The same method can be used for wingshooting as well. Except, that this time, you want to draw the circles BEFORE you pattern. You want to know exactly where yourgun is shooting, since you have only a bead, and no sights or scope. I prefer to shoot offhand for this. I draw a 12" circle and then a 24" circle. The 3" is there again, as a point of aim.

Here is my duck/goose combo, I shoot the exact same thing for both. This is my Beretta 390 12ga, Briley Extended Mod choke, with Environmetal Hevi Shot #6, at 30 yards.

Note: I use a 10" and a 30" circle now... and I use a second 30" circle to trace the central/densest part of the pattern. Still though... some patterning, no matter how rough or crude is far and away better than no patterning at all.

For everyone else who lives in the south like me, where buckshot, dogs and deer all run together, you can use this for patterning your deer gun as well.

Just like the wingshooting method above, I draw my three circles before I shoot the target. And this time, any hits inside that 3" count! Its about the size of the heart of a deer anyhow, so hitting the dead center is a good thing!

This is my 870 Wingmaster with a Briley Thin Wall Improved Modified choke. Shooting at 40 yards with Remington Premier 3" OO Buck (15 pellets, all of which, would be in the deer. Its a great performer!

Note: WAS a great performer. Those SOBs at Remington stopped making it. I flew blind this past season and did kill quite a few deer. I have also refined my method here too... I use an orange 3" stick on spot, then trace a 10, 20 and 30" circle radiating out from the center. I'll add my totals up from there. Say I have four in the 10, seven in the 20 and four more in the 30... I'll add it up like this: 10"= 4 20" = 11 30" = 15 Just an FYI FWIW and all that good stuff.

Your just full of Great information aren't ya....

Dad gone thats some good patterning.

Impressive patterns! Thanks for sharing

With several of the patterning questions...I figured I would bump this to the top...

great information!

That 35 yard pattern at the Primos target wasnt all that great at 35 yards... My Remingtons with factory chokes will do that at 40 yards...

It's amazing what 5 yards will do to a pattern

thatll nock em down

I agree. Thats why Im always sceptical of the people making far fetched claims at 50+ yards.