Estates are made by Federal. Good shells, IMO. I do think they are a bit larger in length than other shells, but my gun still eats them. Do a search on Federal Cartridge, and you'll see the Estate line there as well, on the Federal page.

Been killing pheasants with their 16 gauge hi velocity 6s (1 1/8 oz) for two years now.

 

I use the one ounce dove/target loads all the time, cheapest thing I can get here in SoCal,
never had a dud so far.
Most of the guns the family use are Remington autos and the Estates feed well in them. 8)

 

I like em. Better than the game & field loads. Probly eaqual to Rem gun club.

 

I've used them too, they work just fine but the last flat of 28ga target loads I shot sure did smell bad. I know that really doesn't matter, just an observation. (Smellervation???)

 

I had used some once shot fine pattern fine but the brass was rounded and my gun could not get a hold of them to cycle them through. Also these were the cheapest estates like 2.50 a box. I heard good things about there steel shoot just not water proof.

 

Good shells. Federal powder used to smell funny to me,too....now I find I like it. Hasn't turned me into a hull sniffer yet, though.

 

I was not aware that Estate had been purchased by ATK.

Estate is, or was, a fine, local (to Houston) company that had been making a good product on their own for a long time.

I would still be curious whether some production is still occuring at the Willis, Tx facility.

Sad to see ATK gobble up another one.

Mike

 

Nope, I'm afraid the old Estate company of Willis, Texas is just a fond memory. Actually I think the Texan made shells were better shells, but alas, they are gone, but not forgotten!

BP

 

I've used them. They worked fine.

 

Thier steel 3's kill ducks and geese quick, over decoys.

I've been using thier lead, 1 oz, 20 ga. game loads($3.29 a box!) in my skeet gun on our sporting clays course and they bust em' good when I do my part.

AND they are really clean, which is important for me as my wife and I shoot Remington 1100's a bunch.

Copterdrvr

 

I been using them for quite a while now. They always worked fine. Never had a dud. I do however notice that they are more dirty then the Winchester shells.

 

I do however notice that they are more dirty then the Winchester shells.

That's interesting as the field loads(anyways) leave my 1100 as clean as my Clays reloads do.

Nothing burns as clean as Clays!

Haven't shot any Winchester shells in years, but I remember when they were the dirtiest shells you could buy, by far. All kinds of leftover ball powder in the barrel and action.

Copterdrvr