Aimguard patterning results

[Moparmike]

I got around to patterning my shotgun the other day, and discovered something odd. At least I think its odd.


I was using Federal BulkPak 12ga #8 shot rounds, as this is also the round I use for HD. At about 10yds distance, the shot pattern was in a 10"x10" area, with a big hole in the lower right hand corner and just little holes to the left and up. Is this normal for this gun and cylinder bore?

I have witnessed people shoot clays with this 18" barrel on my gun at about 15-20yds and blow them out of the sky, so something must be going correctly.

Also, I shot some Federal 00buck out of this as well, I only counted 5 holes, one of which looked ragged. I would say the spread was about 4-5" around. Is this normal as well?

Thanks,
Mike

[Lee Lapin]

Mike,

When you say "hole," do you mean a hole in the PAPER or a hole in the PATTERN? May be just semantic problems on my part but I'm confuzzeled over what you're saying.

At 30 feet it might still be possible for a cluster of shot to hold together enough to make a single ragged hole in paper (a rathole looking hole) while other shot scatter a bit. It is also possible that the wad is hitting the paper too, that sometimes makes a large hole.

As for buckshot, again more than one pellet might be going through the same hole. If your pattern is 4- 5" you shouldn't have flyers that miss the paper (unless it's a very small piece of paper.) How many rounds did you pattern?

Pics would help-

lpl/nc

[Moparmike]

Hole in the cardboard. I patterned probably 5 or so. Only about 2-3 buckshot because its so expensive.



BTW, can low brass valpak rounds be reloaded? I can collect mine up and send them off to whomever wants them...

[sm]

Hey Mike,
I'm happy to hear you started to pattern.

The big hole is where the wad went into target, this is normal.

One can get technical , use a 30" circle with a big easy to see dot in the center and "pointing" [ remember shotguns are "pointed" not "aimed"] at said dot fire the gun. Then look at the mfg specs or other source for the payload. You said #8 shot, if 1 oz loads there are ~ 359 pellets, if a 1 1/8 oz load ~ 410 pellets of #8.

So then we count the # of pellets inside the 30" circle, do the math and the percentage will reveal what "choke" that gun throws that load. Remember it matters not what a bbl or choke is "marked" what it actually does on a pattern board with a particular load is the real deal.

In theory a Full choke will put ~ 70% of the pellets in that 30" circle at 40 yds, and Improved cylinder will do ~ 50% of its pellets at 40 yds.

I just hit the high spots here, I did want to give some detail for you and others that haven't used a shotgun a lot.

What we are trying to accomplish , does the gun fit allowing one to hit what looked at? ( pointed). Is "the Point of Aim hitting Point of Impact" ? [POA/POI] Is this consistent - if not why.

So once the gun fit is done [ yes I harp , but it is important] close eyes with gun at low ready, at the signal mount smoothly and correctly putting gun to face, shoot that spot on target, low ready, close eyes, and repeat this 3 times.

This will tell you by looking if you are in fact mounting the gun the same each time. It will also show you where you consistently shoot.

You have heard trap shooters shoot rising targets, well they will often tweak the fit so gun shoots higher than POA...usually ~ 70/30 to give some built in lead.

Skeet boys llke me prefer a more flat shooting gun many want 50/50, some go 60/40...typical me...the rebel and all 65/35 - I gotta be different...I have to hump it on falling targets, but I never want my muzzle to ever get above a target...so I fudge and have a built in lead. I know I'm weird.

I tend to shoot fast / get on target quick...means they are rising still ...hopefully. I toss this in to explain there is a reason for the madness of gun fit, even for defensive use.

If all the 00 buck or slugs hit the inside of a 9" paper plate for the expected distance one expects to shoot , plus 1 yard one is said good to go. Measure longest distance in dwelling add a yard. 9" paper plate is a good representative of a torso ( look in mirror and hold up to yourself - see?)

Birdshot and other pellet loadings...same drill, to they hit POA/POI, and where is pattern density. Use the hardest shot - Target Loads to get better consistency.

Go to www.abebooks.com, you really would appreciate Bob Bristers "Shotgunning: The Art and the Science.

Those Fed MP buld pk rds are good loads btw Mike.

[lbmii]

I posted a lot of photos of buckshot patterns at the below link that you might find helpful. I will post some more in the near future along with some velocity data.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=83909&highlight=buckshot+pattern+photos