Prairie Storm Issue

Dakotazeb said:
It's not just the pellets. The big difference in the two are the wads. PS uses the Flightcontrol Flex wad. That wad does not open like a standard wad causing a much denser pettern. IMO it is too dense for the vast majority of shots taken at pheasants even with a more open choke.
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Thanks. Good info. I've personally never had an issue with it and I used the Upland Load for years prior without issue too. I could see why a close shot might turn a bird into hamburger though.
 
Labs said:
Would like to give them a try but we don't see them on the shelf out here in SW ND. I was at Scheels in Bismarck last week, there were only 5 boxes of 12 gauge B&P nestled in the shelves full of Fiocchi, Kent, and Federal. They were on sale as well, so I took that to mean Scheels might not be carrying them this year.
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Online at Buds Gun Shop, $18.99 box for 1oz #5
 
I have been using PS exclusively for the last 8 to 10 years - when I could get them. Never had a single issue with the shells, except occasionally finding them on the shelf.
Usually shoot 2 3/4 lead, 3-inch steel on rare occasions when required.
Lots of variables at play, experience, age, dogs, etc. but PS performs the best of any shell I've used for the last 30 years chasing pheasants.
Far fewer lost hit birds. I try not to shoot at a rooster under say 25-30 yards. Don't remember any birds blown to pieces.
Don't remember jammed shells.
Long as I can find them, all I'll ever shoot. No issues thus far, just better results.
 
My issue is not with PS it’s more with Federal. Their shells where I bit more expensive than most but the alway offered the rebate. After ‘20 seemed to be a shortage and the prices went up. Made me look for alternative shell and brands. Had success with Kent, B&P and other lower priced shells. Now when I see Federal shells in the upper $20s I don’t get excited at all. I’d be interested to know if guys are brand loyal or more interested in price? Do they sell more shells to avid hunters or weekend hunters looking for the cool box and higher price looking for guaranteed success. That bird with a wad in it is not a PS issue, it’s a dude who shot a bird at 10 yards with a hot load and got lucky and hit it with the wad. I hit a bird last year where I shot the whole back and neck off and gutted it. Not PS just a hot shell shot to close. Not a single bb in the breast but very gross. My reward for my quick reflexes was I got to carry that bloody mess in my vest. Seems that the Pheasant Max shells are alway at a reasonable price. Might have to check those out.
 
4shot said:
Now when I see Federal shells in the upper $20s I don’t get excited at all. I’d be interested to know if guys are brand loyal or more interested in price? Do they sell more shells to avid hunters or weekend hunters looking for the cool box and higher price looking for guaranteed success.
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I don't go through boxes and boxes of shells each season. But I've definitely noticed a price increase on the ammo I prefer. I've seen it go from about 12/box when it first came out to nearly 30/box nowadays. Its not just bird shells though, its pretty much all ammo across the board. The rifle ammo I use for deer hunting is up to 50/box of 20. Luckily I only go through about 1-2 rounds of those each season.

If I was going through a lot more ammo, then I'd be inclined to watch the price. I only hunt about 7-10 times/season because that's all I have time for.
 
I can't put my finger on it but I have so much confidence in PS as a shooter. I have made some shots that have stoned roosters that even made me scratch my head. I definitely use a lighter load early in the season but for late season roosters I switch to PS. I would have never guessed on my experience that others would not like them. I fell in love with them prior to Covid when I was pulling them off the shelves with a list price of $15.99 a box and federal was running a $5 rebate per box. I really like the Pheasant Max shells as well.
 
My 20ga. Orion (owned for 40 years now) shoots lead 6s and better yet 7.5s (great for ruffed grouse).

Never has patterned lead #4 or Steel shot #4 and larger very well.

In my 12ga. I also prefer the "orange box" Federals in #5.
 
I was watching a podcast the other day I thought it was kind of interesting, Rob Robert’s was on and was talking about his R2 chokes and how they were designed as a wad stripper. He was saying that in development that they were taking factory chokes and roughing up the inside with a file to slow down the wad and that in almost every case it would throw a more uniform pattern. And according to him a ported wad stripping choke will pull at the wad a little bit differently with each shot and that the pattern will tend to wander.
I’m not roughing up my chokes or buying a 140 dollar choke tube but it was interesting to watch.
 
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Labs said:
Last week I was pattern testing my new Orion 20 gauge with various loads & chokes and had a Prairie Storm 1 ounce 5's wad hit the board at 30 yards. I found a clump of pellets stuck in the bottom of the shot cup. I blew it off as an anomaly, until it happened again this afternoon. This time we were patterning my wife's new Franchi Afinity 3 Compact 20 gauge. Again it was a Prairie Storm 1 ounce 5's. I'll attach pics of the pellets fused into a clump at the bottom of the shot cup, and of the pellets after I cut the wad to get them out. Note how badly deformed and crushed the pellets are. It's safe to say I'm done with Prairie Storm. I'll shoot what is left of them at clay birds...
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Labs said:
Last week I was pattern testing my new Orion 20 gauge with various loads & chokes and had a Prairie Storm 1 ounce 5's wad hit the board at 30 yards. I found a clump of pellets stuck in the bottom of the shot cup. I blew it off as an anomaly, until it happened again this afternoon. This time we were patterning my wife's new Franchi Afinity 3 Compact 20 gauge. Again it was a Prairie Storm 1 ounce 5's. I'll attach pics of the pellets fused into a clump at the bottom of the shot cup, and of the pellets after I cut the wad to get them out. Note how badly deformed and crushed the pellets are. It's safe to say I'm done with Prairie Storm. I'll shoot what is left of them at clay birds...
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I have shot prairie storm #6 shot in a 20ga and found the patterns to have large holes, and thick clumps of shot at all distances. I missed many more birds than normal for me. I also have hit birds at 35 to 40 yds that look like I had shot them at 10 yds. I never shoot them anymore.
 
I just patterned several shells out of a couple guns, all shots were at 40 yards. I only shot prairie storm out of one, an Impala Plus 12 gauge. I first tried imp cyl, as thats what federal suggests for PS. On a 48 by 42 inch paper, there were roughly 15 holes. Idk where the shot went. I then tried modified, a little better but not much. Not a chance I would step into the field with this combo.
Every other load I shot out of the gun wouldve probably killed a bird at 40 especially when I tried imp mod. Had a couple that had one or two holes in the pattern but overall pretty decent.
 
I have several boxes of PS I bought several years ago for my stash. Haven't hunted with it but I might have to pattern a box. Maybe the older stuff is a bit better than the new stuff. If not, I'll have to use it up on preserve hunts.
 
Man there are a lot of negative opinions on prairie storm, I have been using them out of my 11-87 with an improved cylinder choke and killing it since 2020. I have had nothing but positive results with it and I am willing to spend a little more for them because of that.
Not trying to start an argument at all I just wanted to express my opinion on them as well. My opinion is use whatever you have confidence in and enjoy every single hunt like it's your last.
 
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These are my PS birds. I think I have two boxes left. I wanted to limit out today with three shells, came up short. The one was a crazy shot, what great shells😉
 
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