Super Fox Patterning Results

[CalebH]

Since spring turkey season is less than a month away here, I decided to go ahead and try some loads in my Super. I shot three different loads:
1. Federal game load - 2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz of #4s
2. Remington XLR - 2 3/4" 1 1/4 oz of #5s
3. Winchester Super Pheasant - 2 3/4" 1 3/8 oz of copper plated #5s

I was shooting an 18"X12" target at 40 yards. All three shots were with the left barrel. My Super is also a 2 3/4" gun with 32" barrels.

1. Federals

2. Remingtons

3. Winchester

As you can see, the Winchester load did the best. I'm happy with those results and hopefully this might can help someone else. Now it is time to start scouting and find some gobblers!

[spyder]

Thanks for posting! How was the recoil with those Winchesters?

[CalebH]

Thanks for posting! How was the recoil with those Winchesters?

No problem! They have some kick to them but I would say it was comparable to the Remingtons and the Kent Bismuths I shot this past waterfowl season.

[Jeff S]

Good test, and thanks for posting your results. There’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll be seeing a picture of your super with a gobbler in the near future.

[Foxnut]

Caleb, thanks for the info and report/pics of your results. While all three look good and would do the trick the concentration of the Winchester load is impressive!! A good reminder for us all to pattern each gun we choose to hunt with. Given the variation in bore size, choke constriction and chamber length of SF’s there could be a different outcome in different guns. Good stuff! Brett

[Dutch]

Thanks for sharing your findings. One question, are you concerned about the pressure in those loads? Or do you feel pressure is less of a concern in the Super? Great information and good luck out there.

[CalebH]

Thanks for sharing your findings. One question, are you concerned about the pressure in those loads? Or do you feel pressure is less of a concern in the Super? Great information and good luck out there.

There are plenty of people on this forum who know more than me, but I feel it is less of a concern with a Super like you said. I did want to stay away from any of the 2 3/4" "turkey" loads since most of them are 1 1/2 oz of shot and the faster pheasant loads that are around 1500 fps. Just my thought process.

[vaturkey]

That Winchester load is what I would shoot all day every day out of a Soper Fox. Reality is you might shoot 2 or 3 shots a year out of that Super at a turkey.

Think I would shoot the other barrel and see what your pattern is also. My last turkey kills with my Fox was 11 yards away. It might be nice to know what the other barrel can do.

[Silvers]

Thanks for sharing your findings. One question, are you concerned about the pressure in those loads? Or do you feel pressure is less of a concern in the Super? Great information and good luck out there.

Pressure has nothing to do with it. All US factory loads were loaded to acceptable pressure levels before and then after the SAAMI came to be. Shot weight and velocity are the key considerations. We also remember that 2-3/4" Supers were made for 1-1/4 ounce loads at ~1330 speed and that was with relatively slow burning powders. From what I understand the Winchester Super Pheasant loading is 1-3/8 ounce at 1450 and that's probably with modern faster burning powder. Thus the recoil impulse will be greater than the Super's design loading. Will that matter? If in good safe condition I wouldn't be concerned that the Super-Fox breech and barrels will handle it but the wood recoil bearing surfaces in the head of the stock might be compromised depending on the grain layout, existing cracks, etc. 100 year old dry wood and all that.......

Me? For turkeys I stick with the traditional 2-3/4 "High Brass" load (1-1/4 ounce at 1330) of lead 4's or better yet 2's if you can find and use them. One good shot and it's lights out. And if the bird is coming right in I’ll put a lighter load in one barrel. Also I'm not an advocate of TSS or other similar wonder shot. Kind of like putting a set of mag wheels with low profile tires on an otherwise original 1927 Packard. frank

[CalebH]

That Winchester load is what I would shoot all day every day out of a Soper Fox. Reality is you might shoot 2 or 3 shots a year out of that Super at a turkey.

Think I would shoot the other barrel and see what your pattern is also. My last turkey kills with my Fox was 11 yards away. It might be nice to know what the other barrel can do.

That is a good point, may test the other barrel before season gets here just to see what happens.

[CalebH]

Thanks for sharing your findings. One question, are you concerned about the pressure in those loads? Or do you feel pressure is less of a concern in the Super? Great information and good luck out there.

Pressure has nothing to do with it. All US factory loads were loaded to acceptable pressure levels before and then after the SAAMI came to be. Shot weight and velocity are the key considerations. We also remember that 2-3/4" Supers were made for 1-1/4 ounce loads at ~1330 speed and that was with relatively slow burning powders. From what I understand the Winchester Super Pheasant loading is 1-3/8 ounce at 1450 and that's probably with modern faster burning powder. Thus the recoil impulse will be greater than the Super's design loading. Will that matter? If in good safe condition I wouldn't be concerned that the Super-Fox breech and barrels will handle it but the wood recoil bearing surfaces in the head of the stock might be compromised depending on the grain layout, existing cracks, etc. 100 year old dry wood and all that.......

Me? For turkeys I stick with the traditional 2-3/4 "High Brass" load (1-1/4 ounce at 1330) of lead 4's or better yet 2's if you can find and use them. One good shot and it's lights out. And if the bird is coming right in I’ll put a lighter load in one barrel. Also I'm not an advocate of TSS or other similar wonder shot. Kind of like putting a set of mag wheels with low profile tires on an otherwise original 1927 Packard. frank

The Winchester Super Pheasants I have are 1300 fps. I wish they were 1 1/4 oz instead of 1 3/8 oz but hopefully it will be fine.

[Silvers]

Caleb, good deal. I found the Super Pheasants advertised at 1450 as well and 1300. I wonder if one or the other is Winchester’s current loading? frank

[CalebH]

Apparently, they offer 3 different varieties of the super pheasant. 1 is the standard load, 1300 fps etc. 2. is the high velocity which is 1450 like you had mentioned and 3. is the diamond grade, which is 1300 fps but is supposedly a harder and more precision sorted shot. They say high antimony lead shot that's also copper plated.

[eightbore]

I'm sure any of your loads will kill a turkey, but if you are a head shooter, a load of #6 will put more shot in a smaller target.

[Silvers]

I'm set for a while. I don't know if the factories still offer High Brass 2's in 2-3/4" 12 gauge but I see relatively new old stock boxes occasionally at Gun Shows. Just an aside, when I was a kid I’d ride my bike two towns up the line to get Super-X or preferably Peters High Brass 2’s for fox hunting from a friendly shop owner who’d sell them from an open box, 5 for $1.00. Those “Peters packs the Power” adverts really got to me. frank
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