WOODS WISE TURKEY

New Remington Hevi-Shot Turkey Loads

EDITOR'S NOTE: While on the recent Woods Wise hunt at White Oak Plantation in Tuskegee, Alabama, the outdoor writers on the hunt had the opportunity to test one of Remington's new products -- the new Hevi-Shot turkey load. I talked with Eddie Stevenson of Remington to learn more about these turkey loads.

QUESTION: Can I use my current Remington shotgun/choke with new Hevi-Shot turkey loads?
ANSWER: Yes, Remington has extensively tested Hevi-Shot through various Rem-Chokes. The top-selling choke, diameter and resulting Hevi-Shot pattern percentages are as follows:

* Ventilator -- (.655") 87% 30" circle, 40 yards
* Full-Lead only (.691") 88% 30" circle, 40 yards
* Full-Lead or Steel (.691") 88% 30" circle, 40 yards
* Turkey Extra Full (.687") 92% 30" circle, 40 yards
* Turkey Super Full (.665") 93% 30" circle, 40 yards
* New Hevi-Shot (.675") 94% 30" circle, 40 yards

Tighter chokes than .665" do not improve pattern percentages to any extent, and in fact, begin to produce more open patterns.

Hevi-Shot can produce cosmetic rub marks in barrels and chokes -- simply a change in surface finish. Over an equal number of rounds, this rubbing is similar to that experienced with steel shot. Both materials create more choke strain than lead shot due to a more solid payload. With the Remington wad column, the Hevi-Shot pellets rest on a cushioned pad in the shot container that allows the pellets to flow better through the choke. In addition, the Remington Hevi-Shot shot container is much thicker than previous Hevi-Shot loaded rounds and that thickness minimizes pellet contact with the barrel or choke.

Under laboratory test conditions, Remington has fired in excess of 500 rounds through each Remington choke tube offered, including Ventilator (.655") and "lead only" full (.691") without any dimensional changes being encountered. With the limited number of rounds used in normal turkey hunting, Remington's testing represents many lifetimes of reasonable gun use.

QUESTION: Will Hevi-Shot damage my Remington shotgun?
ANSWER: No. When used in modern Remington shotguns, in good working condition, Remington Hevi-Shot will not cause choke wear in low-volume usage such as turkey hunting. However, cosmetic rub marks will occur. Remington's guns with fixed full chokes will show similar results. Remington Hevi-Shot ammunition utilizes the super-tough, high density polyethylene shot container that minimizes contact between Hevi-Shot pellets and the barrel and choke. In addition, the pellets are cushioned at the bottom of the shot container to allow them to flow through the choke more easily.

QUESTION: How does Hevi-Shot pattern in tight turkey chokes?
ANSWER: Tighter, up to a point. Because of the superior ballistic performance of Hevi-Shot pellets, an increase in pattern density versus lead will occur, especially beyond 35 yards. When choke diameters are tighter than .665", pattern density begins to degrade. Hevi-Shot will produce the tightest patterns through a choke of approximately 0.675" diameter +/-.005". In laboratory testing, a standard full choke (.691") produced an average pattern density of 88 percent in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards. The I.C. choke (.718") produced an average of 70%, considered to be the industry standard pattern density for "full" choke. Remington's new Hevi-Shot extended turkey choke tube has been optimized with this 0.675" diameter to consistently produce incredible 94% patterns.

QUESTION: Can I use other manufacturers' firearms/choke tubes with Hevi-Shot?
ANSWER: Any modern shotgun, in good working condition, designed or recommended for use with steel shot, should be suitable for use with Hevi-Shot. We recommend that a consumer contact the manufacturer for its recommendation. As a result of our extensive testing, we believe that the limited number of rounds used in turkey hunting is unlikely to create any more than cosmetic rub marks on chokes not rated for use with steel shot. However, the manufacturer of the choke tube should be contacted concerning its recommendations regarding the suitability for use with Remington Hevi-Shot loads.

QUESTION: What after-market choke tubes are suitable for use with Hevi-Shot?
ANSWER: Any choke tube that is manufactured from high-quality steel, such as stainless, should be acceptable for use with Hevi-Shot. Choke tube manufacturers such as Rhino, Patternmaster, Carlson's, Truglo and Trulock offer turkey choke tubes that are suitable for use with Hevi-Shot.

Purchase your custom turkey call today!