HD Shotgun Patterning (With Pictures)

[B yond]

I recently acquired a new shotgun, a Mossberg 590 with a 20 inch cylinder bore, to replace my Mossberg 500 with a 18.5 inch cylinder bore as my primary home defense long gun. Once I got the two side by side, I started wondering how the shot patterns would change from one barrel to the next.

Today I patterned both barrels with 3 different loads (2 3/4 inch #4 buckshot, 3 inch magnum 00 buckshot, and 3 inch magnum 1 1/4 oz hollowpoint slugs), and two different distances (15 yards and 25 yards).

I was surprised how quickly the shot spread from the cylinder bore, and how much difference 10 yards makes.

Here are the pictures (this may take several posts):

15 yards- 2 3/4 inch #4 buckshot from the 500 with 18.5 inch cylinder bore barrel:

15 yards- 2 3/4 inch #4 buckshot from the 590 with 20 inch cylinder bore barrel:

15 yards- 3 inch 00 buckshot from the 500 with 18.5 inch cylinder bore barrel

15 yards- 3 inch 00 buckshot from the 590 with 20 inch cylinder bore barrel

15 yards- 3 inch 1/14 ounce rifled hollowpoint slug from the 500 with 18.5 inch cylinder bore barrel

15 yards- 3 inch 1/14 ounce rifled hollowpoint slug from the 590 with 20 inch cylinder bore barrel

25 yards- 2 3/4 inch #4 buckshot from the 500 with 18.5 inch cylinder bore barrel

25 yards- 2 3/4 inch #4 buckshot from the 590 with 20 inch cylinder bore barrel

25 yards- 3 inch 00 buck from 500 with 18.5 inch cylinder bore

25 yards- 3 inch 00 buck from 590 with 20 inch cylinder bore

25 yards- 3 inch 1 1/4 ounce rifled hollowpoint slug from 500 with 18.5 inch cylinder bore

25 yards- 3 inch 1 1/4 ounce rifled hollowpoint slug from 590 with 20 inch cylinder bore

Difference in spread of 2 3/4 inch #4buck at 15 yards and 25 yards:

I think that's pretty telling. There were 27 pellets in that round.

 

[B yond]

3 inch 00 buck at 15 and 25 yards:

 

[RightCoastBiased]

All the picture links seem to be down.

 

[nathan]

try uploading to PHotobucket.com

 

[Grayrock]

Dang- this was a perfect thread for me to look at since I used the "SEARCH" feature. Since the pictures are not here I guess I'll have to start a new thread

 

[jus10phillips]

yeah hope you get the pics sorted out because the 590 is my gun lust right now and i cant decide between the 20" and the 18.5". Sorry to thread jack but can any one weigh in on this.

 

[Fred Fuller]

After two months with no pictures and no descriptions of the patterns, I can't see much point in letting this one linger any longer. If the OP wants to fix the pictures so they will load, or add descriptions of the patterns, a PM to Dave McC or me can get the thread re-opened.

Justin, if you want to talk about your 18.5" vs. 20" decision, feel free to start your own thread - it's no problem.

lpl