[MoNsTeR]

Finally got around to buying a shotgun, picked up a nice Beretta A303 20ga for $400. Took it up into the hills with a new Trius 1-Step and busted a box of clays. Great fun!

Anyway, since it's a lot of fun and I want to get good at it, I'm going to shoot a lot, at least 100 rounds per trip. For the first outing, I bought one of the Winchester Walmart 100rd value packs. No problems with it, but I'm wondering if there's something better and/or cheaper out there. There's also Federal value packs, Estate Cartridge at $4/box ($3 on sale), and S&B for $3/box + shipping. Are any of these markedly better/worse? What is it that makes these $3-$4/box and Win AA $5/box?

[Dave McCracken]

AA has top grade components, hard shot,etc.

Any of the ones you mention should work fine. Buy the cheapest, or buy the best. The S&B might dirty your gas gun faster and worse, by reports it's kinda dirty shooting.YMMV.

For now,there's no reason for 3" magnums or heavy 1 oz or more 2 3/4" loads. Save them for later, if at all.

Enjoy...

[swampgator]

Wal Mart will, usually in the fall at the beginning of hunting season, carry Winchester Super Speed shells for dirt cheap. I usually pick them up for $2.98 a box, but have seen the price drop to $ 2.45 a box later in the season.

[Route 66]

I just came from Wal-Mart where I picked up a box (25) of 12 gauge Remington High Velocity Game Loads, 2 3/4", 7 1/2 shot, 1390 FPS for $2.98 per.