Waterfowl hunters who want to kill ducks and geese stone cold dead without breaking the bank on high-dollar bismuth or other exotic loads have a great new option. In fall 2025, Federal Ammunition partnered with Rob Roberts Custom Gunworks to develop its Raptor Steel product line specifically for waterfowl hunting. In early 2026, the company expanded the line to six loads.
If you don’t know who Rob Roberts is, you might want to consider changing what you hunt. Roberts heads up Rob Roberts Custom Gunworks, known for building custom shotgun chokes and then verifying their performance through computer analysis.
Early in life, Roberts developed a passion for hunting and the outdoors. What he has learned over the years while operating Rob Roberts Custom Gunworks positions him well to design ammunition that truly works.
In a nutshell, Roberts’ collaboration on Raptor Steel ammunition helps ensure it will meet your needs in the marsh, field or standing timber. And it will do so at a very reasonable price point.
| LOAD NO. | GAUGE | SHELL LENGTH | PAYLOAD | SHOT | MUZZLE FPS | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RRS138 2 | 12 gauge | 3 inches | 1 3/8 oz. | No. 2 | 1,400 fps | $32.99 |
| RRS138 3 | 12 gauge | 3 inches | 1 3/8 oz. | No. 3 | 1,400 fps | $32.99 |
| RRS138 4 | 12 gauge | 3 inches | 1 3/8 oz. | No. 4 | 1,400 fps | $32.99 |
| RRS209 2 | 20 gauge | 3 inches | 1 oz. | No. 2 | 1,400 fps | $35.99 |
| RRS209 3 | 20 gauge | 3 inches | 1 oz. | No. 3 | 1,400 fps | $35.99 |
| RRS209 4 | 20 gauge | 3 inches | 1 oz. | No. 4 | 1,400 fps | $35.99 |
Federal Raptor Steel Features
- Developed with Rob Roberts for optimal performance through Raptor Series chokes
- Heavy payloads of high-quality Federal steel pellets
- Velocities optimized for the payload to put more lethal pellets on target
- High-efficiency patterns and effective shot strings for waterfowl
- Clean-burning propellant and reliable primers
How Raptor Steel Balances Price and Performance
These specialized waterfowl loads fill the void between budget and lethality, giving duck and goose hunters the best of both worlds. They are available now at retailers nationwide.
“Rob Roberts and his team helped us develop these customized loads, which pair heavy payloads and high pellet counts with carefully selected velocities proven to put more pellets on target,” said Dan Compton, shotshell product director for Federal. “The loads combine Federal’s high-performance primers and clean-burning propellant to deliver lethal shot strings through the advanced Raptor choke design.”
For his part, Roberts said the new loads are “pure poison,” with looks that kill and performance that “flat-out crushes ducks and geese.”
“Federal’s standard, blue-box, Speed-Shok loads have always been a go-to for me,” Roberts said. “And with our help, this new load is that standard on steroids.”
As Roberts explained, the heavier-than-most, high-speed waterfowl loads hit a sweet spot in performance.
“The heavy 1 3/8-ounce load is set at an ideal speed of 1,400 fps that produces an unbelievable, consistent pattern, and is priced right for its performance level,” Roberts said. “Precise, killer patterns are what make any hunter successful. This balanced load delivers on that.”
The shells are loaded with heavy payloads of high-quality zinc-plated steel pellets propelled by specially formulated, clean-burning propellant.
YOUR NEXT READ:
- Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 A.I. Review: Better Patterns or Just Hype?
- HEVI-Shot HEVI-Hitter Layered Waterfowl Shells: Ammo Review
Federal Raptor Steel Loads: 12-Gauge and 20-Gauge Options
The ammunition is engineered to solve a common problem in waterfowl hunting: steel loads driven at excessive, unbalanced velocities that cause erratic patterns. The specific muzzle velocity balances recoil and speed, producing highly dense, consistent and lethal shot strings.
Federal Rob Roberts Raptor Steel is available in six 3-inch loads—three 12-gauge and three 20-gauge. The 12-gauge loads feature 1 3/8 ounces of No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 shot. The 20-gauge loads each feature 1 ounce of No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 shot.
All six loads propel their pellets at 1,400 fps, which Roberts and Federal ammunition developers determined to be the sweet spot. Although the loads were specifically designed for peak performance through Raptor chokes, they also perform well through other choke tubes.
At publication, Federal lists the 12-gauge loads at $32.99 for a 25-round box and the 20-gauge loads at $35.99. Prices and availability may change. Federal ammunition is available through dealers nationwide and online. For more information about Rob Roberts Raptor Steel and other Federal products, visit federalpremium.com.
- Waterfowl hunters seeking an alternative to premium-priced non-toxic loads.
- Optimized for Raptor chokes.
