doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Which RST 12Ga shells do you use?

I need to order some more RST shells. I have used RST 21/2 Best Grade Lite (1175) 1oz and RST 21/2 Best Grade Paper-Lite (1175) 1oz for clays and hunting. What do you use? Have you used RST 21/2 Best Grade Fibre Wad (1250) 1oz? What is your opinion about them and what do you use them for? BillK

I use the same RST grades you do- 12 gauge in my L.C. Smiths-I try to stay below 1150 fps ratings, and the many barn pigeons and crows that fall dead to the shot with these shells and Smith guns probably don't know what hit them--All RST does is make top grade shotgun ammo-like Federal-- Remington and Winchester do as well, besides making firearms. I like to deal with specialty operations, and RST is the best, IMO.

I prefer the Paper, Roll Crimp, 1 1/6 oz #5s but I don't see them now. I purchased several flats some years prior. Also Gamebore w/ Kent's Diamond shot(Super Game High Bird?) are an alternate.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

I'm a big fan of RST shells and use the ones that Bill does. They have worked well for everything from North Dakota pheasants to my native grouse and woodcock. I really like the paper shells with the standard wads, and use 5's 7's and 8's. Great product and want to see them continue, so I support them.
Karl

As I mentioned on the Parker Collector's site I have used a few for both clays and hunting. I have been quite satisfied with all of them with one exception. This would be the 2 1/2" 1 oz. of #7 shot spreader load for hunting. I find that I get many more crippled pheasants and runners for the dog to find than when using #6 shot. Unfortunately, #7 is the largest shot size that RST makes in a spreader. I wish that RST would make this load and their 2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz. spreader in #6 for tight barrels in the field. With that said, I should mention that their current offerings in spreaders work brilliantly on clay targets out of a tightly choked barrel.

The only RST product I don't like are the 10's for woodcock. I dropped 2 doodles that got up and flew again. Never did recover one; had to shoot the 2nd one again. And on one fairly close crossing bird I hit with 10's, the poor critter's breast looked like he was liberally seasoned with pepper.

I've shot plenty of woodcock with 9's, which I find OK in lighter shot charges and open chokes. But I don't want anything smaller than that.

Larry,
I've thought about using the so called RST woodcock loads in the past. I'm glad to hear of your report on them as I'll avoid them.
Karl

Hi all, I've used their 2 1/2" 12 and 16 loads with a 1oz payload. Darn good shells. I do roll my own now, so I've not used many as of late. I do have a few boxes of their 2 3/4" 1 1/4oz Pheasant loads. Really like these for my more modern guns as well as a couple vintage guns that are chambered for 2 3/4". These loads have a pressure of 7800psi or so. Well within the pressure limits for guns with a service proof of 3 1/4 Tons psi.

http://www.rstshells.com/store/p/142-12-Ga-2-3/4-Pheasant-Vel-1200-1-1/4-oz-Load-Box.aspx

Best,

Greg

"I wish that RST would make this load and their 2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz. spreader in #6 for tight barrels in the field."

try polywad.com

I have a good stock of mostly Lite 2 1/2 inch. 5/8 ounce 28-gauges, 3/4 & 7/8 ounce 20-gauges, 7/8 ounce 16-gauges and 7/8 & 1 ounce 12-gauges. But, just in case, I have a flat of their paper 2 3/4 inch 12-gauge Pigeon Loads 3 1/4 dram equiv, 1 1/4 ounce. For all their good work though, paper RSTs just don't smell as good as Federal papers!!