Winchester has a $2/box rebate on AA's right now up to $100.
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Dan's been telling me to buy quality shotgun ammo for a long time, but I've stuck with the federal bulk pack stuff because it's cheap and has run fine. Thankfully, I learned the lesson in practice and not in a big match. Last week, a rim failed on the federal, leaving the shell stuck in the chamber. I had to knock it out with a cleaning rod from the muzzle end. I just picked up a bunch of Win AA and will be testing it tonight or tomorrow. It's really not that much more expensive, ~$8/box vs ~$5.50. Compared to the travel and entry costs of a big match, it's nothing.
AA work real well for me as do Estate. I have used Estate for some time in various forms with no problems at all.
I still like either Federal reduced recoil LE slug loads best or B&P
I shoot B&P slugs. I'm hoping more come in soon, they've been out of stock in the US for a while.
AA work real well for me as do Estate. I have used Estate for some time in various forms with no problems at all.
I still like either Federal reduced recoil LE slug loads best or B&P
As far as a "cheaper" brand of shells go Rio are just as good as the Estates. And an equal quality shell to the AA's is a Rem STS. I try to stay away from any shell that has a steel base, brass is much better, way to hard on extractors.
I will find some to test and make sure my 11-87 likes them.
Anything will cycle a stock 11-87 action with the exception of light target loads (usually 1oz). Just make sure they are 2 3/4 dram or higher and you should be fine.
The Estate loads I usually run are 3dram 8s and they run great. I have seen guys at matches having trouble but not sure what they use.
Will you be ready for the Independent SG match in a few weeks? Then week after supposed to be a 3 gun in Pelham but both are on Saturdays
Dan's been telling me to buy quality shotgun ammo for a long time, but I've stuck with the federal bulk pack stuff because it's cheap and has run fine. Thankfully, I learned the lesson in practice and not in a big match. Last week, a rim failed on the federal, leaving the shell stuck in the chamber. I had to knock it out with a cleaning rod from the muzzle end. I just picked up a bunch of Win AA and will be testing it tonight or tomorrow. It's really not that much more expensive, ~$8/box vs ~$5.50. Compared to the travel and entry costs of a big match, it's nothing.
Jeff,
Do you think I like to type just for the heck of it? Geeeze. I'm not a great shooter, but, I do tend to keep track of the technical stuff. I've been at matches where Remington shells had the rim torn off, Federal is so so, some crimps are not so good, Winchester cheapo, crimps out right suck. I run them through an old MEC 650 just to recrimp them enough to work for trap! I'll use the recrimps for practice, not a match.
Estate shells available through Cabellas are decent, much better than the Walmart trio mentioned above. Rio shells have been awesome. A friend whose club makes large orders gets them for me. Slugs, I just got a bunch of Fiocchi 1 oz, at 1150. They shoot pretty well, don't knock the heck out of me in my pump gun, and seem to be pretty regularly available. All good things.
Where do you get the slugs from? I went out to BassPro Shops and they didn't have ANY (no 9mm either!).
meth0d said:Where do you get the slugs from? I went out to BassPro Shops and they didn't have ANY (no 9mm either!).
Really? I bought a bunch of boxes of 12ga slugs last week and there were many left. They aren't in the main ammo isle though, they are in a smaller ammo case one isle over.
Ohh ok, gotchya.
Looks like they won't be needed for the New Bedford match, anyway, so not a big concern at the moment.
I saw some discussion earlier about setting up mag carriers on belts. Do you have any experiences you can relate, or recommendations on which to choose?
I've got a Wilderness Tactical Instructors belt that has served me well for single gun games, but I am running into some issues getting all the gear setup on it for 3 gun.
Also, thanks for all the great information in this thread!
meth0d said:I was there on June 15 and went up and down all the aisles in the gun section, must have missed that special case I guess.
I saw some discussion earlier about setting up mag carriers on belts. Do you have any experiences you can relate, or recommendations on which to choose?
I've got a Wilderness Tactical Instructors belt that has served me well for single gun games, but I am running into some issues getting all the gear setup on it for 3 gun.
Also, thanks for all the great information in this thread!
ELS looks pretty slick. I'll look into the BladeTech too, thank you.
I picked up four of the California Competition Works 4-shell carriers with the standard metal belt clip.
The only issue I have had with them so far, is that the Wilderness Tactical belt I mentioned is 1.5" and I think the clip fits up to 2" or 2 1/4" belts, so there is a bit of free space between the belt and the clip. When I go to pull the shells out, the carrier rides up on the belt, making it a bit awkward. I defintely need to practice with them more, and see if I can get some kind of spacer to fill the void there.
As for as making this work, I currently use this belt, I put the buckle in front of my right front pocket which allows me to mount 2 shotgun carriers in the center front, 1 above the left front pocket 2 pistol mag pouches in normal location, and an AR mag in my left rear pocket. I use techlocks on everything but the holster. You could also move the buckle to the right rear position just behind the holster to allow 4 shotgun carries up front (I use DIY 6x6 cariiers so I only need 3). I started with Choate 6 rounders and have done a bunch of DYI changes to them. Knowing what I know now I would start with better carrieirs 4 quality 4x4s (32 rounds).I've got a Wilderness Tactical Instructors belt that has served me well for single gun games, but I am running into some issues getting all the gear setup on it for 3 gun.