Federal's Black Cloud.

Ed Askew

Ed Askew

Well-known member
Can't believe it, but we're actually getting enough shooting that I'm going to have to buy some shells! I bought 10 boxes of Federal Premium High Velocity several years ago, and haven't shot 2 boxes of them until this year. I like the Federal shells, but have heard about their new "Black Cloud" ammunition, it's supposed to be the stuff. It's the same price as the Premium High Velocity. The High Velocity #2 shot really patterns well with my gun, and I'm cautious about changing. Has anyone had any experience with the Black Cloud?

Ed.
 
My buddy was using it in Canada last month when we were hunting together. He made some great shots with it and it stoned the ducks. I think he was using improved cyl. in his Benelli.
 
Ed,I bought a couple boxes of 4s.Haven't used them yet,but did pattern one at 33yds from a mod choke in my Beretta.You couldn't ask for a more even pattern.Best I've seen.
However,they are HOT.the head tells the tale when it comes to pressure.The primer and lettering were flattened more than you would expect.Recoil was right up there as well,even out of a gas gun.At 1450fps they should do a number on ducks to at least 50yds.Further than I can see to shoot.
 
I hunted snow geese with three guys that were shooting this stuff earlier this year. They each shot a case or more. One guy loved it and the other two hated the stuff and were trying to sell their stock off to the rest of us. One thing of interest with this stuff was that the guys shooting it were all getting unburned bits of powder in their eyes, even with glasses on. As far as stoning birds you wouldn't with regular steel it didn't seem like it made a difference, but that's a hard thing to measure. It seems like a pretty gimmicky product to me, and I wasn't inspired to try it.
 
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Ed,

If you have a load that works well, patterns well, etc. - why change? In my case I know that the best shell for my SBE with the Briley IM choke is Winchester Supremes 3" #3 shot. Occasionally if it is really windy or very late in the season I might shoot a box or two of Hevi-shot but I believe in my Supremes so much that I bought 5 years worth last summer when I found them on sale. 9 times out of 10 your gun/load will stone ducks farther than you can accurately shoot anyway.

Pete
 
Have to agree with Pete - if the hunter does their part, the cheapest shells can work fine.

If you have a shell that patterns well and you can still get it, why change? I shoots Kents and they seem to work fine on puddlers and divers at decoying ranges. If you're shooting sea duck or something where you need more punch (or if money is no object) than buy the good stuff. Or if you need a more some feature that differentiates a shell (more waterproof, etc)... Otherwise, stick with what works. "If it ain't broken, don't fix it."?

I get a chuckle out of the "black cloud" bit, I think it is a bunch of marketing hype personally. Buy yourself some winchester xperts and you can get the same specially "out of round" shot at a lot lower price...
 
Scott my buddy got some stuff in his eye too. You guys are probably correct that the regular stuff will stone them just as good with the same hit. I think the duplex type of concept is a good one when you have ducks at different ranges. I wouldn't pay MORE for it though.
 
Lee, I’ve never understood the concept of the duplex loads. Trading big shot payload for a bunch of smaller shot twists my poor brain into a pretzel. At close range where the small shot has the energy and penetration potential to do the job, the larger shot does too and with the close range comes a tighter pattern and high shot density even with a large shot payload. At a longer range where the smaller shot no longer has the power to do the job, the duplex load only has a fraction of a load of the larger effective shot to make the kill, resulting in a pretty sparse pattern. Mean while, if you had simply shot the larger shot you’d have fewer pellet holes in your recovered game at close range, and at long range you have a fuller pattern of the effective size shot. Am I missing something?
Oh yeah, to stay on topic, I have never had the urge to shoot Black Cloud Ammo. If you have something that works why would you pay extra to change? What kind of snake was that oil from?

Scott
 
Scot, I think the smaller shot in a duplex load spreads faster, giving you a larger pattern on close birds. Larger shot stays tight way out there. I think the duplex loads would probably be best in the largest bores..like 10 ga..where you could fit a good number of say..bbb on top of a good number of 1's or 2's. I know that when I shoot BB at close birds, other than geese...I either miss or hamburger them. I am watching a test on 10ga duplex that a guy is loading...on a whim...and so far he is pretty happy, but, it's still early on the verdict. You load the big stuff on top of the smaller stuff..not all mixed up.
 
Lee, I experienced the same exact thing this past weekend in TENN. I have always been a pretty decent shot but up close my game was off. I was knocking them dead 30-40 yds with the bb's and missing regularly under 25 yds. I never thought to change shells but even the others noticed I was taking the far birds and missing the close ups. 1 of the close ups I did hit got threw away when I looked inside. Thanks for the tip. I'll load a #3 or #4 for the first shot and bb's for the last two.
 
I wasn't impressed this early goose season but didn't shoot more than a half box.

I have been very impressed with Hevi-Steel this year.

-D
 
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