Holy Smokes!!!

[Daniel Cary]

Throwing clays with these out of a Coach gun is .. ridiculous

However, these have some Snot! for a 3"

I had to save some .. @BeeMaa, etc. has anyone heard or used these?
thank you.

 

[Don458]

Throwing clays with these out of a Coach gun is .. ridiculous

However, these have some Snot! for a 3"

View attachment 633423
View attachment 633424
I had to save some .. @BeeMaa, etc. has anyone heard or used these?
thank you.

I have used the Regular Black Cloud not the high velocity ones for Ducks/Geese. Trying them to offset the ridiculous price of Hevi Shot.

 

[Daniel Cary]

I have used the Regular Black Cloud not the high velocity ones for Ducks/Geese. Trying them to offset the ridiculous price of Hevi Shot.

I was shocked @ the cost, in comparison to what was here (not familiar with too much) .. but what raucous

Thank you!

 

[RR 314]

Man, I grow weary of the cost of AA for clays. That is ridiculous. . Shoot ‘em if you have ‘em (and don’t hunt waterfowl). Otherwise, get some low brass and have at it. Not like you are in a competitive shoot with a coach gun.

 

[BeeMaa]

I use the Federal Black Cloud TSS BB/7 for geese and 3/9 for ducks. This is a center of smaller TSS pellets surrounded by larger Flight Stopper Steel. What you end up with is a center pattern of tight TSS pellets with a ring of larger steel ones like this...

I have found the Federal BC shown below to absolutely suck on the pattern board at distances greater than 25 yards. To the point that I used the pattern sheets to start a campfire that evening on the farm. I have a few boxes of this that I keep around for dispatching wounded birds because it's less expensive than the TSS BB/7.

The stuff you are talking about using is moving at nearly 200 fps faster than what I have. In my experience, speed of the payload has diminishing returns. There comes a point where the pattern gets blown out and you run a great risk of wounding birds and not recovering them.

There is a big difference between being able to hit a clay and make a lethal shot on a goose. These animals are HARD to kill. You can hit them at 60 yards, but the pellets need to have the energy to penetrate to the point of being lethal. Even at that speed it would be very difficult.

I passed on several shots that were at or over 50 yards for this very reason. Our first day we took 17 birds and had only three that needed finishing by using the BC TSS load.

If you can, set up a pattern board and give it a try I would be interested in the results. Keep in mind that what works in one shotgun doesn't mean it will work in another. I've always recommended testing your shotgun/load/choke combination before hitting the field.

With steel #4 shot moving at that speed, I would think it would be more of a duck load than goose. Most goose loads are at least #2 shot, but normally B, BB or BBB.

BTW - For shooting clays, I use whatever is cheap. Usually a Federal target load that's around 1 1/4 oz at 1150 or 1200 fps in 7.5, 8 or 9 shot. Nothing special. The difference in speed is very minimal when it comes to changing your lead. I would NEVER use this Federal BC HV load on a clays range, especially in such a light shotgun.

 

[Daniel Cary]

I use the Federal Black Cloud TSS BB/7 for geese and 3/9 for ducks. This is a center of smaller TSS pellets surrounded by larger Flight Stopper Steel. What you end up with is a center pattern of tight TSS pellets with a ring of larger steel ones like this...
View attachment 633433

I have found the Federal BC shown below to absolutely suck on the pattern board at distances greater than 25 yards. To the point that I used the pattern sheets to start a campfire that evening on the farm. I have a few boxes of this that I keep around for dispatching wounded birds because it's less expensive than the TSS BB/7.

View attachment 633434

The stuff you are talking about using is moving at nearly 200 fps faster than what I have. In my experience, speed of the payload has diminishing returns. There comes a point where the pattern gets blown out and you run a great risk of wounding birds and not recovering them.

There is a big difference between being able to hit a clay and make a lethal shot on a goose. These animals are HARD to kill. You can hit them at 60 yards, but the pellets need to have the energy to penetrate to the point of being lethal. Even at that speed it would be very difficult.

I passed on several shots that were at or over 50 yards for this very reason. Our first day we took 17 birds and had only three that needed finishing by using the BC TSS load.
View attachment 633435

If you can, set up a pattern board and give it a try I would be interested in the results. Keep in mind that what works in one shotgun doesn't mean it will work in another. I've always recommended testing your shotgun/load/choke combination before hitting the field.

With steel #4 shot moving at that speed, I would think it would be more of a duck load than goose. Most goose loads are at least #2 shot, but normally B, BB or BBB.

BTW - For shooting clays, I use whatever is cheap. Usually a Federal target load that's around 1 1/4 oz at 1150 or 1200 fps in 7.5, 8 or 9 shot. Nothing special. The difference in speed is very minimal when it comes to changing your lead. I would NEVER use this Federal BC HV load on a clays range, especially in such a light shotgun.

