My story of intrigue begins with patterning. The 835 with its x-factor turkey choke has turned upside down nearly everything I've come to understand about my ammo choices.
I've long advocated for premium ammo like the Federal FliteControl. This sort of ammo as most know, is all about the wad technology with applications from law enforcement to personal defense to hunting. The FliteControl wad is found in the desirable 2-3/4" 00 buck in the LE, PD, and VitalShok lines (maybe others?). There are a number of chamberings available for hunting, from waterfowl and upland game to turkey. What's my point in mentioning this?
While these premium loads are somewhat expensive, they can transform barrel performance from mediocre to "oh snap, I'm taking this thing everywhere!"
I'm finding what I've learned to not necessarily apply to a 20" overbored, xtra-full choked barrel.
I've fired a number of the most common loads from like barrels at a variety of distances to gain an understanding of performance to be applied to various situations. I've patterned at home defense ranges, 7 to 10 yards. I've patterned out to 40 and 50 yards when the load would hold up, (there has really only been one, enter the Federal FliteControl), and I've patterned loads anywhere in between.
Ill relate an anecdotal story. Something was messin with my chickens the other night. I grabbed my 500 with meprolight bead and loaded the Federal. I found the predator by the reflection of its eyes easily 35 yards out. I put the tritium bead on that only target in the dark and fired. It died where I spotted it. It didn't run, it balled up and died. Aim small miss small, and load 00 buck that holds an excellent pattern at range.
Enter that 835. While I have my preferences, at close enough range (home defense distances) nearly everything becomes a precision projectile. The Winchester SuperX has always been at the bottom of my list in every way but for price. I've found that beyond 10 yards its a liability as I couldn't track all the pellets. In some cases I understand this wouldn't be an issue but if the pattern opens that much, it's entirely possible for the load to be ineffective by not putting enough projectiles on target. Therefore again, liability.
That said, I just pushed that load out to 25 yards and counted every pellet on target. Winchester SuperX has almost the least technology in it. It's old style shotshell ammunition so why did it perform so much better than Hornady Critical Defense with the VersaTite which is the same as the FliteControl? (though not the same in performance).
It seems the xtra-full choke likes cheap, fast moving, old style loads. The slower moving FliteControl did better than the faster VersaTite but still not impressive.
This becomes an issue to me as I've invested in fast moving, full power 3" magnum shells with the VersaTite. I patterned the loads, but I didn't see the dense patterns that are desirable for turkey hunting. The patterns aren't terrible, I'm still confident with shot placement and that density is enough to put plenty of holes all in and about a turkeys head and neck.
However, I'm not satisfied my search in ammo is over the way I am with the 00 I keep in my 20" 500. I believe I'm going to grab a couple or few boxes of less expensive magnums. Stuff with less technological advancement. Down the road I'd like to test other chokes with the FliteControl though. I'd like to put together something almost comprehensive and educational. Since both guns are 20" barrels, the only difference being the choke tube, I'd like to establish a control and hypothesis and then put my assumptions to the test. It may take awhile.
If anyone has suggestions on choke tubes or manufacturers to check out, ill glady look into them. Until then, I submit to the community my early findings for analysis, all fired from the 835;
I've long advocated for premium ammo like the Federal FliteControl. This sort of ammo as most know, is all about the wad technology with applications from law enforcement to personal defense to hunting. The FliteControl wad is found in the desirable 2-3/4" 00 buck in the LE, PD, and VitalShok lines (maybe others?). There are a number of chamberings available for hunting, from waterfowl and upland game to turkey. What's my point in mentioning this?
While these premium loads are somewhat expensive, they can transform barrel performance from mediocre to "oh snap, I'm taking this thing everywhere!"
I'm finding what I've learned to not necessarily apply to a 20" overbored, xtra-full choked barrel.
I've fired a number of the most common loads from like barrels at a variety of distances to gain an understanding of performance to be applied to various situations. I've patterned at home defense ranges, 7 to 10 yards. I've patterned out to 40 and 50 yards when the load would hold up, (there has really only been one, enter the Federal FliteControl), and I've patterned loads anywhere in between.
Ill relate an anecdotal story. Something was messin with my chickens the other night. I grabbed my 500 with meprolight bead and loaded the Federal. I found the predator by the reflection of its eyes easily 35 yards out. I put the tritium bead on that only target in the dark and fired. It died where I spotted it. It didn't run, it balled up and died. Aim small miss small, and load 00 buck that holds an excellent pattern at range.
Enter that 835. While I have my preferences, at close enough range (home defense distances) nearly everything becomes a precision projectile. The Winchester SuperX has always been at the bottom of my list in every way but for price. I've found that beyond 10 yards its a liability as I couldn't track all the pellets. In some cases I understand this wouldn't be an issue but if the pattern opens that much, it's entirely possible for the load to be ineffective by not putting enough projectiles on target. Therefore again, liability.
That said, I just pushed that load out to 25 yards and counted every pellet on target. Winchester SuperX has almost the least technology in it. It's old style shotshell ammunition so why did it perform so much better than Hornady Critical Defense with the VersaTite which is the same as the FliteControl? (though not the same in performance).
It seems the xtra-full choke likes cheap, fast moving, old style loads. The slower moving FliteControl did better than the faster VersaTite but still not impressive.
This becomes an issue to me as I've invested in fast moving, full power 3" magnum shells with the VersaTite. I patterned the loads, but I didn't see the dense patterns that are desirable for turkey hunting. The patterns aren't terrible, I'm still confident with shot placement and that density is enough to put plenty of holes all in and about a turkeys head and neck.
However, I'm not satisfied my search in ammo is over the way I am with the 00 I keep in my 20" 500. I believe I'm going to grab a couple or few boxes of less expensive magnums. Stuff with less technological advancement. Down the road I'd like to test other chokes with the FliteControl though. I'd like to put together something almost comprehensive and educational. Since both guns are 20" barrels, the only difference being the choke tube, I'd like to establish a control and hypothesis and then put my assumptions to the test. It may take awhile.
If anyone has suggestions on choke tubes or manufacturers to check out, ill glady look into them. Until then, I submit to the community my early findings for analysis, all fired from the 835;
Last edited:
