FED 3RD DEGREE 12GA 3.5″ 5/6/7 5/50

Description

Federal’s 3rd Degree is built around a single problem turkey hunters run into constantly: the shot distance changes, and a load optimized for one end of that range fails at the other. The solution here is a three-component payload that staggers its work across the full hunting window. The front of the shell holds No. 5 copper-plated lead, which opens the pattern quickly and gives close-range birds a wide, forgiving spread before they flush out of range. Behind that sits No. 6 FliteStopper lead, an intermediate layer that bridges the gap between the close and long shots. The rear of the payload is No. 7 Heavyweight TSS at 18 grams per cubic centimeter — a density high enough that smaller pellets retain the downrange energy and penetration depth you’d normally expect from much larger shot. The entire stack is loaded behind Federal’s FliteControl Flex wad, which delays pattern opening at the muzzle and then releases predictably, keeping pellets together longer than a standard wad would allow. The 3.5-inch shell carries a full 2 ounces of combined payload at 1,250 fps, giving the heavier TSS pellets enough velocity to work at distance without sacrificing the open early pattern the lead layers produce up close. This is a load intended for hunters who are shooting from a blind or call position where the bird could materialize at 15 yards or stretch a presentation to 50, and who want one shell that covers both without compromise. Five rounds per box.