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Post by ET on Jun 9, 2009 19:15:14 GMT -5
Am wondering how many shot-gunners actually pattern their shotguns or loads?
You might think this is a dumb question, as I did many years ago until someone helped me to see the light and importance of doing this.
If you are familiar with doing this then my question would be how do you like your pattern to group say at 30-yds? 50-50, 60-40 or I have seen some like 40-60 with the first number being percentage of shot above point of aim. Personally I like 60-40 so as not to loose sight of my intended target.
Ed
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Post by jims on Jun 9, 2009 20:19:38 GMT -5
I patterned my trap gun and loads when I was shooting registered birds years ago. I liked a 60/40 or better for trap. I also patterned my turkey loads recently but that was to see if certain loads had gaps and how far the load was effective on a tight pattern.
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Post by ET on Jun 9, 2009 20:41:32 GMT -5
Jims
You brought up a good point about “holes in patterns”. You won’t know if they are there unless you pattern a particular load.
Another good practice I also employ is checking my pattern hits at 40yds before Turkey Hunting. Those big birds don’t play fair and won’t give you a second chance in most cases. ;D
Ed
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Post by 161 on Jun 10, 2009 21:52:27 GMT -5
I prefer the 60/40 also I guess from all the years shooting trap. For the same reason as you ET I like to have a full view of my target.
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Post by ET on Jun 10, 2009 22:15:08 GMT -5
161
I found that both you and Jims enjoyed trap shooting. As for myself I used to shoot skeet in July and August just before waterfowl season. Here I would get my swing, lead and follow through decently honed. Always did better when I put 2-trips and 2-rounds a trip each week. Definitely hit more birds that following season.
Ed
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Post by whyohe on Jun 11, 2009 6:07:50 GMT -5
i patterend my gun with different loads to see what worked best and where it shot(or i shot consistantly) so i know how and where to hold. now i generally only turkey hunt but i feel it is a good thing to do nomatter what you hunt.
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Post by jims on Jun 11, 2009 8:54:50 GMT -5
ET: I have shot skeet but there were not many skeet houses in my area. I live in the Midwest, only about an hour from the old Grand Am and trap ruled here.
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Post by ET on Jun 11, 2009 18:51:53 GMT -5
Jims
Both Trap and Skeet are available here. And if these two loose any excitement you can move on to Sporting Clays to really test your skills. The later I usually leave alone after building my confidence with Skeet. When I try sporting clays I feel like a novice all over again.
But which ever you enjoy shooting I believe really helps with ones shooting abilities.
Whyohe
For many years before someone turned on the light for me I just believed it was point and line up front bead to target or add lead if necessary and the shot pattern would do the rest when released. It would if the shot pattern was directed to where it was intended to go.
Then when a skeet shooter took me under his wing to do pattern work and adjusting my shotgun for fit to produce a centered 50/50 pattern that I could easily reproduce on consecutive shots that started my education with being a more successful hunter. Next it was forward stance and leads with keeping a good follow through. Then apply some practice on the off-season and my shooting improved drastically on game. To this day I still feel I owe one true gentleman a heap of gratitude for taking me under his wing for a while and showing me how to properly shoulder fit and pattern a load.
The only setback to taking a lot more birds or game in an outing is the bigger cleaning chore. I can live with that. ;D
Ed
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Post by jims on Jun 11, 2009 21:16:35 GMT -5
A good coach is a valuable aide.
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Post by 161 on Jun 12, 2009 21:15:41 GMT -5
Dad would take me trap shooting 3 time a week in the summer when I was a kid. We would shoot about 150 rd. a week. I shot skeet once, an enjoyed it. But there wasn't anywhere close so we just stayed with what we had. Dad is 87 now and still shoot every Wednesday night. He has cataracts in both eyes and needs to be off the road before dark. But still breaks 19 to 21 out of 25 most of the time. Always wanted to try sporting clays just never got the chance. I have a 1976 commemorative model 870 with a 30 inch full choke field barrel that dad put a trap stock on I shot it pretty well. A state champ shooter told me I could be a state competitor also someday if I kept my head in the game. But around 16 or 17 I took a strong liking to the smell of petroleum and perfume. And that was the end of that.
