and I guess this deal has been going for about a month, so it may be a German Moon bomb

But Winchester is offering a $2 rebate on all AA target loads.

For those of you that are looking to load up before dove season Cabelas currently has them for $8.50/box ($85/case - unless you get the thief discount), then the mail-in $2 rebate on top of that.

Pretty tough to beat AAs at $65 per case.

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($85/case - unless you get the thief discount)

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Kind of pricey, even with the rebate. I shoot Rem heavy doves or whatever I can for really cheap.

A buddy and I are about to buy shells for the fall so I've been internet window shopping today.

Price based on their advertised website price for Remington Heavy Dove is $68/case at Academy, $75/case at Midway, $74 at Cheaper than Dirt. So with the rebate the AAs (which are a much better shell in my opinion) are cheaper than any of those.

Best I've found on the AAs is Rogers Sporting Goods at $79 per case but they are back ordered.

[This message has been edited by Sean98 (edited 6/24/2014 3:06p).]

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I don't know what shotgun shells you shoot...

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Dragon's Breath or GTFO

Thank you Tagguy, I never knew this existed...

I'll order a case tomorrow. I love Freedom!!!

Suck it Obama...

'Merica!!!

FYI use a pump. They won't cycle through a semi auto

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FYI use a pump. They won't cycle through a semi auto

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And they continue to spew fire for 3 or 4 seconds so if it does happen to cycle it may shower you with lava.

You can get a case of Estate dove loads for $58 or case of federal for $62 on ableammo.com. They always have good prices. Rio's are good dove loads too.

What size shot do y'all use for dove? I find myself bouncing around a lot trying to find a good size

I've shot 6's and 7 1/2's and can't tell the difference. If you shoot 8's I'd get it in high brass because I've noticed all 8's seem to be loaded weak.

AA 7.5's are the best dove loads, worth the extra money

+1 for able ammo.

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What size shot do y'all use for dove?

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Depends on your set up. Most of my shots are within 30 yards. I like #8s. But honestly I usually have a mix of 7 1/2s, 8s, and 9s in my bag. Just reach into your pouch, grab whatever you grab and trust that the bird will be dead.

I really like the super handicap AA (fastest one) in 7.5 shot. I also use a light modified choke for everything but turkey.

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Rio's are good dove loads

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I bought a case of those last year and my red label hates them. I don't know if they just have sloppier tolerances or what but the extractors won't push out maybe 20-25% of them and once every box or so one gets stuck tight enough that I have to pry it out with a choke tool or knife blade. Never had any problems with any other brand.

Thanks for the heads up, sean.

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I bought a case of those last year and my red label hates them.

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That's because they aren't very good shells.

Never shot Rios out of an O/U but my 1187 and Nova like the Rio duck loads just fine.

A little dirty but they shoot ducks good.

+2 for able ammo I shoot the Bornaghi shells

Rios are great shells. Basically the only thing I've shot out of all my shotguns for the past 5-6 years. Never had a problem with any of their loads.

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A little dirty but they shoot ducks good.

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I suppose it's important to keep in mind your purpose with the shell, and in particular how many rounds you're going to be shooting (and through what gun).

Frankly I'd be disappointed if a Nova or an 870 (or even an 1187) wouldn't eat a mud covered stick coated with a little black powder. They should be bullet proof. Especially for what, 10 shots in a day?

For that matter, running just about any shell around through a semi-auto shooting dove in America should be just fine. I mean you're shooting what? A box of shells?

But if you're going to Argentina, or more likely for us on this board, going to the skeet range or trap field and might shoot several hundred rounds it makes a much bigger difference how clean or dirty the shells are. How likely the hulls are to warp, etc.

If you're really going hunting, the shotgun shells are the LEAST of your expenses in most situations. Are you really worried about $1 or $2 difference on a day? If you drive to Kansas or South Dakota, spending $$$100s$$$ on gas, motels, out of state licenses, etc. are you going to cheap out and spend $5 less on a box of shells? I am amazed at the number of guys that do. I guess I don't get the reasoning behind it. I have enough things to worry about and shooting birds makes me happy. An extra dollar for a box of shells that patterns better, hits harder, and ends up in less cripples is a very good investment to me personally.

Where is your evidence that Rios don't pattern well or hit hard? I've shot every shell they make for 5-6 years through 10+ guns and never had an issue with anything remotely concerning that.

I had two shells out of a case of rios that seemed to be improperly loaded with not enough powder. I emailed them and got two free boxes.

Seems fair to me

My comment was more generally directed at people who just refuse to pay $7 for a box of good shells.

From people that I know that have shot Rios they pattern just fine. My comment above to ccard about them not being very good shells is, I believe, accurate in his situation. They are cheap shells made from relatively cheap materials. So the hulls are more likely to bulge, split, etc. Not a big deal if you're going to slip out and shoot a few dove. Bigger deal if you're going to go shoot competition.

Reviews say that they've gotten better since they moved their production to Tennessee (from Spain) but I haven't shot them in recent years. I did see that their Tennessee plant exploded in mid-April but I assume they're back up and running now.

One of our local sporting clay facilities carries them and I was given 4 boxes to shoot a round at a charity event a few years ago. They shot fine. But they bulged and wanted to hang up a little. I only shot 4 boxes so not a big deal. And I don't shoot enough any more to reload but I do save hulls and give them to a buddy that reloads. Rios are good for maybe one reload. If that.

I assume, like most brands, they have better and worse lines. I love Winchester AA but Winchester white box is the worst, shi*****t shells I've ever seen in my life.

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I bought a case of those last year and my red label hates them.

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I made that same mistake. The hulls swelled and my Red Label didn't eject them. Rios are the only shells I have problems with. I killed a lot of dove with the Rios I bought, but I sure won't buy anymore. There is a reason the price is cheaper. I should have spent a couple more bucks per box.

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I love Winchester AA but Winchester white box is the worst, shi*****t shells I've ever seen in my life.

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Sean is often wrong, but this is truth.

Rio and AA Winchester are great those are the only ammo I consistently shoot with my Browning Maxus. But of course with my maxus I have never had a problem cycling through any other brand of shell.

AA's Bar none ...skeet .trap, clays and hunting

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quote:I love Winchester AA but Winchester white box is the worst, shi*****t shells I've ever seen in my life.


Sean is often wrong, but this is truth.

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Which is why Wildcat often tries to sneak them into my bag so I don't shoot all of my birds and his too.

You can tell when I shoot a rooster with one of those because I have to chase him 200 yards through a creek bottom and then tackle him after the most beautiful flush anyone will ever see.

I wouldn't say they are cheaply made. They have many different loads and all have worked well in my guns. I've shot all in guns ranging from an old Winchester 20ga 37A to various pump and semi autos. Even my Citori loves Rios and they work fine. It could be just your gun.

That being said, they do make different levels of loads. If the target or game loads are giving you trouble try the HV 36 Game loads (blue or black shell). I got a few boxes of those a while back when they came in the black shell and pretty much couldn't miss with them for some reason. I'd say those are right up there with the Rem Express Long Range for quality high brass game loads.

Put a AA and a Rio in that Citori and fire in succession and see which one you like best. AA has less felt recoil than any other shell I've tried, all else being equal. Normally I shoot Kemen, but, just picked up 2 cases of the AAs. Thanks for posting Sean