NEW Waterfowl Load 🦆 ULTRASTEEL | How Does It Compare?

product reviews Oct 03, 2024

New Federal Ultra Steel Shotgun Ammo

Federal Premium announced a new waterfowl hunting load earlier this year called Ultra Steel. We got our hands on some and headed to the range to see how Ultra Steel compares to Federal's existing steel waterfowl shotshells like Speed-Shok and Black Cloud. Let’s dive into the details, break down the ammo's performance, and help you make the best decision for your next waterfowl adventure.

Overview: Ammo Comparison

Federal’s three waterfowl shotgun options—Ultra Steel, Speed Shok, and Black Cloud—may look similar, but there are key differences in their construction and performance. Each round offers a distinct combination of price point, shot material, wad design, and performance characteristics.

Federal Ultra Steel

The standout feature of Ultra Steel is its zinc-plated steel shot, designed to resist corrosion, making it a great option for wet hunting environments. Ultra Steel also features options with stacked loads, meaning it combines two shot sizes like the #2/#4, offering versatility in hunting both smaller and larger birds. The wad technology, a flex control wad (the same one found in Black Cloud), aims to stabilize the shot for better accuracy and performance.

Price: $42.99
Velocity: 1450 fps
Available in: 12 and 20 gauge
Key Feature: Stacked loads (two shot sizes), zinc-plated shot

Federal Speed Shok
Speed Shok is the most budget-friendly of the three. It uses standard steel shot and has a conventional wad that opens from the front. This design leads to a quicker spread, which may reduce long-range accuracy but still offers reliable close-range performance.

Price: $27.99
Velocity: 1450 fps
Key Feature: Budget-friendly option with standard steel shot

Federal Black Cloud
Black Cloud is the premium waterfowl ammo, featuring a combination of plated steel shot (60%) and flight-stopper pellets (40%), which have a unique ridge design to create more terminal damage on birds. Its flight control wad is engineered to hold the shot together longer, improving accuracy and pattern consistency.

Price: $44.99
Velocity: 1450 fps (Standard) or 1635 fps (High Velocity)
Key Feature: Flight-stopper pellets for extra stopping power, flight control wad

Pattern Testing: Ultra Steel vs. Speed Shok vs. Black Cloud
I tested all three types of ammo at 30 yards, using a Carlson’s mod choke in a Mossberg 940. Here’s what I found:

Black Cloud Produced a tight core with 82.3% of pellets within a 30-inch circle and 54.6% in a 20-inch circle. However, some gaps appeared around the edges of the pattern, which might affect shot consistency at longer ranges.
Speed Shok Surprised me with a denser pattern in the 10-inch core—21.2% of the pellets landed here, outperforming Black Cloud in core density despite a slightly wider overall spread.
Ultra Steel Combined the benefits of both previous loads, delivering 190 pellets thanks to the stacked load design. It produced the highest percentage of pellets within the 30-inch and 20-inch circles (82.6% and 62.1%, respectively). The pattern was dense, with fewer gaps, making it a highly reliable option.

Shooting Clays
Shooting paper is great for gauging pattern spread, but I took these rounds out for some real-world testing on clay targets. Here's a quick look:

Black Cloud Delivered a hard-hitting impact, especially with the high-velocity version, but I noticed significant recoil compared to the other rounds.
Speed Shok Lighter recoil and still managed solid hits, though not as hard-hitting as Black Cloud.
Ultra Steel Felt consistent and reliable, with a noticeable difference in impact due to the mix of shot sizes.

Conclusion: Which Should You Choose?

Ultimately, the best choice comes down to your hunting needs. If you have the opportunity, get out there and test these loads yourself—your gun, choke, and shooting situation will influence which ammo works best for you. This is all merely a result of our curiosity surrounding the Ultra Steel load. In our minimal testing, we came to like the performance of the Ultra steel. As we said, when you do your patterning tests, be sure to get an average of at least 3-5 shots. Budget-conscious? Go for Speed Shok. It’s reliable, affordable, and still delivers excellent results. Need extra stopping power? Black Cloud may be your answer, especially with its flight-stopper pellets that deliver more damage on impact. Looking for versatility and performance? I’m leaning towards Ultra Steel. Its stacked load, pellet count, and dense pattern make it a great all-around option for various bird sizes and distances.