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Member Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 48 Location: NJ

For the the last six years I have been using my SxS 16 for pheasants in SD. I have used Winchester Super X, Federal, and Estate shotshells all loaded with 1 1/8 oz of #6 shot. I noticed after several years that my kill percentage seemed much higher with the Winchester and the Federal shotshells as compared to the Estate loads. I was wondering if anyone had the same experience with the Estate shells.

Member Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 1975

Estate and Federal are basically the same shell. Both made by Federal.

I shoot alot of the Estate ( High Velocity hunting loads) I dont ever feel under ammo'ed . Im shoot them in 12, 16, 20, ga Im not sure what to say here on this. I just think ill keep them in my loads to go and use them. If you find something special out please dont let on to any of my guns , don't want any ill will in the ranks ,
I have many cases of these and have always felt good with useing them!
Good luck , I think its just a little glitch your going thru with them,
Hunt hard and hunt safe !

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3178 Location: NCWa

The DE or velocity may be different in the Estate loads compared to Super-X or Fed Hi-Powers.

Member Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 1975

Member Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 48 Location: NJ

Yep, I agree that this could be a mind over matter scenario. Come to think of it I do the same thing with golf balls. Sometimes I feel that I score better with a certain brand of ball. Embarassed

Thanks for the feedback guys. Safe hunting this season.

Estate and Federal are both owned by Alliant. Federal is considered to be the premium brand while Estate is the promo or discount brand. Keep in mind that better quality doesn't just happen. It takes money, time, and effort. The difference in performance between the two brands may be due to a difference in the quality of the componants and how tight the QC specs are.

Even so, guns are laws unto themselves. Each gun will shoot best with certain brands and certain loads. Best find what works best in your gun and stick with it.

Member Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 1975

Take one of each apart and you will see that the components are the same.

I am starting to see some Estate hulls made by Cheddite

Mike

Member Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 1975

They used to use cheddites before they merged with Federal. Probably still some old ones around. They are now made in Anoka, Minnesota right along with Federal.

Bought TODAY at Academy Sports
New Stock

See on the side where the AMMO is made in FRANCE Shocked

Mike

Member Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 1975

http://outdoorwriters.atk.com/resource_library/catalogs/EstateCatalog.pdf

Ammunition
The Ammunition division supplies small-caliber ammunition to federal and local law enforcement agencies, military and sport-shooting enthusiasts, and devoted hunters. Our ammunition brands include Blazer, CCI, Estate Cartridge, Federal Premium, Fusion, Speer and Speer Bullets.

YUP
You found it

GTL 12 8 shot

http://m.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopNavCatalogSearch?Ntt=Estate+Cartridge&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&N=0&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1

$4.99 a Box

Mike

Outward and even inward appearances can be deceiving. Only the factory insiders know about tolerances and specs. Most aren't talking.

A good example is how autos and trucks are built. In many cases, those models meant for sale at dealerships to individual buyers are better built than fleet vehicles. We may not be able to see under the paint. However, wrap on a few fenders and listen to the difference. Fleet vehicles sound tinnier. The gauge of the steel is thinner to save money. The manufacturing tolerences of the moving parts and bearing surfaces aren't as tight either. That is why most fleet operators turn their fleets over far sooner than private owners. They know from experience not to hold on to the vehicles for too long.

Another is guns. Two guns may share the same basic design. However, thers is a big difference between the economy grade models sold thru big box stores and the better grades meant for sale through better gun shops.

The same applies to ammo. We may not be able to see the difference, but it's there. We generally get what we pay for based on initial costs and even then only if we do our homework. Assume nothing.

PS--Ever wonder why the Browning Citori 16 ga guns tend to be better built than the other run of the mill Citori models? The buyers who oreder the special lots areobviously informed. Knowledge is power.

Member Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 1975

In cas e anyone cares. The Federal and Estate 1oz and 1 1/8oz game loads have the same components. Primers, Wads which are two piece wads, powder and the same polished lead shot. These were 12 gauges shells as they were only $5.99 a box for both the 1oz and 1 1/8oz loads.
The only difference was the color, one is red and the other a maroon.
The primer in the game loads looks like a CCI primer. The target loads still have the Fed209A primer.