Ok, I got a new Beretta 12 gauge, and I was told to shoot the gun at a paper target to see what kind of pattern I get with each choke. Is this necessary? If so, at what distance do I need to stand at to pattern it? Should I use steel or lead ( I use both... steel for waterfowl and lead for upland game)? How tight should the pattern be?

Ned Up North

Ned-

Lots of questions. I' ll do my best to start an answer.

First, I think it is necessary for you to learn the gun and how it shoots, because this is strongly dependent on how it fits you. You' ll need to do it at several distances so you can see how the pattern breaks up (20, 30, 40 yards). And you' ll need to do it for each choke, and for both steel and lead. Sounds like an afternoon to me!

The pattern density necessary will be different for the different birds and different shot sizes. I don' t have the numbers off the top of my head - hopefully someone else will fill in that blank.

The best way, IMO, is to shoot like you would at a bird. That is, start from a low-gun position, mount and shoot at the center of the target 3 times. It won' t be accurate if you take your time sighting down the barrel because that' s not how you' d shoot in the field. I think you' ll learn about the gun, and about any adjustments you need to make getting used to the new gun.

Hope this helps a little, and have fun!!

First let me say that I doubt that one shotgun in a hundred actually gets patterned.

I' m going to do a little guessing here so we may have to look up some of these percentages.
A full choke delivers 70% of the pattern in a 30" circle at 40 yards.
Modified is for 60%, and Improved cylinder is for 50%

Go to a meat store and get paper that is very wide, at least 40" wide and get a dozen pieces 40 X 40 or larger. Draw a 30" circle on them and fire once only at 40 Yards. Do this with lead and repeat with steel

You will learn two things...1 does the gun shoot to the point of aim. 2. what shot size patterns best.

I doubt that you' ll have any disappointments with the Beretta.

Now can someone confirm the 70, 60, and 50 % data?

Here is another trick. Go to a couple of garage sales and buy old white sheets. (Using the wifes good sheets will get you in trouble. ) Now, hang them full out at say 25 yards and spray paint a dot on the sheet. On a twin sheet, you can put two and on a queen or king, four. Now, load up five shells and take all five shots at one dot with the full choke and lead shot. Do this like Griz said, don' t aim but pull up and shoot repeatedly. This will put a good size tear in the spot you are hitting. Repeat for each choke. Then go back to 35 yards and do it all over. Same at 45. This will give you a good idea of what kind of point of impact you have. Which is what you really want to know.

Vapodog is about 90% right in the proper way to pattern your gun. Proper is to take the shot at a center mark and then circle the center of the pattern with a 30" circle. This will give you point of aim and point of impact, (If you look at shooting or hunting mags that show pattern circles, their is always a dot indicating point of aim.) but I don' t know that you necessarily care that you got 65% of 72% of the pellets in a 30 inch circle.

The top method will tell you alot w/o alot of counting of pellet holes.

I do beleive it is 70%, 60%, and 50% at 40yards. Skeet is measured at 25 yards.