Federal

Too Tight

I tested it last year. Here's a copy of what I posted.

I shot a number of patterns with 12 ga. No. 6 2 3/4 inch Prairie Storm last week. I used Imp. Cyl. in a SBE shot at 30 yards. The patterns looked like I used a full choke, very tight. The spread was 16 inches with lots of center density.
It would really hammer anything you hit with it. It's probably due to their flitecontrol wad. It has a solid cup, no slits.

For eary season, for me, it's way too tight a pattern. It also smacks you pretty hard as it is a hot load. It might be useful later in the season and may be just the ticket if you need a tighter pattern from a Cyl or Imp.Cyl. gun.
I won't be using it for eary season, I'll stick with Golden Pheaseant No. 6.

I haven't tried it with full choke but I'll bet it's really really tight. It might make a great turkey load.

Lock and Load!
 
Michigan Gunner said:
I tested it last year. Here's a copy of what I posted.

I shot a number of patterns with 12 ga. No. 6 2 3/4 inch Prairie Storm last week. I used Imp. Cyl. in a SBE shot at 30 yards. The patterns looked like I used a full choke, very tight. The spread was 16 inches with lots of center density.
It would really hammer anything you hit with it. It's probably due to their flitecontrol wad. It has a solid cup, no slits.

For eary season, for me, it's way too tight a pattern. It also smacks you pretty hard as it is a hot load. It might be useful later in the season and may be just the ticket if you need a tighter pattern from a Cyl or Imp.Cyl. gun.
I won't be using it for eary season, I'll stick with Golden Pheaseant No. 6.

I haven't tried it with full choke but I'll bet it's really really tight. It might make a great turkey load.

Lock and Load!
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Excellent report. I have never tried PS but from the guys I have talked to that have, I really don't see a use for it in your normal pheasant hunting situations. It has way too tight of a pattern in my opinion for upland hunting. The other complaint I've heard is that it blows up the birds pretty bad when you do connect. Most hunters would be better served by using good high base loads that pattern a true IC or Mod. PS is just overkill. But if you like it and feel it works for you then have at it.
 
Man you get a lot of guys on this site bashing the Prairie Storms that have never used them. I am on my 3rd case of them and I love them. I shoot the 2 ¾ #5’s with a IC choke. I hunt at game farms before the season, Minnesota opener-close and South Dakota 2 or 3 trips a year. I have never blown up a bird with them, if a Rooster gets up close I give it some time before pulling the trigger. If you look online at Reeds they are 150 a case and if you call and tell them you are a PF member they give you 10% off.
 
Well I like to use something in between that way when I'm pheasant if we get a covey of quail the shoot isn't to tight.
 
duke5577 said:
Man you get a lot of guys on this site bashing the Prairie Storms that have never used them. I am on my 3rd case of them and I love them. I shoot the 2 ¾ #5’s with a IC choke. I hunt at game farms before the season, Minnesota opener-close and South Dakota 2 or 3 trips a year. I have never blown up a bird with them, if a Rooster gets up close I give it some time before pulling the trigger. If you look online at Reeds they are 150 a case and if you call and tell them you are a PF member they give you 10% off.
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The best shell out there for pheasant 1500 fps ive tryed all that other junk like fiocchi they suck those federal shells get it done!! And thats hunting tough as they come kansas pheasants, not easy as they come south dakota birds (your dead on duke) agreed
 
only a pointer said:
The best shell out there for pheasant 1500 fps ive tryed all that other junk like fiocchi they suck those federal shells get it done!! And thats hunting tough as they come kansas pheasants, not easy as they come south dakota birds (your dead on duke) agreed
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Damn o.a.p there you go again.lol............prairie storm , official shotshell of the sec.:eek:
 
I have used 12 gauge PSs...like most hyped shotshells, they work....but whether their narrow best use range niche occurs often enough to warrant their cost and use, is the question.
Mostly, a pheasant gets only so dead.
Mostly any well-pointed shotshell of medium everything seldom comes up lacking.
Mostly, the shotshell is never to blame for a miss or to credit for a hit.
 
