ORIGINAL: quax
sc, i've tried quite a few different loads as well. i just posted what was best thru that gun, as sad as it is. the exception was a kent 2.250z #5s that put around 80. i haven't shot the 3.5 federals with the flight control wad thru it because i did not have good results with them in my 3" gun - in fact they did the worst of any shell (except fiocci which have no buffer), even when i shot them thru a .680 choke.
i've been over to the nwtf board, and those guys have had good results really choking down lead shot with carlson and hastings .655 chokes, as well as the indian creek chokes. i've got a friend that has a .655 hastings so i may try his if i can get a hold of him. i'll post any results i might get. thanks!
10-4. I understand now where you are coming from. Thats a tough one to figure out.
One thing I do suggest too, is that you give that bore a good scrub down. I take a cleaning rod, chuck it tightly in a drill, soak the bore well with simple green diluted with water (about 75% water) and use a nylon brush to bust out any plastic residue or fouling. I've found that such a cleaning can really improve your patterns, as simple as it sounds.
Another thing to try.... high density shot... sure its expensive, but in my experience it shoots much tighter patterns than lead. Of course, you gotta find the right tube for it... but obviously what you have isn't working.
If you do consider another choke tube. Give Pure Gold a call. Tell them what you've told us. They have a satisfaction guarentee. If you patterns don't get better... you'll get your money back. Its a can't lose situation for you. I shoot one of their chokes out of my 835... its a .670".