remington 870 super mag pattern

[winter8]

I shoot a remington 870 super mag and today i shot a 3 inch win hv 4 shotat 40yds and and put 25 in the head and neck and then i shot the same shell in 3.5 and only put20 in the head and neck and then i shot a 3.5 5shot win hv and put 21 in the head and neckall shots at 40yds.i dont under stand why the 3.5 did not pattern better then the 3 inch . the 3 inch was a1 3/4 oz and the 3.5 were 2 oz. can any one help me under stand this.all shots were through a 23 inch barrel anda 660 rhino choke thanks

[killmeatm]

From my experience with a rem 870 and a rhino 660 is mine doesn't like the extra 1/4ounce of shot. It's like its to many pellets going through that tight of a choke. Either stick with the less kicking and better pattern of the three inch or try a more open choke a 665 or 670 with the 2 oz. 3 1/2's. 20 pellets in the spine and brain are more than enough to kill a turkey at 40 yards especially shooting 4's.

[Mr. Longbeard]

He said head and neck. Not brain and spine

Big difference

[ranchand99]

I'm 100% with killmeatm!I have found that my 3.5" likes more open chokes..660 is pretty tight,and the larger the pellets are,or the more pellets there are.The lesschoke you will need.For example that's why the hevi shot shoots better throught the larger sized chokes,b/c it doesn't compress like lead.The rhino is designed for the 4x5x7 nitro loads which mainly consist of smaller #7 sized hevi-shot,so a tighter choke can be used.

I got better patterns from a Win Hv 2oz,than the win 2 1/4oz loads.Due to some speed gain I'm sure,but you can only put so much through the chokes,without blowing your pattern.If you go to a more open choke,you will most likely find that the 3.5's will out shoot the 3's.Especially at longer ranges.Also when you shoot a 1/2" shorter shell it gives a little more length in the barrel.With a 23" barrel,that does make a difference.That's why I prefer my 28",but the 23" will do fine.Hope this helps.

[countrymudder]

I would stick with the shot that put more pellets in the turkey. Like other replys were saying..the weight difference and the amount of pellets might be the problem. Also, one might be a buffered load and one might not be. A buffered load makes a tighter pattern.

[killmeatm]

I don't know why people even count the pellets in the head and neck of a turkey target. Flesh wounds don't kill turkeys!!!!! I guess if you count all the pellet holes it makes your pattern sound better than it really is.

[mauser06]

alot of guys been reporting their 3.5 inch guns shot 3 inchers alot better...kinda wierd..opposite of what we would think would happen with more shot ect...do they just use 3inch wads in 3.5 inch shells?? i noticed some shells wads dont go the full legnth...leaving alot of pellets to scatter quickly...i dont know i never played with 3.5 inchers..alot of guys report that same thing though....

killmeatm...theres alot of things in the neck to hit...wind pipe..arteries ect....plus shock of the pellets hitting near the spine ect.....

[killmeatm]

Yeah Mauser I agree with youtheris a wind pipe, veins, arteries etc. When shooting turkey targets I like to see the number of pellets that hit the smaller area of the target like the spine and skull. If majority of your pattern hit those you will definatly be getting the wind pipe veins and arteries. On one of my bad patterns at 40 yards I've got 47 pellets in the head and neck but only 6 in the spine and skull and I would not shoot this at turkeys at 40 yards (just my opinion).

[strut]

I shoot the same gun and choke, try you a box of 3 1/2"- 2 1/4ozNitro-Hevi shot in 5's or 6's, and if you want more shot in a small spot try the 4X5X7's they all pattern awesome. You will be very pleased.

[buttonbuckmaster]

I'm using the 870 supermag with the 660 Gobbler Getter choke, and using 3 1/2 Win HV #5's...lethal out to 45 yards. That gun/load kills on both ends though. I recently bought a slip on limbsaver pad.....helped some, but still a widowmaker.