Good place for steel shot?

juk · October 31, 2009, 06:18 AM

Like the title says, I am looking for good places, online, to get 3" steel shot loads for duck season. I am not interested in the hevi-shot or other very expensive shells. I am looking at Fiocchi Speed Steel, Kent Fasteel, and possible Rio steel loads. I have used Wolf, Win Expert, and Remington, and I want to try something new. My mind is set on the Fiocchi, but I will need a plan B if I can't find any. Also, local stores didn't get the memo that steel shotshells aren't solid gold, so I would rather use the net. I am looking for at least a case. Are there any reputable steel loads that I have missed? I don't want to go with expensive shells because.... well, I miss....and I have a horrible tendency to unload on coots (perfectly legal).

JWF III · October 31, 2009, 08:27 AM

Of the normal (hunting related) online retailers, Macks is going to be the best. They'll have the best selection, and close to (if not the) best prices.

www.mackspw.com

Of the online ammo retailers, your guess is as good as mine. But I'd guess that none of them have the stock that Macks does this time of year.

Wyman

MCgunner · October 31, 2009, 09:39 AM

Macks is great for ammo. When I was shooting hevishot at geese, they had the best prices around.

chas08 · October 31, 2009, 12:10 PM

Able Ammo is a Fiocchi dealer among a number of other brands. I've done business with them a few times, it's a good outfit. They have a great search engine for their site too.
http://www.ableammo.com/

juk · November 1, 2009, 08:07 PM

I haven't checked out MPW. Thanks guys.

Whitman31 · November 1, 2009, 10:22 PM

Kent Fasteel is good stuff. I get mine at Cabela's, it's priced fair. Honestly though, the Winchester XP stuff is pretty good, for steel...it can usually be found at wally world and sporting good's stores like dicks. Good luck...

MCgunner · November 1, 2009, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Kent Fasteel is good stuff. I get mine at Cabela's, it's priced fair. Honestly though, the Winchester XP stuff is pretty good, for steel...it can usually be found at wally world and sporting good's stores like dicks. Good luck...

Wallyworld miffs me off, here. They have 2s, they have 4s in 2 3/4" high speed Xpert. They do NOT have 3s! They have 3s in 3", but not 2 3/4".

I swear, they never have what I want there, ever. I picked up some 2s the other day. I reckon they'll work okay. I just really like the way the 3s pattern.

JWF III · November 1, 2009, 11:48 PM

I would reccomend against Fiocchi. I gave it a try several years ago. Got rained on one day and some of the shells got wet. (Not in standing water, just rained on.) Next hunt the first few shells worked just fine. Then all of a sudden had a squib from the powder getting wet. The scary thing is that I already had round two chambered in my 870 with my finger on the trigger for a follow up shot. I luckily realized what happened before I pulled the trigger. The wad was stuck about half way down the barrel. My hunt was over.

I learned three things that day...
1-if you shoot enough, instincts are fast enough to realize something is wrong (Thank God for that)
2-I'll never hunt with or buy Fiocchi again. It doesn't matter if it's shotshell or metallic cartridge. I won't do it. (I still have several boxes left. I haven't shot a shell since then.)
3-The next day I bought a 3 foot piece of 5/8" hardwood dowel and cut it into 3 pieces. At least now, if it ever happens again, my hunt won't be over.

Wyman

juk · November 4, 2009, 02:31 AM

To anyone that is interested:

rogerssportinggoods.com Has the best prices I was able to find and they are good people to deal with. I got a case of Fiocchi 3" #3s for 105 shipped. They had Kent Fasteel for under 130 per case.

So far, we have had very good results with the fiocchi we have used. Granted all of that has been 3.5" BB or T shot for geese. The only shells that I have really had fail were Estate steel loads that had gotten wet. I guess the barrel was facing upward and rain ran down the barrel on the chambered round. Went to fire and you could literally outrun the pellets. I do appreciate everyone's help and opinions. Good hunting, and be safe!

MCgunner · November 4, 2009, 10:31 AM

I've routinely DROWNED Winchester Drylock and Xpert with no squibs. Oh, after several seasons, it'll squib out and I'll toss 'em. I have a new method of carry, though, that keeps 'em out of the water I've been doing for 10 years or so and have had no problems. RAIN on a shell should NOT bother it functionally. I'd switch loads if it did. The major brands will survive repeat all morning dunks without failure. Only problem is, the "brass" rusts pretty quick. That's really why I started carrying 'em under the waders. Rusty brass after only one hunt is NOT good. I can't burn 'em up THAT fast. LOL

juk · November 5, 2009, 02:09 AM

Yea, I still have a few boxes of Xpert. That stuff has never let me down. The stuff is old and ugly, but it works. LOL I didn't want to have to rush around the week before opening day and hunt down a box or two of shells. I figure this way, I can put something else to the test and save the Xperts for coots or something.

