what is a good pattern size?
 

I am shooting a Browning gold 3 1/2" with a browning extra full turkey choke and Winchester supreme #5's. My question is what is considered a good pattern size? I have been using this gun for three years and have patterened it a couple of times to get it sighted in but I am thinking I should pay more attention to the size of my pattern this year. Also can I shoot Hevi-shot out of my stock turkey choke? Thanks

RE: what is a good pattern size?
 

While size is a factor, pattern density is what you should be concerned about. A good turkey choke will concentrate the pellets in the center of the pattern. The pellets at the edge of the pattern may be a thinner density, but they wizzed past his head anyway. Most guys use a turkey head target rather than a pattern board to check their patterns for this reason. You could probably shoot hevi-shot through your x-full choke. The x-full factory choke for my BPS mic's at .670. But you may get better patterns from a tube which is designed to shoot hevi-shot.

RE: what is a good pattern size?
 

...PATTERN SIZE,GOOD QUESTION..MY MOSSBERG 835 THE PATTERN SIZE
IS BASKETBALL SIZE AT 40 YARDS,SOMETIMES TO TIGHT OF A PATTERN
BUT THAT WILL GIVE YOU A IDEA....:eek:

RE: what is a good pattern size?
 

Look at it this way lurchman, you’re trying to hit a target the size of a tennis ball at 40 yards. I use a paper plate and look for the best pattern density in a ten-inch circle at whatever the maximum distance I am planning on shooting.

RE: what is a good pattern size?
 

Hey totoe, do you mind if I ask what choke and what ammo you are using? I just bought a kicks gobblin thunder for my 835, went out and shot it and I have to say that I am very dissappointed in the pattern I got, maybe 15 pellets in the head and neck at 40 yards using win. hv #5 shot. If you or anyone has any advice I would love to hear about it. THANKS ...TAW!

RE: what is a good pattern size?
 

One more thing I forgot to mention in my last statement was that I also tried hevi-shotand federal #5's, and didn't get any better pettern with either one of them.

RE: what is a good pattern size?
 

Taw

A few things:
1. smaller shot size - #6's work great for me.
2. Different brands - Federals wouldn't perform from my gun. Remingtons did great.
3. I remember someone posting about polishing the inside of the barrel. Never done this and don't have any information on it. Maybe that could be asked on another thread?

RE: what is a good pattern size?
 

Lurch ..heres some good info that will help you out as well and give you some understanding dealling with your own individual firearms pattern.I would also recommend surfing around this particular site as its loaded with good info on everything you need to know about your barrel in relation to patterning your gun!!Hope it helps..;)
http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm....-patterns.html
Shotgun Shot Patterning
Determining choke:
We will start with identifying the barrel of a shotgun from the inside where everything takes place that affects patterns going from the breech to the muzzle.
(1) Chamber
(2) Forcing cone
(3) Bore
(4) Choke constriction
(5) Parallel or lead
(6) Muzzle


How choke is determined. Choke is determined for all shotguns by the amount of shot it delivers within a 30" circle at 40yds.
(1) Cylinder bore-40%
(2) Improved cylinder-50%
(3) Modified-60%
(4) Full-70%

This is only a partial chart of the one found in Gun Digest Book of Shotgun Gunsmithing By Ralph T. Walker. I highly recommend this book to all who want the maximum from their shotguns.
This chart gives you the pellet count for pattern test.

oz. of shot

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
shot size 2
oz 1 7/8
oz. 1 5/8
oz. 1 1/2
oz. 1 3/8
oz. 1 1/4
oz. 1 1/8
oz. 1
oz. 7/8
oz. 3/4
oz. 1/2
oz.
#2 180 169 158 135 124 113 102 90 79 68 45
#4 270 253 221 202 195 169 152 135 118 101 67
#6 450 422 396 337 309 281 253 225 197 169 112
#8 820 769 667 615 564 513 462 410 359 308 205

Our area of concern will deal with patterning with different sized shot.

(1) Select the shot size and power range (high brass, low brass etc.) of the ammo that you will be using in the field.
(2) Now buy several different ammo brands of the same as above, power and shot size.
(3) Take a large piece of white paper 4'x4' and place it 40yds. down range.
(4) Fire 3 test patterns with each brand of ammo all on seperate pieces of paper.
(5) Find the most dense part of the pattern, using that as center, draw a 30" diameter circle around the pattern then draw 2 lines to quarter your circle.
(6) Count all the shot within all your circles, you should have 3 for each brand, then average them.
(7) Then using the above chart for determining what choke your shotgun actually is.
(8) Take the one that gave you the most pellets for your average and closely look at each quartered section looking for holes in the pattern.

If you do detect a consistent hole in the pattern, try cleaning the bore to remove the plastic fouling.



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RE: what is a good pattern size?
 

Am I missing something here? Please somebody correct me if I'm wrong!! 15 pellets in the kill zone at 40 yards might not be the tightest pattern that you could ultimately achieve after spending money on several brands of ammo and other chokes---but with the #5's that you are using---that is plenty enough to put a gobbler down at that range and even a little beyond.

RE: what is a good pattern size?
 

.I AGREE WITH SOURO1,THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME...IM SHOOTING
FEDERAL 5 SHOT,...COMP-N-CHOKE...XXX FULL,...THANKS..

RE: what is a good pattern size?
 

Sour01 THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! I've seen a lot of patterns in my day and I dont care what anybody says I know the real deal 15 pellets at a true 40 yards is a awsome pattern!!!

RE: what is a good pattern size?
 

I agree Sour and Longbeard,15 at 40 yards,imagine at 25 or 30yards!!Pretty dead turkey I'd say!!!:)

RE: what is a good pattern size?
 

Be careful if your super tight you have to be just right.My 835 has a star dot xxtra full choke tube(.676)Never had heard of it before but for $5 a walmart on closeout had to get one.Shooting # 5 winchester supremes I shot a Tom with a paint brush beard hanging off him at about 17 yards,before I shot I said to my self aim for the base of the neck and squeeze.The bird was facing straight at me,down he went hard,but when I got to him I noticed only a few strands of beard.I knew what I saw before I shot and on closer examination there was beard all around.I picked up a huge handful and kept it.Any way the pattern from my 835 at 17 yards was the size of a softball and all hit directly in the chest.Guess next time I'll aim a bit higher.But if you are off just a bit in close with your super tight pattern it will result in a miss.Some thing to keep in mind.Good luck

RE: what is a good pattern size?
 

i don't have a mossberg but will throw this in for good measure.i have shot the rem exp super mag using fed,win and hevishot in 3.5" x #4s with great patterns past 40 yards.i started with the rem xtra full and the super full tubes then went to the star dot.i have no idea what the choke dia is on any of the three,but only use #4 shot in all of them with great success.i have a browning A500G with a 28" barrel but never used it due to the long barrel.i sent it to CARLSON" CHOKES and had it cut down to 22" and a .670 tube installed for #4 shot.i learned that the .660,.665 and.670 were the dia. recommended to try for #6,#5 and #4 respectively. at 45 yards,using the turkey head targets,i put 17 pellets in the kill zone using fed prem 3"x#4s with 2 oz. shot and 21 pellets in the kill zone with hevishot 3"x #4 with 1 5/8" oz. shot . it is really all a moot point if we can get the bird inside 40 yards which shot size you use as long as your choke tube is placing your pattern close to the center of your target. the assumtion is made that you have a tube that likes the shot size you have selected.however,some barrels throw the pattern off center with loads it does not like and the pattern excercise is the only way to know.i am confident with either of my guns with what i have tried in them.