RE: shotgun pattern
 

Bubbahoo, please get another avator, that one is disgusting.:D

RE: shotgun pattern
 

There are about 420 in a 3.5" #6 2oz load.

RE: shotgun pattern
 

SS, you are definately right about being right on at that close of a range... and do I like a pattern that tight?.... well I used to. Every turkey I have ever missed in my life (three total, two with this set up) has been inside 15 yards. I cannot count pellets at 15 yards, and barely at 20 yards, but at 15 there are a couple of flyers outside the 10"
circle, but I'd venture a good 90% of the pattern I could cover with my hand spread open. At 20 yards, its still almost completely inside a 10" circle.

I'm in the midst of writing an article on turkey guns and patterning right now for a regional magazine and a field journal. Heading to the range again on Wednesday with camera in hand. I'll be more than happy to PM you when my field journal article is done, and you may personally review the results for yourself.

I used to be obsessed with having a super tight shooter, but I've always been more of a proponent of letting a bird get close. Those two things don't work well together. I shot a bird in Texas at a range of 56 yards, verified by range finder. It was my first Rio, and I was fairly young and impatient. While my gun is good and all, I think I got a little lucky. I'm looking at a pattern right now I shot last spring out of my gun at 50 yards that has 129 pellets in a 10" circle, which was a very good pattern indeed. Its impressive. I'm going to try a few more choke and load combonations to make my gun more effective at close ranges (or should I say make it easier for me to be effective at closer ranges). But I'll be happy to post up everything when I'm done with it. :D What makes a good turkey gun is largely defined by the hunting techniques and personal preferences of the hunter using it. Right now, me and mine don't really jive.

RE: shotgun pattern
 

Ill find out in a few weeks.

RE: shotgun pattern
 

The first time I shot my Jelly Head .660 and Nitro 4x5x7's I put 266 pellets in the 10" circle at 40 yards.

To all of the nay sayers, you don't have to believe it don't want to, but as r33h pointed out, go over to the NWTF website or oldgobbler.com (that's where a lot of the NWTF guys are now) and take a look for yourselves. My pattern of 266 pellets at 40 yards would only be considered a goodstarting pointfor those guys, meaning that they wouldn't be satisfied and would probably change chokes to get a better pattern.

Personally, I would rather have a good tight pattern at 40 yards than have a sloppy pattern at 40 yards. A sloppy pattern probably will not kill a bird at 40 yards, and will most likely wound him, but a good tight 40 yard pattern will kill all the way out to 40, and beyond if needed.

When it comes to patterns, the old saying, "It is better to have and not need than to need and not have" comes to mind.

RE: shotgun pattern
 

What are you calling a sloppy pattern? You don't have to have 200 plus hits at 40 to kill a bird at or beyond 40. If you have over 100 at 40, that's going to be a dead bird. I personally, would rather have a little more open pattern than what some of you are describing. I know I can kill him at 50 if I need to, but I also know I will have no problem killing him at 10 or 15. I'm not knocking anyone who loves a real tight pattern at 40 and beyond. I would like to see though, in person, not a picture on a computer, 300 hits in a 10 inch circle at 40 yards.

RE: shotgun pattern
 

down here in la we started shooting carlson's dead coyote its tight at 40yds

RE: shotgun pattern
 

By sloppy, I mean anything that has holes or is stringing or is just too open for "my" liking. I've shot plenty of sloppy patterns while on the quest for the best pattern I could buy. I'd be willing to say that 75% of the "over the counter" ammo that I've tried is sloppy and I have the boxeswith 5 or 6 unfired shells to prove it. I simply won't shoot those at a turkey. Will 100 hits at 40 yards kill a turkey? I'd say every time. I just like knowing that I have the Numbers on my side and not leave nothing to chance.

My first turkey was shot with 3" Winchester Supreme #5's. It dropped the turkey at 43 yards but when I got up to the turkey he had his eyes open. I finished him off, but that told me that what I was shooting wasn't enough to cleanly kill a bird. I now shoot 3.5" 4x5x7 Nitros, and when I go to the woods the last thing I worry about is if I have enough shell to kill a bird at 40+ if needed.Like every other sport it pays to have the numbers stacked in your favor.

RE: shotgun pattern
 

Heck anyone can get that many in a to inch circle at 40 yards. 250 - 300 how many you want. All I need is a box of shells.... and let me at it I can get as many in there as you need. :D:D

Seriously, I haven't got out to pattern yet. Its good to have an Idea what to go for. I'm not going to be buying a bunch of new chokes so I'll live with what i get. I'm also hoping not to have to buy to many boxes of ammo. But I know I will to get something I like.

RE: shotgun pattern
 

Pellets per ounce (from chart of manufacturer)
#4 = 107 per ounce
#5 = 180 per ounce
#6 = 270 per ounce
#7 = 342 per ounce