Federal Black Cloud 12ga 3 Inch 3 Shot – Superb FS Steel Duck Loads, 25 Shells

Description

Federal Black Cloud 12ga 3 Inch 3 Shot shotshells load Federal Black Cloud FS Steel into a 12 gauge 3 inch hull for serious waterfowl hunting. Each shell carries 1 1/4 ounces of number 3 steel at about 1,450 feet per second, with roughly 197 pellets per load according to Federal. This size is a strong choice for ducks, including fast flying teal and divers. Each box holds 25 shells.

• FLITECONTROL FLEX Wad and FLITESTOPPER Steel
• Federal Black Cloud 12ga 3 Inch 3 Shot Specifications
• Waterfowl Hunting Tips

FLITECONTROL FLEX Wad and FLITESTOPPER Steel

Black Cloud uses Federal’s FLITECONTROL FLEX wad, which opens from the rear instead of the front. Redesigned petals and side vents help the wad release the payload at the right moment, delivering dense, consistent patterns through both ported and standard waterfowl chokes.

The payload blends 40 percent FLITESTOPPER steel pellets with 60 percent premium round steel. FLITESTOPPER pellets have a cutting ring around the middle that creates larger wound channels, while the round steel keeps the pattern dense and even.

The 3 inch hull carries 1 1/4 ounces of steel at about 1,450 feet per second, a balanced load that patterns well and keeps recoil manageable for long days in the blind.

A high performance primer and clean burning, temperature stable propellant help keep velocity consistent from warm early teal mornings to frozen late season hunts, and they leave less residue in your barrel.

Federal Black Cloud 12ga 3 Inch 3 Shot Specifications

These figures follow Federal’s published data for item PWBX1423. Federal’s product page lists UPC 604544623307, which matches this listing and the SportsSouth catalog.

• Brand: Federal Premium
• Product line: Black Cloud FS Steel
• Manufacturer item number: PWBX1423
• Gauge: 12 gauge
• Shell length: 3 inch
• Payload: 1 1/4 oz steel
• Shot size: 3
• Pellet count: about 197
• Muzzle velocity: about 1,450 fps
• Wad: FLITECONTROL FLEX
• Shells per box: 25

Waterfowl Hunting Tips

Use Federal Black Cloud 12ga 3 Inch 3 Shot shells only in shotguns chambered for 3 inch 12 gauge shells or longer.

Pattern your shotgun at 30 and 40 yards with the choke you plan to hunt with. Black Cloud is designed to work well with ported waterfowl chokes.

Steel shot loses energy faster than heavier materials. Keep most shots inside 40 yards for clean kills.

Check your local waterfowl regulations for shot size, shell limits and nontoxic shot requirements.

Federal Black Cloud 12ga 3 Inch 3 Shot shells are a superb choice for waterfowlers who hunt ducks, including fast flying teal and divers and want dense patterns and hard hitting steel.

Waterfowl hunting is hard on gear and ammunition. Shells get wet, cold and covered in mud, and they still need to fire reliably when birds commit. Federal Black Cloud 12ga 3 Inch 3 Shot shells are built for those conditions, with components chosen to perform in cold, damp blinds.

Shot size matters as much as the load itself. Number 3 steel is a strong match for ducks over decoys, from teal and wood ducks to mallards, where a higher pellet count fills the pattern. Many hunters carry two sizes, a smaller shot for close decoying birds and a larger size for longer passing shots, and switch based on what is flying.

Practice on clays before the season helps a great deal. Steel shot requires more lead on crossing birds than lead shot did, and time on the sporting clays course builds the swing you need. When you head to the marsh, the Federal Black Cloud 12ga 3 Inch 3 Shot load gives you dense patterns to back up that practice.

Store your shells in a dry place and keep the box sealed between hunts. Buying several boxes of Federal Black Cloud 12ga 3 Inch 3 Shot from the same lot keeps your pattern and point of impact consistent from opening day to the end of the season.

Stepping up to geese? Compare Federal Black Cloud 12ga 3 Inch 2 Shot, or read Federal’s Black Cloud FS Steel product page for full specifications.