Hevi-Hammer Upland load

[Joe Hunter]

After getting a few of these shells from a hunting buddy, I dissected and patterned these shot shells to assess their component consistency and performance from a Rem-choke Modified choke at 40 yards.

Five shells from the same box as the shells to be patterned were cut open and the components (powder and shot) were counted, weighed, and measured for consistency.

Patterning was done with a 12-gauge Remington 870 having a 28-inch Rem-choke barrel and using a factory flush Modified Rem-choke measuring .018-inch constriction from a bore gauge.

The 40-yard (muzzle to target) pattern data is the result of hits registered in a 30-inch post-shot scribed circle from five separate pattern shots.

12 GA 3" Hevi-Hammer Upland load (bismuth/steel)
1 3/8 oz #3 Bismuth (55 pellets) + Steel (126 pellets) = 181 total pellets @ 1350 fps

PELLETS / WEIGHT / SHELL (In-shell pellet count (bismuth + steel) / total weight (grains)
183 / 568.9 gr
183 / 565.1 gr
181 / 557.3 gr
179 / 545.9 gr
178 / 549.9 gr
Aver. 180.8 pellets / 557.42 gr (1 3/8 ounce/601.6 gr)
(bismuth 55.4 + steel 125.6 = 181 pellets/shell)
flax seeds/16.38 gr/shell

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, bismuth #3 & steel #3)
Bismuth pellet diameters
.149”, .148”, .148”, .146”, .146”, .146”, .145”, .145”, .143”, .143”, .142”, .142”, .141”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .139”, .138”, .138”, .138”, .137”, .137”, .136”, .134”, .131” / Aver. pellet diameter/.14128” (#3 pellet dia./.140”)

Steel pellet diameters
.141”, .141”, .141”, .141”, .141”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .137” / Aver. pellet diameter/.13976” (#3 pellet dia./.140”)

POWDER / SHELL (small ball powder)
40.0 gr
40.0 gr
39.9 gr
39.4 gr
39.4 gr
Aver. 39.74 gr

PATTERNS / 40 YARDS (Modified choke / .018” constriction)
107
102
102
100
94
Aver. 101.0 (55.8%)

How does the Hevi-Hammer Upland load compare to two other Hevi loads and some other low-cost steel loads. Well, here are a few of my pattern numbers with those loads using the same gun and choke at 40 yards for your comparison. Anyway, now you can be the judge.

Good luck!

PATTERNS / 40 YARDS (Modified choke / .018” constriction)
Fed. Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (186 pellets) pattern 128 (69%)
Rem. Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (193 pellets) pattern 146 (76%)
Win. Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (195 pellets) pattern 131 (67%)

Fed. Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (154 pellets) pattern 115 (75%)
Hevi-Metal 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 / #5 (164 pellets) pattern 93 (58%)
Hevi-Steel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (148 pellets) pattern 100 (68%)
Kent Fasteel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (155 pellets) pattern 103 (66%)
Rem. Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (152 pellets) pattern 110 (72%)
Win Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (146 pellets) pattern 106 (73%)

Here's the average pattern from the 5-shot string of pattern shots.

 

[Joe Hunter]

Oops, I forgot to include this photo of the Hevi load components.

 

[A5 Sweet 16]

Interesting. I absolutely don't understand the theory behind these loads, other than they're a big gimmick in a pretty box. Why anyone would want 70% of their pellets to peter out 25 yds before the other 30% mystifies me.

 

[3goldens]

Not sure this pertinent only an observation. I have been very faithful to Federal blackcloud waterfowl loads. I was unable to secure any those this year. I switched to the Heavy hammer waterfowl rounds which are constructed in the same manner as the upland rounds. The performance of those rounds was amazing compared to the federal rounds. I found that birds were consistently dead and the range seemed extended comparitively speaking.

 

[BrdHntr]

Thanks as always for your excellent work JoeH!
I ordered a case this fall on sale @ Rogers, & used some on both waterfowl & pheasant. Worked fine but simply haven’t fired enough rounds to say it’s great. Appreciate all the load analysis you’ve shared!

 

[Bob Peters]

Duplex loads seem like a really bad idea to me. The horrible numbers this shell had in your patterning proved it. I'm glad I never bought any of these. Often some very simple rules of shotgunning ballistics are broken in order to add some marketing sizzle. Unfortunately in this case no steak comes with it.

 

[nastymcnarf]

What this load is trying to do is make their customers forget the product below that actually had 'hevi-shot'. Previously it was a duplex offering of steel and hevishot. This was a cult favorite for a lot of guys I knew for years. They bought it by the case. I've never had a lot of use for duplex loads. But a switch from hevishot to bismuth is not a step up. It is a cost savings...nothing more. They then call it "THE HAMMER" and then we all just gotta have it. DO NOTE...the 'Hevi Shot" emblem on the front of this new box in the OP...while not containing a gram of actual hevi-shot. I have a few boxes of this old product. Again...my pic. below. I took it on trade from a guy I used to deer hunt with. Closest I figured to getting my money back. With either product your getting a load of steel with a "pinch" of heavier shot on top. Looks good...makes some feel good. I'm not a customer/believer.