Hevi-Hammer Upland load dissection and patterning results

After getting a few of these shells from a hunting buddy, I dissected and patterned these shot shells to assess their component consistency and performance from a Rem-choke Modified choke at 40 yards.

Five shells from the same box as the shells to be patterned were cut open and the components (powder and shot) were counted, weighed, and measured for consistency.

Patterning was done with a 12-gauge Remington 870 having a 28-inch Rem-choke barrel and using a factory flush Modified Rem-choke measuring .018-inch constriction from a bore gauge.

The 40-yard (muzzle to target) pattern data is the result of hits registered in a 30-inch post-shot scribed circle from five separate pattern shots.

12 GA 3" Hevi-Hammer Upland load (bismuth/steel)
1 3/8 oz #3 Bismuth (55 pellets) + Steel (126 pellets) = 181 total pellets @ 1350 fps

PELLETS / WEIGHT / SHELL (In-shell pellet count (bismuth + steel) / total weight (grains)
183 / 568.9 gr
183 / 565.1 gr
181 / 557.3 gr
179 / 545.9 gr
178 / 549.9 gr
Aver. 180.8 pellets / 557.42 gr (1 3/8 ounce/601.6 gr)
(bismuth 55.4 + steel 125.6 = 181 pellets/shell)
flax seeds/16.38 gr/shell

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, bismuth #3 & steel #3)
Bismuth pellet diameters
.149”, .148”, .148”, .146”, .146”, .146”, .145”, .145”, .143”, .143”, .142”, .142”, .141”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .139”, .138”, .138”, .138”, .137”, .137”, .136”, .134”, .131” / Aver. pellet diameter/.14128” (#3 pellet dia./.140”)

Steel pellet diameters
.141”, .141”, .141”, .141”, .141”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .137” / Aver. pellet diameter/.13976” (#3 pellet dia./.140”)

POWDER / SHELL (small ball powder)
40.0 gr
40.0 gr
39.9 gr
39.4 gr
39.4 gr
Aver. 39.74 gr

PATTERNS / 40 YARDS (Modified choke / .018” constriction)
107
102
102
100
94
Aver. 101.0 (55.8%)

How does the Hevi-Hammer Upland load compare to two other Hevi loads and some other low-cost steel loads. Well, here are a few of my pattern numbers with those loads using the same gun and choke at 40 yards for your comparison. Anyway, now you can be the judge.

Good luck!

PATTERNS / 40 YARDS (Modified choke / .018” constriction)
Fed. Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (186 pellets) pattern 128 (69%)
Rem. Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (193 pellets) pattern 146 (76%)
Win. Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (195 pellets) pattern 131 (67%)

Fed. Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (154 pellets) pattern 115 (75%)
Hevi-Metal 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 / #5 (164 pellets) pattern 93 (58%)
Hevi-Steel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (148 pellets) pattern 100 (68%)
Kent Fasteel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (155 pellets) pattern 103 (66%)
Rem. Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (152 pellets) pattern 110 (72%)
Win Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (146 pellets) pattern 106 (73%)

Here's a photo of the average pattern from the 5-shot string of pattern shots.