Ranchhand my 870 3'' is totally different as far as buchshot goes. At 40 yards with 000 and a rhino .660 it puts all 9 in a 4'' circle and 00 all pellets in about a 10 inch circle, #1 buch all pellets in about a 2 foot circle and #4 buck in hell half of them didn't even hit the sheet of news paper. When I was shooting I figured the 4 buck would have done the best but it didn't. I'm not much on shooting deer with buck shot so I really don't know if the 000 and 00 patterns are considered tight but I thought they were very tight Oh well back to turkey hunting!!!