I smell a corporate decision to replace the Top Gun with a more profitable product line.
Top Gun has evolved over the years to be a very good shell at a promo load price. Shot hardness testing in recent years shows Top Gun near the top of the heap.
The new product line appears to be a similar hull to Top Gun but loaded with a one piece wad.
The 'Grand' line, which was a Gold Medal with a steel head failed miserably when shooters refused to pay the price for that 'superior' new shell. Part of that was the advertised hull improvements for better reloading life that coincided with an enormous cost increase on reloading components when they could be found. Not entirely Federal's fault there, but the Grand was not an improvement on the plastic Gold Medal. Old style Gold Medal hulls are prized now, I found all my Grand shells in the trash buckets.
The HOA then appeared as a replacement, which is a STS disguised as a Federal product. There is zero reason to chose that over STS but of course Federal owns the Remington line now and one wonders when the inevitable consolidation will occur.
Discontinuation of Top Gun would be a loss and another blow to the survival of the sport. I can see no other reason for the Master Class shell product line.
The shot density specification is at least amusing.
