 5 and I use singer sewing machine oil on the mag tube 2 drops on the mag for light loads or heavy loads and change the friction pieces for light to heavy and I have a 3 inch magnum a5 it takes 3 drops on mag tube and same with friction pieces as a rule that is a good place to start more oil more kick less oil less kick too much oil and they will kick the snot out of you and when you put oil on them plead it with your hand so it even on the mag tube and make sure your friction pieces are assembled correctly and make sure you have them all if you bought used you would be surprised at how many used guns some yucks has thrown away or lost a friction price

 

But are the hulls worth reloading?

 

That's the shells we dove hunt with. No complaints by me,but the dove don't like them. They are reliable but have some holes in the pattern when shot on paper. Also recoil is pretty stout. Although, I watched my 16 year old neighbor shoot a 25/25 at 16 yard trap last Sunday with them.

 

… but the dove don't like them.

🤣🤣🤣

 

Even scheels here has multiple target loads for under $99 a flat, multiple flavors but Walmart federal promos are cheaper $8.75 a box roughly and just as good. Plenty in stock here.

 

They are fine if that’s all you can find. They have too much recoil for me for a standard 1 1/8 oz 1200 fps shell. Yes they reload but I don’t feel they are ideal for 1 oz reloads which is what I load. I would rather spend another $2 a box and get Remingtons.

 

My wife prefers the Federal promo ammo to my reloads, she believes that she gets better breaks and enjoys that she can just chunk the empties. Both my 870s run smoother with them than white box Winchester or Estates. Being out voted 3 to 1, I’ve bought thousands of the Federal stuff. I remember one malformed round in all that time. Just add them to the grocery cart and it looks like the food bill went up! Additionally it helps that there’s no state tax on guns or ammo in WV.

A local chain has Fiocchi 1oz @ 1,200fps for $89.99 a flat so I picked up three of those to try out since the Federals in 12ga have somewhat dried up.

 

I did a little basic math one day and having to buy components at CURRENT prices (shot, powder, primers, wads), it came out to so close to what I can buy these for, it is pretty much not worth trying to reload. And that is using free once fired hulls
Unless you have a large stock of components from years ago you bought at cheaper prices and can still reload for cheap, I would just buy these.
I have shot probably 100-200 of these and have not had a single issue. Cycles my semi autos with no problem, even one known for not wanting to cycle cheap birdshot.

As far as reloading these hulls, I had a thread on it a few months ago you can read through if you want.

Worth reloading these federal hulls?

I bought one of the 100 round value packs of federal "field and target" hulls from walmart just to try out in a semi auto and have a little range time/fun. Looking at the hulls, they do not match any of the ones listed in my lyman manual. I am guessing these are something different (made very...

www.shotgunworld.com

 

My Retay 20 gauge has had several hundred of these fired through it since day one without a single hitch of any kind. I do admit to preferring the Federal brand VS the Winchester, but don't think that gun cares either way.

 

90 % what I use they work fine in both My guns . A Beretta 694 and A400 xcel .
I shoot them side by side with the Remington gun clubs and the Winchester promos .
I do not feel anymore recoil in them ( same )

Also Federal top gun are the same shell as Federal field and clays ( per email to Federal)
and Winchester super targets same a universal . ( again per email From Winchester )

 

used it tons of times when I can find it.