Have anyone of y’all ever used Hevi Metal #6s? 1 1/4oz 3inch. I have a store by the house that has a lot in stock currently. I was hesitant to buy to many boxes because we mostly shoot mallards this time of year. Have shot 3” #3s in the past and loved them. Wondering y’all’s thoughts?

They should work fine, heavy shot is heavier than lead and hold its energy well as well as patterns great in the guns I have shot it in. I have killed a lot of geese with #4 heavy shot.

Decoying the birds and shoot them over the spread and it'll knock them out.

you can definitely kill ducks with less expensive shells but yes they would be a great duck load. Tony Vandemore gives them a lot of praise and they kill a couple decoying mallards....

Absolutely. They are outrageously priced, but I’m running thin on my stock of Kent’s and can’t find shells anywhere.

There is no Hevi Shot in these shells anymore. The newest version of Hevi Metal shells per the 2021 catalog are 70% 7.8g/cc steel shot with 30% 9.64g/cc bismuth. The bismuth shot is one size smaller than the steel shot. Since the bismuth shot is one size smaller it probably brings the single pellet weight close to the same weight as the larger steel shot. There should be a very slight higher pellet count due to the bismuth. I don't see it worth the extra cost over straight steel, but if it's easier to find right now and close to home to pick up, it might be worth it. IMO, It should shoot close enough to the same size for size compared to straight steel having the same fps and payload weight.

I picked up a case of Kent 3s at Gibson's in Weatherford a couple of weeks ago. Haven't been back but there were a decent number of cases. Might call if you're in the area.

Good info Sniper John. They're hevi metal 12 looks interesting, but I can't support that company. There's some write ups about how that company is not a good company and full of lies.

Who has them in stock? I have looked everywhere

That company has had a long history of not declaring changes in load composition. and having trade names that tend to deceive buyers. Back in the early days I emailed them with some questions about shot densities in different loads and they refused to tell me. At least they are putting it in their flier now. I am sure the shells kill birds, but I don't see paying the extra cost for marketing. I will only buy them if they are on clearance or if it is all I can find. There was a post a few years ago with pictures from a THF forum member who cut open one of the EM shells that used flax seed as a buffer. It had live bugs in it living off the flax seed!

I do wonder about this shell design. The bismuth portion being one size smaller than the steel portion would allow for a higher pellet count, but only for that 30% portion of the shell. So we are probably talking about maybe what no more than 10 extra pellets over a same size 100% steel load. Then though each bismuth pellet has the same weight as each steel pellet, it is still smaller in diameter, The steel being larger will have more drag than the bismuth and be slower. It is why the bismuth is on top of the steel in the load. This has to cause the shot string to be longer. And then too bismuth I have loaded has not been uniform, so will cause some flyers. For some these two things may be a benefit as it is more forgiving to human error, but at the same it could cause more cripples. Then there is fact that Bismuth tends to be brittle. At 1500 fps I would have expected some of that shot to fracture. Makes me wonder if it's wad design is similar to a flightcontrol and holding that payload together longer. That could explain the "longer range" over a 1500 fps steel load of the same size. Provided the steel load has the usual conventional wad. I would like to cut one open to figure it all out, but again, not paying that price and at the cost of those shells and not going to waste one of the shells if I did.

I believe in theory that it's a good idea, but stacked mixed blend seems counter intuitive. Like apex's steel tungsten mix. Is the steel really doing anything besides being a filler?

Honestly, it's why I stick with boss. The company is wide open with their views, and imo, make the best and most affordable load that consistently kills. You have a question, they will answer.

A boss 3" #4 has more payload than a 3.5" #2 or BB. So shooting that many more pellets is a no brainer to me.
It's scientifically been proven that it's a better load than steel, and the results speak. Plus you're dealing with a company that has excellent customer service. It's a win win

On the subject of Boss…

I think I’ve shot every kind of bismuth made for a 28 gauge through mine and I don’t think Boss is superior in anyway over Rio, Kent, or Hevi Bismuth EXCEPT for the fact that they have not gone up $.01 on their prices since all of the ammo shortages started. Made a forever customer out of me as long as they keep that business model.

*** Then there is fact that Bismuth tends to be brittle. At 1500 fps I would have expected some of that shot to fracture.***

I would bet that a lot of that shot will fracture. It's sitting on top of steel shot with no card / wad separation. And I bet shot patterns suck!

* Hotter Primer ? - really? How does that make any difference? There's only around 20 grains of powder. A standard 209 is more than sufficient.

* Clean Burning Propellant ? - aren't they all? And do I care? No! I shoot a pump.

* Thicker Base Wad ? - so, no cup? That doesn't do anything for me.

You can miss just as easily with expensive ammo as you can with cheaper ammo.

I shoot whatever I have or can find. *** I never shoot any duck or goose unless I can see their legs / feet.

Hevi Metal was recalled 5 or 6 years ago because the wads in those shells were sometimes cracking and causing squibs. That could be the real reason for the thicker base wad.

When I first started reloading hevi shot and tungsten was cheap compared to today's standard and I bought a few large bags of the stuff. I still have most of it. I just looked at what it is selling for now. Geez, little 2lb bags or bottles of hevi shot is over 75 bucks now and tungsten is almost $100. I probably should just stack those bags in my safe with the bullion. If it goes up much more, it will be too valuable to shoot.

FYI,
I just noticed the © 2021 FEDERAL AMMUNITION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED at the bottom of the hevishot website.

Hevi Shot was sold to Federal about a year ago.

"After evaluating various strategic partners, HEVI-Shot was sold to Federal Cartridge Company, a division of publicly traded Vista Outdoor (“VSTO”). The acquisition will add another iconic brand to Federal’s ammunition portfolio."
https://www.zacharyscott.com/portfolio/project/hevi-shot-sale

If you get enough people together you can order tungsten out of China pretty cheap, comparably

Heavy Metal is NOT Heavy shot. I shoot same in Heavy Shot 1.25 #6 mod choke on of the 20 gauge and it smokes the crap out of Ducks

Got some 3” 12 gauge steel if interested. Just 5 boxes. Just want what I got in em.