[JJHACK]

How many of us just hope that the pattern is working as we assume? Wow today I shot a ton of different shells at many distances from 20 to 50 yards. What stunning differences between the combinations of shells, shot, and choke. If you have never done this it's an amazing bit of education. I had to do this in South Africa when I was in the academy to learn what to expect from various guns and loads.

Today I recreated this little field exam and used my new Citori with the Carlsons chokes and the factory chokes. I now have found which choke and shell I'll be using, and have also seen why some of the shells were not nearly as effective.

With the Carlson IC choke and federal high base #7's I have a pattern at 30 yards that not even a newly hatched humming bird could escape. The density of that pattern is nearly 100% from the looks of it. Within a 40" circle I'm sure all the pellets are inside. within a 30" circle probably 80% and withing the 6" circle that I used as an aimpoint, there were 22 pellet holes.

The same load and choke at 35 yards had almost no change, at 40 yards it was more open but I still had 11 pellets into that 6" circle. When I switched to the modified Carlson choke, I was getting similiar patterns to 50 yards. Still with 8-10 pellets into the 6" circle. and a nearly full cloud of death in a 40" circle.

On the other hand, some of the other shells using 6 shot were way to open and would put 2-3 pellets in that 6" circle at 40 yards. I found that different brands of shells shoot far different in the mod Carlson choke of my Citori and the mod Hastings choke of my Ithaca.

I am so much more confident with the chokes in the Citori and the federal loads which work so well. The best load was the #7 high base for the Citori, and the best was a Remington #6 shot from the Ithaca. It is simply amazing just how much different shells from different manufactures work in different brands of guns, and their chokes.

You gotta do this to learn your gun!

 

[stillwater]

That's funny having the same shot but different brands can effect the pattern but I know it's true. Have you done any testing with the Hevi-shot?

 

[JJHACK]

No I did not. I wanted to, but I kept thinking it was so expensive to just waste on paper. I suppose I should have shot one or two, but I chickened out. I can shoot anytime I want to here right on my own place, so can try it. I also did not try my choke called "dead coyote" It's suppose to keep bb hevi shot in a 30" circle at 70 yards. I may try that one later as well. Seeing so many in a tight pattern with 6's and 7's at 40 plus yards. I think that a 3" load of copper BB's might stay pretty darn good with the "dead coyote" choke too.

 

[X5fishinmachine]

Also keep in mind that different brand of chokes shoot different too........always best to go by constriction and not the choke name......!...like .735, etc.

 

[Echo Mules]

It is truely amazing how different patterns are from different shells. I think that the different plastic wads make a big difference in how the pattern is affected by a choke. I don't know if others have experienced this, but it seems that patterns from an individual gun, like to pattern certain brands also. The best part about a dilligent patterning session, is that you gain confidence in your shooting. Nothing can help your success better than being confident.

 

[stillwater]

What about fps in the same brand-does speed effect it too? I know in the rim rifles even the primer can effect your accuracy.