Winchester shotshells

I purchased a box of Win. 20guage shells that aren't listed on their website, product WS2075. The box says 2 3/4', 7 1/2 shot, 22 Gram, 1275 FPS. I presume the 22 Gram is amount of shot, and if my math is correct that's .7766 ounce, slightly less than 7/8 ounce (.875 ounce). Just trying to determine shot charge of these shells for comparison to other shells I shoot. Thanks,

You are correct - - - the promo loads you bought probably say 'Super-Speed' on the box, and are closer to 3/4 oz. than anything else. Randy Wakeman

Randy, What are 'promo loads'? I bought them at Wal-Mart, are these shells special manufactured for their distribution?

Also, when a 2 3/4' shell is offered in 7/8 oz., 1 oz., or 1 1/8 oz. of lead shot, is the shot cup or wad reduced in size to fit more lead into the shell casing? How do they fit more lead into the same size shell?

: lead : > shot, is the shot cup or wad reduced in size to fit more lead into the : shell : > casing? How do they fit more lead into the same size shell? : > -Joel : > : If you looked at the plastic wad, it looks kind of like a goblet. They : change the load size by altering the height of the goblet stem.

On high quality loads, this is true. For promo loads, the cheapest thing is done. Look at the petals of the shot cup on a 'Dove and Quail' load. I've bought plastic food wrap that was thicker! Add a couple cardboard gas seal/spacers and put enough powder in to pump the speed up and voila, you have the shot squishing, high recoiling, dirty burning, platic flinging shells we've all come to know and loathe.

I talk pretty harshly about these but fact of the matter is, they fling lead out at high velocity and will kill both clay and feathered birds. The difference is in the pattern density and uniformity.

If you don't reload, the best deal BY FAR is the Wal-Mart offered Federal Multi-Purpose 4 packs. These are good wads and shot in a cheap hull for less than $4.00/box. You can get a full 1-1/8 oz. of shot in either 2-3/4 or 3 dram energy levels (for 12 ga.). They only come in 8 and 7-1/2 shot sizes, targeted at the casual clay shooter. In 7-1/2, they're fine for dove/quail size birds and canned hunt pheasant/chuckar/huns but a bit on the wimpy side for these larger birds that are genuine in-the-wild tough game.

My advice is to purchase these for practice and purchase high quality shells (like Winchester's Super-X) for hunting.

When you find inexpensive loads, normally with birds / duckies on them at Wally-World / / / etc., they are often filled with soft shot, are inexpensive, hence the 'promotional load' moniker. There have been exceptions - - - but don't expect them to perform like AA's or STS's.

Primarily wad size, though a ball powder like Super-Field allows more room for components in a compression formed hull than the bulkier 'Green Dot.' Cut a few shells open, it will be obvious to you. Randy Wakeman

<<SNIP>>

Lotsa' good points here, but allow me to throw in my $.02. The WW promos in 16 gauge use the same hull as the Super-X, so they are just as good for reloading. That's the good news. The bad news is that many of the promo loads I've seen have the little heat seal in the middle of the crimp, and since I reload, I won't buy 'em.

Like Scot says, the promos are typically the lowest cost shells that can be put out, and are usually bought in large quantities by the mass merchants. That can mean some good values for the non-reloaders, and also for the careful reloader.

Cheers!

Ahhhh . Used to! Randy Wakeman