Federal Premium Hi-Bird #6

[RowdyGSP]

I ordered a couple boxes of these to try. They are touted as being pretty hot, pigeon killing loads. I figured they would be good for chukar. Anyone try these yet? I typically shoot Fiocchi Golden Pheasant #6 for chukars, which I like, but always up for trying new loads.

[orhunter]

Not heard of the stuff. Just did a quick Google search and was not able to find a product description that included muzzle velocity with the exception of one load that wasn't what I'd call an upland load. Would have to shoot it at paper for any kind of meaningful evaluation. Need a muzzle velocity of at least 1300 fps before I'd consider it. I like to shoot the fastest stuff that patterns well. I never did pattern my handloads @ 1560 fps but probably would have been disappointed had I done so. Was shooting 1 1/8 oz. of 7's.

[Dakotazeb]

I looked at them on the Midway USA site and velocity depends on the load (1 1/8 oz. vs 1 1/4 oz.) and shot size. It appears the 1 1/4 oz. loads are the standard 1.330 fps. Get down to the 1 1/8 oz. in #8 shot and the velocity is 1,275 fps.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020007626/

[Dakotazeb]

Or go to the Federal site https://www.federalpremium.com/shotshel ... d/hi-bird/

Click on the size shot and oz. load you want and it will give you the velocity.

[orhunter]

Thanks DZ.

Back in to 90's, Federal came out with a premium high velocity load that featured Copper plated shot. I bought a couple boxes to take to SD. That stuff was terrible. Although the shot was plated, it was soft and wouldn't pattern or penetrate worth a hoot. I would think this new stuff is probably quite a bit better.

I did some pattern testing several years ago where I compared the cheap Remington (1330) ammo against the Winchester Supreme (1400). Although faster, the Winchester was measurably superior.

Winchester has some new stuff called, Super Pheasant with 13/8 oz. @ 1300 fps. Took some (size 4 shot) to ND a couple years ago but bird numbers were way down and didn't give it a fair test but with the birds I did get it appeared to pattern extremely tight. The low velocity really kept the pattern together. I don't think the old line of Supreme is still in production but if it was, that's what I would use as I lean toward more velocity. Fiocchi makes/made a high velocity 1 3/8 oz load. Have shot a few pheasants with it but can't give an accurate evaluation.

[Dakotazeb]

Lots of over priced shells out there like the Federal Prairie Storm. Total waste of money. Anything with 1.0 oz. to 1 1/4 oz. of shot exiting your barrel at 1,200-1,300 is all that's needed. I'd be interested in trying the new High Bird loads on some pheasants this year but they don't make them in 16 ga.

[RowdyGSP]

Thanks guys I'll give a report. And yes I agree with you about velocity Harvey. The #6 are 1330. Side note, I did whack some chukar and quail today with some Remington #7.5s. shot a double on quail and double on the only covey of chukar we found. Pics to follow.

[Willie T]

Rowdy, I have not tried the federal hi-bird. The best store bought stuff I have shot is federal wing shock. The shot is copper plated and is buffered. They are loaded hot and pattern tight. In the 20 I tried 3” wing shock that is 1 1/4 oz @ 1,300 fps. With that load I get 12 guage like performance out of a 20. I tried a box of 12 guage wing shock last year. It was 1 5/8 oz @ 1,330. It jarred me a bit but it hit pheasant like a tennis racket. Patterns were too dense and resulted in a lot of tore up birds with the 12.
I ended up going back to mostly shooting reloads of 1 oz in the 20 and 1 1/4 oz out of the 12 most of the time. Both magnum shot (8% antimony) at 1,200 fps. It seems to me that hard lead shot somewhere between 1,165 and 1,225 fps is a recipe for the tight hard hitting patterns without going to the expense of plated shot and buffers.
Looking forward to some Chukar posts. Teal and dove is all cricket and me have been getting into so far.

[AverageGuy]

I shoot alot of 1300 FPS loads and like them. The Winchester AA SuperSports I shoot are 1300 fps and I use 7.5s for doves and quail, highly effective. I shoot Fiocchi 1330 fps 11/4 oz 6s for grouse, huns and chukars and like that load really well.

[orhunter]

+1 on the Super Sport. They (do/did) make a 12 ga. 1 oz. @1350 too. It's the only load I'll use with no. 8 shot at doves. Kills 'em like 71/2's.

[JONOV]

Personally anything in lead that's more than 1200 fps seems to be overkill for me, at least for 7.5 shot; I seem to get better patterns with lower velocities.

I haven't Chukar hunted but from what I gather you might want something with a bit more oomph for it.

[JTracyII]

Rowdy, I have not tried the federal hi-bird. The best store bought stuff I have shot is federal wing shock. The shot is copper plated and is buffered. They are loaded hot and pattern tight. In the 20 I tried 3” wing shock that is 1 1/4 oz @ 1,300 fps. With that load I get 12 guage like performance out of a 20. I tried a box of 12 guage wing shock last year. It was 1 5/8 oz @ 1,330. It jarred me a bit but it hit pheasant like a tennis racket. Patterns were too dense and resulted in a lot of tore up birds with the 12.
I ended up going back to mostly shooting reloads of 1 oz in the 20 and 1 1/4 oz out of the 12 most of the time. Both magnum shot (8% antimony) at 1,200 fps. It seems to me that hard lead shot somewhere between 1,165 and 1,225 fps is a recipe for the tight hard hitting patterns without going to the expense of plated shot and buffers.
Looking forward to some Chukar posts. Teal and dove is all cricket and me have been getting into so far.

I'm with you, in that I tend to have better luck with less fast flying stuff. I tend to believe it patterns better as really fast stuff will have a higher percentage of pellets fly wild outside the pattern.

Last year I got into quail on public land here in OK that requires steel shot. I used 6's that didn't fly too fast, probably 1300 or less. I was surprised at how well I hit my target. Because of this I have not been shy about pulling out the same load even in places I can use lead. I also look for less fast flying stuff when hunting dove and other birds. Ducks and geese are the exception. I will use a bit faster stuff for them for penetration power.

[orhunter]

Slow steel works incredibly well at ranges beyond what most would consider steel to be effective. My duck and Snow Goose load is 1 3/8 oz of 2’s @ 1300 fps. Deadly stuff.

[JONOV]

Last year I got into quail on public land here in OK that requires steel shot. I used 6's that didn't fly too fast, probably 1300 or less. I was surprised at how well I hit my target. Because of this I have not been shy about pulling out the same load even in places I can use lead. I also look for less fast flying stuff when hunting dove and other birds. Ducks and geese are the exception. I will use a bit faster stuff for them for penetration power.

IME Quail aren't that tough. Nor are doves. Nor are either of the grouse species I've shot at, nor are woodcock.

Some birds are harder to kill than others, it is what it is. I once pumped a 3.5 inch 2 shot XPert Steel at a Mallard, heard the pellets strike the duck, saw them knock feathers off of her, and it flew away as if nothing had happened. Ducks are tough. Pheasants are tough birds, even pen raised ones.

I'd imagine wild Chukars are more towards the pheasant side of toughness than Quail?

[orhunter]

I think shot size may be more important than speed. Lightly hit Phez with 6 shot will run after landing. Hit ‘em with 5’s or larger and they don’t go anywhere. They’re always right where they landed. Still alive but not active.