Just patterned, Any good?

[Adirondack Hunter]

I just shot out to 30 yards, i got 6 in the yellow kill zone of my target, but i shot a little high. Im planning on getting clip on sights for my barrel since i cant really shoot consistently with just the bead. I was using a superfull choke and a 3in 12g 2oz #4 load.

[ultimag]

yor KILL ZONE do you mean brain and spine? at 30 yds i get 25-30 pellets in the brain and spine

[Adirondack Hunter]

yeah, i guess i should really get that sight!

[mouthcaller]

6 pellets in the "kill zone", which I presume means the brain and spine, is not overly impressive for a 3", 2oz load. With those results I would say your reasonable limit in the field is 30 yards. For years I shot 3" Federals or Winchesters, 2oz of #5s, in aRemingoton870 using the Remingtonextra full extended choke. That combo killed turkeys cleanly at ranges up to 50 yards, and I only used the small bead sight thatcame on the gun. I liked it because it was small and I could precisely aim the gun, even at longer ranges - in other words it didn't obscure the target at longer ranges.

I would suggest the following:

Go out and shoot the gun again using a good solid rest to steady your aim. If the point of impact (center of the pattern) is not where you are aiming then you will need to either adjust your hold (aim) or install some adjustable sights. I don't like to adjust aim. I want the gun shooting where I aim it, so the adjustable sights might be the way to go.

If your aim is good and the center of the pattern is roughly between the turkey's waddles and the top if his head, and you are only putting 6 shots in the "kill zone" at 30 yards, then it is time to look atchanging ammo or choke. I think it is easier to try different ammo, and you can likely find some that shoots well with your gun and choke. My best results are with Hevi-13; your results may vary. I was able get 47 pellets in the head and neck from 35 yards shooting 1.75 oz of Hevi-13 #6 out of a Mossberg 835 (3.5 inch, but the 3" load contains the same 1.75 oz of shot). The turkey I shot Sunday at 27 yards was knocked off his feet, and when I got to him there was blood pouring from his head.

good luck

Mouthcaller

[Adirondack Hunter]

Like i said I did shoot high so hopefully when i can get a good centered shot i can get a nice tight pattern. I will have to try to get to the range next week, i will probably get the sight as soon as i can so i dont have to screw around with compensating. Where i did hit the cardboard it was Pretty tight, but that wont make any difference if i miss the turkey all together. I just need to do some practicing i guess, but i usually cant take more than 3-4 shots before my shoulder says "remington" backwards! i also have a box of federal loads that have that different shot cup that says to get tighter patterns.

[mouthcaller]

There is really no reason to get a sore shoulder on the range. Use a PAST recoil pad or place some towels between your shoulder and the gun. You don't want to develop a flinch absorbing heavy recoil while trying to sight your gun in at the range.

I use the fiber optic TruGlo sights on my Mossberg. Please note that, at least in my case, they needed a lot of adjusting to get them centered - you can't just snap them on and be ready to go hunting.

You can use light loads to center the pattern on your gun (cheaper and less recoil), then shoot a turkey round to make sure.

Good luck

Mouthcaller

[Bmac313]

I got about 40 pellets in the kill zone at 30 yds. w/ my Benilli Nova

[Chuck7]

WOW I feel pretty good then. I got 7 number 4s with my modified Ihaca at 30 yds. in a 2 inch circle standing up shooting. 2 3/4 "shells

C7

[squidkid]

kinda weak pattern there isn't it? seems like another guy is getting 43 'vital' hits at 60 yards...................this out of a total of 318 pellets. says anyone can do it if they spend as much time as he does. i guess most/all of us are scared of 3.5 inch shells, that's one of his reasons for our patterns being subpar to his. although we shoot them, the shells must know that we are scaredyou really should ask this hunter for his wisdomabout being ablegetting his gun to do this ...........

[TurkeyStalker]

You can do better than that.