I'm looking at shotgun shells for the upcoming season and I am trying to figure whats the better of the lower priced shells.

I have gone through case after case of federal without a hiccup. We split a case of fiocchi last year on a trip to Louisiana and had probably 25 to 30 shells that did not fire out of 4 different guns. Could have been a bad batch of course. But I won't take that chance again. Luckily I brought several boxes of Kent fast steel which is my new go to loads.


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They're both decent. Primarily shoot federal, but also have a case of winchester expert that was a gift that shoots fine. For the budget shells, pattern a box of each and take your pick.

Federal Blue box for me.

Shot a case of Fiocchi a few years back didn't like them. Pattern like shit out of my auto.

Blue box has been the best bang for $ for me out of several guns.

Jut don't let the fiocchi get wet at all. They aren't sealed worth a shit, you can see the shot through the hole in the plastic

Went with the Federal blue boxes. Good price and good reviews, I'll find out come september

I agree with the Federal Blue's as well. I have had them sopping wet and they shot fine. Pattern better in short range applications, and ok out of a long range tube. I used to be a big fan of Kent. But the price isn't real good anymore.

Winchester expert or federal blue you can't go wrong either way.

Been using the Federal blue box #3 1 1/4 oz. 3" shells the last three seasons, definite duck killers. I hear some whining about dirty shells but hell, you have to clean the gun (or not) anyway. Frick all those high falootin exotic expensive trendy ones!

Oh wow i can't believe anyone uses that Expert. Looks like welding slag when you cut them, some even whistle because of the holes in the pellets.

My advice is to cut shells and have a look, see what your paying for.
Then pattern them.

Nobody would take out their deer rifle without sighting it.
Why throw good money at ducks if you gun won't shoot them well.

Walker, I can't argue with the stuff you get down there, but my uncle's duck killing ratio to shots fired is significantly higher than the rest of us, and he only shoots the winchester in 2 3/4". He also is a low high 80s to mid 90s out of a hundred skeet shooter, with an old browning B2000. I think a large percentage of people not truly happy with the performance of their steel shot are taking bad shots, long shots, or aren't as practiced as they'd like to think they are with their shotgun. No way a 65 year old man with a $200 (in 1980) shotgun and some welding slag should be out shooting the rest of us with high dollar guns and decent shells...

That's the only point I was making. Experience and practice. It's not something everyone will acknowledge.

The shot consistency I can't speak to directly. I've never cut one open, and we generally only pull round pellets out of the ducks (probably because they're the only ones that fly straight lol).

I have shot cases of both and prefer the federals