I've been thinking about why I've had such poor results with Buck. Maybe I've just got the flight of bird shot ingrained in my mind and Buck flies higher?

Maybe my full choke barrel patterns badly?

Maybe the ammo I'm using. 2 3/4 semi magnum seems to have the best punch in my 1100. Just a good match up.

Most likely is I get very few side shots, the vast majority are either head on or going away. Mostly between say 15-25 yards. An the 2 shot, BBB, or BB just sees to knock them down better on ass shots.

Most cases they are coming at me, either I've set up a good ambush or I've managed to call them in. If I happen to have my shotgun barrel pointed in the right direction, I drop them on the way in. If I have to move, they swap ends and put it in overdrive before I can lay and shoot. Which usually ends up in an ass shot. I don't use a sight, I instinct shoot.

Took me awhile to figure out 00 Buck just wasn't getting the job done.

I figured out the Goose loads worked better on chance encounters while bird hunting.

It may just be a quirk, in my shotgun, the way I shoot and where on the animal I typically hit. But I've had good results with ass shots using 2 shot semi magnum in my 1100. It always seems to plant there face in the dirt, most are DRN.

As far as patterning goes, I look at the spread. My full choke barrel seems to pattern the most pellets on the high side of the circle, a little left and right. My guess is most/many barrels are different barrel to barrel and it also has a lot to do with what sort of shot cup that particular manufacturer is using.

I've had pizz poor results with a standard Winchester 00 Buck. I was totally underwhelmed by the performance.