#4 buck federal power shok vs vital shok

Y

yammerschooner

New member
Over the summer I patterned my 12 GA Mossberg 500 with a Carlson coyote choke. Of the variety of ammo and shot sizes I had on hand, 3 inch federal power shok was by far the best performer. However, I did not try any vital shok in the same size, which I understand is copper plated and has a different wad.

I normally don't post since I don't know enough to really have a lot to add; however, the search engine didn't seem to find me a thread that compares patterns between the two.

Can someone point me in a direction for a thread comparing the two with said choke, or enlighten me with their experiences comparing the two. When they are available, I am really good at figuring out pictures.

I've been checking local store shelves for a while to no avail on the #4B vital shok and just haven't bothered to find some online. If they were handy I'd just go kill a couple of pieces of cardboard.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Only the pattern paper will tell you how they work through your particular rig. Generally plated and buffered patterns best.
 
we used a bit of the " dead coyote" stuff last year and had a dog come into 15 yards head shop it all on camera and never found the dog. threw the garbage away after that
 
Originally Posted By: doggdownwe used a bit of the " dead coyote" stuff last year and had a dog come into 15 yards head shop it all on camera and never found the dog. threw the garbage away after that

This one is easy.

Somebody flat out MISSED.
 
Originally Posted By: doggin coyotesOriginally Posted By: doggdownwe used a bit of the " dead coyote" stuff last year and had a dog come into 15 yards head shop it all on camera and never found the dog. threw the garbage away after that

This one is easy.

Somebody flat out MISSED.

[beeep], doggin beat me to the punch line!
 
Originally Posted By: GCOnly the pattern paper will tell you how they work through your particular rig. Generally plated and buffered patterns best.

I'm happy with the power shok pattern as it is out of my current rig. However, what I am interested in is seeing what kind of improvement others have experienced with their rigs to see if it is worth the trouble of hunting down box store shy ammo to try something new.

I am looking for some kind of quantification on the "generally" of which you speak to determine if further ammo review is a priority or something that can wait until a more convenient time.
 
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i been wanting to try some vital shok 4 buck but i can never find it anyware. the power shok is just regular lead pellets with no coating and is 110fps faster supposedly then the vital shok. but like gc said. none of that matters, you got to get some and shoot it at some paper and see. no two shotguns or chokes are the same. this craps as finicky as it gets. i drive myself nuts sometimes but that's just shotgunning
 
Originally Posted By: doggin coyotesOriginally Posted By: doggdownwe used a bit of the " dead coyote" stuff last year and had a dog come into 15 yards head shop it all on camera and never found the dog. threw the garbage away after that

This one is easy.

Somebody flat out MISSED.

Or he was vaporized....


Chupa
 
Originally Posted By: doggdownwe used a bit of the " dead coyote" stuff last year and had a dog come into 15 yards head shop it all on camera and never found the dog. threw the garbage away after that

Did you pattern it in your shotgun and choke combination before going calling?


Chupa
 
Originally Posted By: doggdownwe used a bit of the " dead coyote" stuff last year and had a dog come into 15 yards head shop it all on camera and never found the dog.


Could it be the *dead coyote* stuff is only for coyotes and doesn't work for dogs?

Might wanna try the new *dead dogg* ammo.
 
Originally Posted By: doggdownwe used a bit of the " dead coyote" stuff last year and had a dog come into 15 yards head shop it all on camera and never found the dog. threw the garbage away after that

At 15 yards almost any 12 ga load will kill a coyote if the pattern is centered on the coyotes vitals.

The patterns on most good coyote loads will be very small at 15 yards. You may have just scraped the coyote with the edge of the pattern.
 
I shoot the 2-3/4" plain lead #4 Federal buck (the cheap stuff) and it does well for me, but I tend to have tight shots because I use hand calls.

This one was straight-on, in the chest this morning. (8 steps)
 
Originally Posted By: yammerschoonerOriginally Posted By: GCOnly the pattern paper will tell you how they work through your particular rig. Generally plated and buffered patterns best.

I'm happy with the power shok pattern as it is out of my current rig. However, what I am interested in is seeing what kind of improvement others have experienced with their rigs to see if it is worth the trouble of hunting down box store shy ammo to try something new.

I am looking for some kind of quantification on the "generally" of which you speak to determine if further ammo review is a priority or something that can wait until a more convenient time.


Further review is the only way you will ever know for sure. If it is a priority or not depends upon the patterns you are currently getting and a comparison of the results of any “further review” testing and how it relates to your personal hunting situation and needs. There are some generally accepted guidelines to note along the way such as plated and buffered usually pattern best but there are no absolutes and only individual pattern testing through your barrel and chokes will reveal what actually works best for your specific rig. The work is yours to do. With that said good on ya for taking the time to research the matter and really learn what your barrel, choke and load combination is capable of in the field. It will cut down on disappointments in the field, fewer lost or wounded animals and less ridiculous posting about how a direct head shot hit from a shotgun at 15 yards failed to produce a dead coyote because the load used was garbage.
 
Originally Posted By: doggdownwe used a bit of the " dead coyote" stuff last year and had a dog come into 15 yards head shop it all on camera and never found the dog. threw the garbage away after that

I could kill a "dog" a 15 yards with a dove load.

Swing batter batter.... swing !

lol.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeOriginally Posted By: doggdownwe used a bit of the " dead coyote" stuff last year and had a dog come into 15 yards head shop it all on camera and never found the dog. threw the garbage away after that

I could kill a "dog" a 15 yards with a dove load.

Swing batter batter.... swing !

lol.gif


+1
 


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