warren
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Post by ET on Jun 12, 2009 21:39:20 GMT -5
161 Perfume and petroleum can make a mans’ life take a few detours. The perfume is self explanatory but I got to ask about the petroleum. Was that a body shaker (race cam and tricked out car) or crotch rocket (fast bike). Mine was the first mentioned. ;D As for proficiency with skeet, by the time hunting season came along I would be in the 20+ bracket. Never made a perfect round yet in skeet but figured I had to miss a few in the field also for seed.  Ed |
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Post by 161 on Jun 13, 2009 7:23:42 GMT -5
1964 Mercury Comet 404, fast no. Cool looking, oh ya!!! A few motorcycles along the way. I still have a HD Roadglide a couple Mustang convertibles and the 870
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Post by huntingmike on Sept 2, 2009 18:58:52 GMT -5
I used to small game hunt a long time ago. I had trouble making clean kills. I did not know the advantage of finding the pattern. One day I bought a big sheet of card board and found out my pattern was 5/95. I was surprised. To correct it I took off the front bead and middle bead and just looked down the rail. Now the pattern is 50/50 with clean kills and very few misses. It works very well on skeet also.
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Post by dxt20 on Sept 5, 2009 20:54:15 GMT -5
i pattern my bt-99 for trap and my citori for sporting clays and upland game birds. and my 870 super express magnum for turkey. nothing stupid about it in my opinion. it just lets my know what i can and cant do.
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Post by ozark on Oct 10, 2009 17:37:21 GMT -5
As in many other areas I am dumb here. Anyway, I put a scope on my 20 ga. for turkey hunting. I wanted to find out which shots patterened best at 30 and 40 yards and primairily which load put the most pellet in the head and neck area of a turkey. It has a undertaker extra full turkey choke. I shot, 4s,5s and sixes thinking surely that the 5 and 6s would be best due to the extra pellets. WRONG. over and over 4s printed more pellets in the kill zone. All I had to do then is adjust the scope to match the pattern center. My son had a Winchester 12 (Also with the same type choke. We were both surprised that the 20 ga. was outshooting the 12. Mine is a 500 Mossberg slide action. I have taken a few gobblers with it and so far they have all went straight down. One just beyond the 40 yard mark. I am sure that everyone knows that the velocity of the 20 is equal to the others with just fewer pellets. I am shooting 3" 1 1/4 Oz. No. 4s with full confidence. 40 yards is my max. distance but that is plenty.
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Post by ET on Oct 11, 2009 5:56:12 GMT -5
Ozark
The last thing I can’t picture is you being dumb in any area. Uneducated to me would be a more appropriate term to apply. And as for learning that process never seems to stop no matter how much older I get.
The 20-gauge is an excellent shotgun that just produces a tighter shot string pattern with less shot. In the hands of a good shooter will easily match the 12-gauge for killing power in most cases. A good friend of mine owns a 20-gauge Browning over/under and is really proficient with it when hunting upland game. The only time he switches to a 12 is when water fowling especially for Greater Canada Geese that can easily reach 16lbs plus. For large shot sizes he likes the higher number of shot better in the 12.
Ed
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Post by ozark on Nov 11, 2009 15:22:29 GMT -5
I really didn't want to mention what the old timers did to get the shotgun to put the center of the group where it was aimed. Or where the front bead was aligned when you shouldered and aimed. This many will not believe but it has been done many times. Being very careful and feeling the stress applied, place the barrel in the fork of a good sized tree and bend the barrel left, right, up or down until the pattern is where it should be. I have personally done this successfully on three guns. One was a single barrel, two were slide action (Pumps). When using lead shot not enclosed in a sabot many pellets rub a flat spot sliding down the barrel and then have a tendency to sail in the air. It is surprising how many gets deformed this way. Shot in sabots usually gives tighter patterns IMO. PS:
attempt this at the risk of ruining a barrel. Better yet, take it to a smith that has a press and v blocks for control.
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Post by ET on Nov 11, 2009 18:00:52 GMT -5
Ozark
Oh, I believe that one about cranking a shotgun barrel in the fork of a tree because I’ve seen it done. But it takes a good eye and feel to even attempt it and have only known one fella that could do it.
If I ever needed a barrel adjusted I think I would go to a gunsmith.
Ed
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Post by jims on Nov 11, 2009 19:37:26 GMT -5
Ozark: Even the barrel manufacturers will straighten/tweak their barrels. They do not use a tree but the idea is the same, a skilled worker eyes the barrel and actually bends them a bit with enough leverage.
I would not be the one to try it but it can work.
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Post by ozark on Nov 11, 2009 21:24:00 GMT -5
I have done a lot of work on guns and vehicles. One develops a sense of feel as to how tight a screw can be torqued without breaking or striping. The same with straighting barrels. The first one I done had been bent by abuse and I couldn't hurt it. But I had success and that gave me a little confidence about having a feel for it. Yes, I have watched the barrel straightening station at the Springfield arsnal. In fact there are few absolutely straight barrels on shotguns or rifles.
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