Excellent read,
.. certainly not synonymous with a Stoeger, or hand throwing clays. They simply came along for a morning practice, loosen up a bit. However, I've never felt a 3" that profound. to be cont. if waterfowl comes back to consideration. beautiful collection .. my extended thanks, as always.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

1450 fps steel goose loads is money thrown out the window. Black Cloud? Just a gimmick. I shoot geese just fine with Walmart's Winchester no gimmick BB 1 1/8 oz @ 1550 fps. Usually get a couple of triples every year. Often batting a thousand on a limit of five honkers. But I'm not stupid enough to be shooting at them sixty yards out. Not necessary.

1635 fps in 3" twelve gauge might give some performance value for waterfowl but the recoil in a fixed breech shotgun would be harsh. Auto only! And the heavier the gun the better. For the life of me I do not know why the manufacturers have all gone to lightweight waterfowl shotguns. Waterfowl hunters generally aren't carrying their guns anywhere. I can see it for turkey hunting ... maybe. I guess it's just trying to make one design fit all purposes. Cheaper manufacturing.

Just go with 3.5" if you think that kind of speed is what's needed. Can't imagine there would be much difference in the price of shells = absurdly expensive. 3.5" gun might be a bit heavier which would help mitigate the punishment a bit. But then no one could give me a 3.5" shotgun. Absolutely unnecessary.

 

[Daniel Cary]

Briefly, Stoeger's Coach: Had to be sent back once, light primer strike, would often not fire the right barrel. Came back 'c a loose forend.

I've had a couple occasions with 2 3/4" where breaking the action, re cocking would be stiff.

3" seem to run better in the Coach, unless I blow this thing up soon. 150 shots in two outings.
Hand throwing clays? idk.

I simply don't shoot enough,

 

[BeeMaa]

DM sent.

 

[Daniel Cary]

Simply, fun gun to shoot .. can beat it up

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Throwing clays with these out of a Coach gun is .. ridiculous

However, these have some Snot! for a 3"

View attachment 633423
View attachment 633424
I had to save some .. @BeeMaa, etc. has anyone heard or used these?
thank you.

@Daniel Cary
Try 3" sellior and Beloit magnum slugs same weight and velocity out of a Mossberg maverick bolt gun with synthetic stock,weight less than 7#.
Sighting off the bench with a red dot fitted really got my attention
Bob

 

[CJW]

Regular black cloud patterns pretty well out of my 870 and BGH, though really no better than Win HV. Haven't tried the 1635.

 

[BeeMaa]

Regular black cloud patterns pretty well out of my 870 and BGH, though really no better than Win HV. Haven't tried the 1635.

Like to see a pattern board at 40 yards if you have one.

 

[CJW]

I only have pics at 30.

Apparently I needed a piece of cardboard off the first piece. It may be #2 shot in that pattern. I think my BIL gave me some shells.

The 870 patterns virtually everything well. The BGH seems to be a bit more picky with steel and didn't pattern it as well as I remembered. I want to try a Briley choke in it.

Definitely not a top performer for me.

 

[CJW]

These are Drylok and HV winchester at 30 for comparison.

Shot high on this one. Good pattern density though it's just out of the circle.

 

[Hammergun]

High velocity shotshells are really a gimmick. The sphere shape of a pellet is terrible aerodynamically. Worse if it has the silly "belt" around it that some makers use. The drag on individual pellets increases dramatically with an increase in velocity. So much so that at longer ranges the high velocity loads are going no faster than loads launched at more sedate speeds. At 40 yards there would be little difference. Very hard on the shooter and their wallet.

 

[BeeMaa]

High velocity shotshells are really a gimmick. The sphere shape of a pellet is terrible aerodynamically. Worse if it has the silly "belt" around it that some makers use. The drag on individual pellets increases dramatically with an increase in velocity. So much so that at longer ranges the high velocity loads are going no faster than loads launched at more sedate speeds. At 40 yards there would be little difference. Very hard on the shooter and their wallet.

Agreed. I’ve found that the HV patterns are much larger for any given distance with all other things being equal. My only explanation for it is the added velocity actually separates the pellets more quickly. In essence “blowing out” what would otherwise be a not too bad pattern.

 

[Hammergun]

Entirely correct BeeMaa. For really dense patterns it's important to keep velocity in the lower ranges. 1175-1225 is a good starting place.

 

[skydiver386]

My brother had a Savage 311 that had been damaged by someone shooting it when the barrel had been clogged with mud or snow. The barrels had been shortened to 18 inches by a gunsmith, and it was more or less the hammerless SXS equal to the Cowboy coach guns.

I fired some 3" magnums in it.....ONCE!

 

[fourfive8]

Simply, fun gun to shoot .. can beat it up

As to patterning… good, worthwhile exercise for any serious shotgunner.

I can empathize with DIY clay shooting. Most of the time only choice for me. 40 something years ago I bought a REM Blue Rock cast iron trap off a fellow for $10. Mounted it on a couple of boards with holes to allow pinning down. I modified the trigger release and can either pull a cord or push a lever with my foot to launch. Can even extend the cord to the side for more of a crossing angle. These old traps are practically indestructible. Well worth grabbing if you see one for decent price.