Federal's 2026 new ammo lineup is impressive to say the least. There's a solid mix of handgun, rifle and pistol ammunition for certain, but here we're keying on Federal's newest target loads.
Let’s be honest: most of us grab whatever target shells are on sale and call it good. And for casual clays, that usually works.
But target loads aren’t all the same. Shot hardness, wad design, and hull construction can change patterns, recoil feel, and even how well a shell reloads.
When those differences matter, there’s a Federal Target load for the job. What follows is a simple breakdown of their main plastic-hull target lines — what’s different, what you’re paying for, and which one fits trap, skeet, or sporting clays.
Federal is one of the few companies that still offers vintage-style paper-hull shotshells in its Gold Medal line, a favorite among top competitors. Still, plastic hulls outsell them by a wide margin, and that’s what this article will focus on.
Anatomy of a Target Shell
Every target shell has the same basics: hull, primer, powder, wad, and shot. But the quality of the shot and the wad design are what separate budget loads from competition-grade ammo.
Pellet type is a key factor in how target shotshells differ. Most use a payload of lead pellets, but that’s where the similarities end. Better loads use harder, more spherical lead shot. The rounder and harder a pellet, the better it holds patterns and the farther it will cleanly break clay targets.
The wad system also plays a major role in how a shotshell performs. Traditional wads for lead shot are molded from flexible, low-density polyethylene plastic and have a cushion section below the shot cup. The cushion helps reduce the number of deformed pellets and the amount of felt recoil. These conventional two-piece wads peel open from the front, allowing pellets to scatter.
Federal’s Podium wads, used in their higher-end product lines, are an advancement over conventional wads. Its cylinder-shaped compression zone protects the payload at ignition, which means less pellet deformation, more consistent patterns, and a softer shooting experience. The Podium wads are also one-piece, so they don’t break apart in flight, which can distract some shooters.
Not all target loads are created equal, and the whole is equal to the sum of its parts. Federal does a good job of categorizing the main differences by offering three distinct product lines of plastic-hull target loads, each with its own features and benefits that align with appropriate price points.
Top Gun
At the lowest price point is Top Gun. These standard loads use a straight-wall hull with an inserted plastic base wad and a brass-plated steel head. Inside, you’ll find a conventional two-piece wad, hard shot, and a standard 209 primer.
The Top Gun product line comes in more than 30 options, featuring a wide range of gauges, payload weights, powder charges, shot sizes, and packaging options for Federal’s widest range of shooting disciplines.
Master Class
Next is Federal’s latest and greatest sporting clay load: the moderately-priced Master Class. This new product line is specifically designed for sporting clays and offers upgrades to Top Gun. Specifically, Master Class features a version of Federal’s one-piece Podium wad, which was explicitly designed for its straight-wall hull, as well as harder, high-antimony shot. All other components are standard and similar to Top Gun.
Federal Master Class was launched in 2025 with six 12-gauge loads, most sought by high-level sporting clays competitors and FITASC shoots. Additional gauges and load options are likely to be released in the future.
All-American
After the strong launch of Master Class, Federal heard from shooters who wanted the same design in the most popular trap loads. So, the brand introduced All American in 2026.
These new loadings will, in essence, be identical to Master Class, but with the most popular payloads and velocities used in trap shooting. The All-American line launches in seven configurations. It pairs a straight-wall hull and Podium wad with high-antimony lead shot, all housed in a blue hull.
High Over All
At the top of the lineup sits Federal Premium High Over All (HOA). This product line features a long list of enhancements, which naturally come with a higher price tag. It features a one-piece tapered hull with an integral base wad, a solid brass head, and a smooth tube for greater quality and ultimate reloadability.
Its one-piece Podium tapered wad fits and functions optimally with the tapered hull. It also features high-antimony shot to enhance performance. Engineered for the most elite trap, skeet, and sporting clays shooters, the HOA product line comes in more than 26 options, featuring a precise range of gauges, payload weights, powder charges, and shot sizes.
Final Thoughts on Federal Target Loads
Federal offers a range of hard-hitting product lines for target shooters. Top Gun is a quality lineup consisting of numerous options, delivering even patterns that consistently crush clays. Master Class and All American are competition-level sporting clay or trap loads with enhanced features for improved performance. And Federal Premium High Over All is the ultimate competition load for the world’s top shooters, regardless of the sport.
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