LOL. I disagree OD. The shell can in fact make all the difference in the world. Many have said certain guns, certain loads. Certain people certain loads. I have not used prairie storm and never will. I like some dont buy in to it. But maybe for some it fits the choke and the gun and patterns well. All I use all year is federal 1,500 fps 2 3/4 inch 1 1/4 oz pheasants forever loads.
If you like the PS maybe try those. They are in my opinion the perfect shot shell. At least for me any way and my gun. Blowing up birds is often because you shoot off the end of the barrel full of too much excitement. Not because of the shell. Ride them out a bit and take your time. The blown up bird happens with every shell if you shoot too close. I pop em at about 35-45 yards. They are not shot up bad at all. But they do the job and cripple less birds. The speed is more forgiving, gives you more range and allows for more successful follow up shots. Shooting field trials and hundreds of pheasants, I have played around with all that jazz so to speak. And the Fed copper plated oz and a 1/4 1,500s. Will out perform any load on the market for me period. I think there is a bit of extra marketing hype in the prairie storm, but if you like it, use it. Try the premiums as well you may like them better.
 
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Any medium weight of medium shot at a medium speed and pointed correctly works more than middlin' well on pheasants.
LOL as you need though....reading that folks use 1500fps loads causes me to chortle a bit.
It's good to laugh.
 
FCSpringer said:
LOL. I disagree OD. The shell can in fact make all the difference in the world. Many have said certain guns, certain loads. Certain people certain loads. I have not used prairie storm and never will. I like some dont buy in to it. But maybe for some it fits the choke and the gun and patterns well. All I use all year is federal 1,500 fps 2 3/4 inch 1 1/4 oz pheasants forever loads.
If you like the PS maybe try those. They are in my opinion the perfect shot shell. At least for me any way and my gun. Blowing up birds is often because you shoot off the end of the barrel full of too much excitement. Not because of the shell. Ride them out a bit and take your time. The blown up bird happens with every shell if you shoot too close. I pop em at about 35-45 yards. They are not shot up bad at all. But they do the job and cripple less birds. The speed is more forgiving, gives you more range and allows for more successful follow up shots. Shooting field trials and hundreds of pheasants, I have played around with all that jazz so to speak. And the Fed copper plated oz and a 1/4 1,500s. Will out perform any load on the market for me period. I think there is a bit of extra marketing hype in the prairie storm, but if you like it, use it. Try the premiums as well you may like them better.
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`springer they also got them in 1 and 3/8 shot #5 12 guage those absolutely smokem! The way i took it the prarie storm is the same as pforever i use both and they get it done as you said
 
OldDublin said:
Any medium weight of medium shot at a medium speed and pointed correctly works more than middlin' well on pheasants.
LOL as you need though....reading that folks use 1500fps loads causes me to chortle a bit.
It's good to laugh.
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I only use them because they dont make em 1800fps yet. Those slow loads make me laugh. I used plenty of them, I just like these much better is all. Simple. if you like those old slow pops, by all means enjoy,LOL
 
only a pointer said:
`springer they also got them in 1 and 3/8 shot #5 12 guage those absolutely smokem! The way i took it the prarie storm is the same as pforever i use both and they get it done as you said
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the 1 3/8 oz i found no need for me for. The 1/4s work well for me. Prairie storm is different shot. I am not a fan of that style of shot. I dont see the speed being a big deal like some shrug about, thats just silly. But the shot I can see why they would do more damage. The prem load with the copped coated lead to me is the perfect shot. Just my 2 cents. I think it will be hard for any manufacture to come up with a finer pheasant load. Gunning trials and running them after a while seeing what clubs use and what does a nice job over and over becomes clear, cut, and dry.;) People that just get out a few times seem to shoot real fast. Like as fast as you can pull up and blast. That is where you see the blown up birds. And the thought that any shell will do. You have more time then you think . I can take my time, relax, ride em out to my sweet spot, pull up and shoot. Not rushing shots to beat the other guy will serve you better. Learning to relax is key. I used to be guilty of it my self. I use a Mod and IM choke. and the whole package just fits like a glove together and works very well for me.
 
only a pointer said:
`springer they also got them in 1 and 3/8 shot #5 12 guage those absolutely smokem! The way i took it the prarie storm is the same as pforever i use both and they get it done as you said
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And yes the 6 or 5 shot, I use both and they both work well. I use the 5s on windy days or a 2nd shot. If you get the beed on the bird they die. I find they let you guess less on Leeds in all winds. Less dropped legs, less cripples, less fly aways to die elsewhere. If you watch sales you can get them cheaper. Now is not sale time,LOL. Last ones I bought for 10 bucks a box. But I am running out now too. I will be shooting over 97 dogs this weekend, And I will have 1 1/4 oz 2 3/4" 1,500fps federal premiums in a 5 and 6 shot in my gun all day baby.:thumbsup:
 
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