Since there has been so much discussion lately about patterning, I thought I would share some info from last year. After trying lots of different turkey loads last year trying to find the best for my gun, I tried some 2 3/4" Win XX loads with #6 shot. The results surprised me, they patterned better than anything I'd tried. So after looking around I picked up some 3" Winchester XX field loads with 1 5/8ozs of #6 shot, Win. #X12MXC6. This load has a muzzle velocity of 1280 fps, almost as fast as the HV turkey loads. With the 2oz loads the best patterns had about 100 pellets in a 10" circle, the 1 3/4oz loads were about the same. The 1 5/8oz XX load puts about 120 pellets in a 10" circle at 40 yds, and the recoil is a little milder. The testing was done with a .660 Comp-n-choke and a .665 Truglo Strutstopper choke tube. So now everyone one has another load to try this spring.

I have heard this from several friends that have 3 1/2" guns. Many of them find that jsut a 3" shell patterns alot better in their guns. Not sure exactly why, but you have to try it before you'll know.