October 31, 2009, 06:18 AM	#1
juk Member Join Date: June 22, 2008 Location: Alabammy Posts: 273	Good place for steel shot? Like the title says, I am looking for good places, online, to get 3" steel shot loads for duck season. I am not interested in the hevi-shot or other very expensive shells. I am looking at Fiocchi Speed Steel, Kent Fasteel, and possible Rio steel loads. I have used Wolf, Win Expert, and Remington, and I want to try something new. My mind is set on the Fiocchi, but I will need a plan B if I can't find any. Also, local stores didn't get the memo that steel shotshells aren't solid gold, so I would rather use the net. I am looking for at least a case. Are there any reputable steel loads that I have missed? I don't want to go with expensive shells because.... well, I miss....and I have a horrible tendency to unload on coots (perfectly legal). __________________ "Great danger lies in the notion that we can reason with evil"

October 31, 2009, 12:10 PM	#4
chas08 Member Join Date: February 6, 2008 Location: South Central Texas Posts: 899	Able Ammo is a Fiocchi dealer among a number of other brands. I've done business with them a few times, it's a good outfit. They have a great search engine for their site too. http://www.ableammo.com/ __________________ I'd rather beg for forgiveness, than ask permission.

November 1, 2009, 08:07 PM	#5
juk Member Join Date: June 22, 2008 Location: Alabammy Posts: 273	I haven't checked out MPW. Thanks guys. __________________ "Great danger lies in the notion that we can reason with evil"

November 4, 2009, 02:31 AM	#9
juk Member Join Date: June 22, 2008 Location: Alabammy Posts: 273	To anyone that is interested: rogerssportinggoods.com Has the best prices I was able to find and they are good people to deal with. I got a case of Fiocchi 3" #3s for 105 shipped. They had Kent Fasteel for under 130 per case. So far, we have had very good results with the fiocchi we have used. Granted all of that has been 3.5" BB or T shot for geese. The only shells that I have really had fail were Estate steel loads that had gotten wet. I guess the barrel was facing upward and rain ran down the barrel on the chambered round. Went to fire and you could literally outrun the pellets. I do appreciate everyone's help and opinions. Good hunting, and be safe! __________________ "Great danger lies in the notion that we can reason with evil"

November 4, 2009, 10:31 AM	#10
MCgunner Member Join Date: December 3, 2005 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 13,701	I've routinely DROWNED Winchester Drylock and Xpert with no squibs. Oh, after several seasons, it'll squib out and I'll toss 'em. I have a new method of carry, though, that keeps 'em out of the water I've been doing for 10 years or so and have had no problems. RAIN on a shell should NOT bother it functionally. I'd switch loads if it did. The major brands will survive repeat all morning dunks without failure. Only problem is, the "brass" rusts pretty quick. That's really why I started carrying 'em under the waders. Rusty brass after only one hunt is NOT good. I can't burn 'em up THAT fast. LOL __________________ http://www.medinafortexas.com/

October 31, 2009, 08:27 AM	#2
JWF III Member Join Date: June 23, 2007 Location: Mansfield, Georgia Posts: 867	Of the normal (hunting related) online retailers, Macks is going to be the best. They'll have the best selection, and close to (if not the) best prices. www.mackspw.com Of the online ammo retailers, your guess is as good as mine. But I'd guess that none of them have the stock that Macks does this time of year. Wyman

October 31, 2009, 09:39 AM	#3
MCgunner Member Join Date: December 3, 2005 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 13,701	Macks is great for ammo. When I was shooting hevishot at geese, they had the best prices around. __________________ http://www.medinafortexas.com/

November 1, 2009, 10:22 PM	#6
Whitman31 Member Join Date: July 2, 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 359	Kent Fasteel is good stuff. I get mine at Cabela's, it's priced fair. Honestly though, the Winchester XP stuff is pretty good, for steel...it can usually be found at wally world and sporting good's stores like dicks. Good luck...

November 1, 2009, 11:48 PM	#8
JWF III Member Join Date: June 23, 2007 Location: Mansfield, Georgia Posts: 867	I would reccomend against Fiocchi. I gave it a try several years ago. Got rained on one day and some of the shells got wet. (Not in standing water, just rained on.) Next hunt the first few shells worked just fine. Then all of a sudden had a squib from the powder getting wet. The scary thing is that I already had round two chambered in my 870 with my finger on the trigger for a follow up shot. I luckily realized what happened before I pulled the trigger. The wad was stuck about half way down the barrel. My hunt was over. I learned three things that day... 1-if you shoot enough, instincts are fast enough to realize something is wrong (Thank God for that) 2-I'll never hunt with or buy Fiocchi again. It doesn't matter if it's shotshell or metallic cartridge. I won't do it. (I still have several boxes left. I haven't shot a shell since then.) 3-The next day I bought a 3 foot piece of 5/8" hardwood dowel and cut it into 3 pieces. At least now, if it ever happens again, my hunt won't be over. Wyman

November 5, 2009, 02:09 AM	#11
juk Member Join Date: June 22, 2008 Location: Alabammy Posts: 273	Yea, I still have a few boxes of Xpert. That stuff has never let me down. The stuff is old and ugly, but it works. LOL I didn't want to have to rush around the week before opening day and hunt down a box or two of shells. I figure this way, I can put something else to the test and save the Xperts for coots or something. __________________ "Great danger lies in the notion that we can reason with evil"

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