apex vs federal

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-DIRTNAP-
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apex vs federal

Post by -DIRTNAP- »

i have been doing some testing with these two tss loads in the 12 gauge. curious to what you guys thoughts are between the two. i hear some negative about federal but i have been getting better patterns with the federal. curious to what you guys are finding?
Justusmccain
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by Justusmccain »

I shoot apex out of my 20 gauge and have great results! I wasn’t able to find federal at the time to try
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MFL205
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by MFL205 »

What is your set-up?
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Hoobilly
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by Hoobilly »

Chokes makes a world of difference in those two loads
Don't start none, won't be none!

https://foxtrotammo.com/
-DIRTNAP-
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by -DIRTNAP- »

benelli sbe3 ic choke
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SwampDrummin
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by SwampDrummin »

I have not shot Apex but the federal shells I bought rattled like maracas. Out of the 10 shells I had, 3-4 gobblers behaved much more life like than they should have at the distances they were shot.

I believe, at least at the beginning of the TSS game, federal just threw some tungsten in shells without much quality control.
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SwampDrummin
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by SwampDrummin »

The patterns also were not up to snuff to the hand loads I had which were essentially Apex.
Skimerhorn
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by Skimerhorn »

I've had better results with apex
Tail Feathers
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by Tail Feathers »

Federal didn't pattern as well and is slower FPS than Apex. I may try some Foxtrot, gotta check 'em for next spring.
Turkey fanatic :turkeywave:
-DIRTNAP-
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by -DIRTNAP- »

Yes they are slower. I'd like to try the small town blend to see if they are tighter in my gun
jsh909
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by jsh909 »

2.5oz is a lot of 9s, and here I thought 1-5/8 was overkill so I dropped to 1-3/8. I think if I was shooting 2.5oz out of a big bore I would use 8s . Not knocking anything, to each their own.

Hell of a pattern!
Justusmccain
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by Justusmccain »

jsh909 wrote: May 14th, 2021, 4:03 am 2.5oz is a lot of 9s, and here I thought 1-5/8 was overkill so I dropped to 1-3/8. I think if I was shooting 2.5oz out of a big bore I would use 8s . Not knocking anything, to each their own.

Hell of a pattern!
It’s hell of a load for sure! That’s my buddies gun I’m using a 20 gauge!
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MFL205
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by MFL205 »

I watch seven birds go down with federal this year didn’t seem to have a problem at all.
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MFL205
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by MFL205 »

Check that. Eight birds.
-DIRTNAP-
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by -DIRTNAP- »

I found the federal 3.5" 2.5oz 7/9 blend load for $48/box
Only thing I dont like is 1000fps. But it's hard to pass up
2nd100
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Re: apex vs federal

Post by 2nd100 »

Feds shot about 100 less pellets in 10 at 40 in my 20 ga M2 . but they still shot 310 ish with a ic 555.
So they weren't a slouch at all in my gun . but this gun is phenomenal with #9's . Apex and Handloads are over 400 every shot .
10th Legion legionare !
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