I have to admit, I have never really did this until today. I only had Federal shotshells and one box of Remington HD #2 shot. The Federal were 2 3/4" #3's, 3" #2, 3" BBB, 3.5" BB. The gun a Mossberg 835. shot distance 38 yards

First round was with the Improved Cly only size that showed promise was the 3" BBB

next was the Modified choke, The 3" BBB still came out on top with the #2 steel close second.

Now the Full choke, 3.5" BB then the #2 steel and BBB second, the 3.5" BB had the most in the middle followed by the #2 and BBB and the BBB was better than the #2's.

To be honest I expected to see more shot in the middle than what I saw. The average for all three shot sizes was 20 to 21 pellets. But at least I know what to shoot and choke size to use now.

i'm always surprised that more shooters don't pattern their shotguns! you can learn a lot by doing so, as you did!

I agree, so now I know what to buy and what choke to shoot.

how do you pattern a gun?

I am not the expert here, but what I did was go buy a packet of 100 yard targets, and I set up a backstop and measured out in my case it was 38 yards. Have a rest, if you don't hold as steady as you can, aim in the middle and shoot one shell, and then change the target and keep goign that way until you have tried all your combos.

A 8.5 X 11 paper works also. I used this last night to finish up my pattering. the final results for me is Full choke 3.5" BB and 3" 2's I tried the BBB in the full choke and only 4-5 BB's hit the paper. #2's were all in the center. Modified choke I can use 3" BBB and #2's with BBB being best.

I wish I could remeber where it was... maybe the turkey forum...
But there is a great thread on patterning a gun that should be a sticky in all gunning forums...

Found it http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2074825

I have a 935 and with steel 6, 4, and 3's get excellent patterns with the IC and using steel B's get 90% patterns at 40 yds. With a .700 Terror I get 80% patterns at 50 yds with steel BB's I would recommend a cyl bore with steel BBB's.My loads are motoring at 1724 fps. Ned S the young 79 yr old slow loader of fast, fast sizzzzzzzzzzzzzlin steel.