1. Hevi-Steel Shot Packs
Hevi-Shot’s 3-inch 12- and 20-gauge Hevi-Steel ammo is now available in convenient 100-round packs. The 20-gauge cartridges contain 7/8 ounce of 2 or 3 shot rated at 1,400 fps, and the 12-gauge ammo is loaded with 1 1/4 ounces of 2 or 3 steel with a velocity of 1,500 fps. All Hevi-Steel wads, powders, and primers are engineered to perform with optimum consistency. hevishot.com
2. Federal Premium Raptor Steel
Federal has expanded its Raptor Steel line, which was developed in collaboration with renowned gunsmith Rob Roberts. The 3-inch 12-gauge cartridges contain 1 3/8 ounces of 2, 3, or 4 shot rated at 1,400 fps, while the 3-inch 20-gauge shells carry 1 ounce of 2, 3, or 4 shot also rated at 1,400 fps. All Raptor Steel loads are optimized to deliver lethal patterns and penetration with heavy payloads. federalpremium.com
3. Remington Duck Club Steel
Designed to fill straps without emptying your wallet, Remington Duck Club Steel has been engineered to provide good performance at a good price. The lineup consists of 2 3/4-, 3-, and 3 1/2-inch 12-gauge ammo. The 3 1/2-inch cartridges contain 1 3/8 ounces of BB, 2, 3, or 4 shot rated at 1,500 fps. The 3-inch loads carry 1 1/4 ounces of BB, 2, 3, or 4 shot with a velocity of 1,400 fps. The 2 3/4-inch shells contain 1 1/8 ounces of 3 or 4 shot rated at 1,375 fps. Also available is a 3-inch 20-gauge load carrying 1 ounce of 3 or 4 shot with a velocity of 1,300 fps. remington.com
4. Winchester Final Pass
Winchester’s Final Pass steel blends two shot sizes in the same payload, but unlike competing brands, it uses half-sized shot to optimize pellet counts. The 3 1/2-inch 12-gauge cartridge carries 1 1/2 ounces of 1 1/2 + BB shot with a velocity of 1,500 fps. The 3-inch 12-gauge load contains 1 1/4 ounces of 1 1/2 + BB or 2 1/2 + 4 shot rated at 1,400 fps. The 3-inch 20-gauge ammo carries 1 ounce of 2 1/2 + 4 shot with a velocity of 1,300 fps. All Final Pass ammo is loaded with precision-plated steel pellets and features Winchester’s double-seal wad system and lacquered primer to maximize water resistance. winchester.com
5. Winchester Magnum Dove
Not all doves are pushovers. Winchester’s Magnum Dove ammo is the antidote when birds are flying high. Available in 12-gauge only, this lead ammo contains a 1 1/4-ounce payload of blended 7 1/2 and 9 shot, which delivers a dense pattern with plenty of knockdown power. winchester.com
6. Browning Golden Clays
Browning has expanded its Golden Clays target-load lineup to cover all gauges. Five different 12-gauge offerings run the gamut from a light-kicking 1-ounce load of 8 shot rated at 1,180 fps to a hard-hitting 1 1/8-ounce Sporting load of 7 1/2 shot with a velocity of 1,300 fps. The line also includes 16-, 20-, and 28-gauge ammo as well as .410 loads. browningammo.com
7. Kent All Purpose Steel
Kent has rolled out another impressive lineup of steel ammo, including new high-performance loads that are co-branded with Dux Waterfowl Company. Options include 3-inch 12-gauge All Purpose ammo carrying 1 1/4 ounces of 3 shot or a blend of 1s and 3s rated at 1,450 fps. Kent/Dux cartridges are sold in 100-round sleeves. kentcartridge.com
8. Apex S3 Stratified Steel
These premium loads combine two layers of zinc-coated steel pellets of different sizes to deliver a mix of pattern density and downrange energy. The 3-inch 12-gauge load carries 1 1/4 ounces of 2/4 shot rated at 1,450 fps, while the 3-inch 20-gauge ammo contains 1 ounce of the same shot blend with a velocity of 1,300 fps. apexmunition.com
9. Fiocchi Arkansas Steel
Fiocchi’s Arkansas Steel comes packed in a 100-round carton, which includes a carry handle to help you tote your ammo to the blind. These 3-inch 12-gauge loads contain 1 1/5 ounces of 2, 3, or 4 shot. With a muzzle velocity of 1,550 fps, Arkansas Steel hits hard, and it’s sold at a very reasonable price. fiocchiusa.com
