patterning question

[Milkmaster]

Jorg's recent post here about patterning prompted me to ask a question about the aiming point when patterning...

My aiming point when shooting at a clay target is to have the clay right above the barrel bead in plain sight rather than trying to cover up the target with the end of the barrel per say. (I hope I am making sense here!)

Question...If I am patterning a shotgun for clay targets, shouldn't I aim the same way toward the center of the patterning board and have the center mark right above my barrel bead?

I plan to do some patterning during my vacation next week when I have plenty of time to relax, take pictures, and write notes. I know what I THINK is correct, but I want other experience to speak to me on this one.

BTW...I just bought the shotgun book by Brister through AMAZON. I plan to put it into Mr. McCracken's traveling library after it arrives and I complete reading it.

 

[Oldnamvet]

Believe me when I say there is more in Brister's book than you can begin to remember in a single read. I'm going through for the 3rd time and still find things I had either forgotten or didn't stick with me before. Read it a couple times, keep it as a reference for a while before you give it up. Otherwise you will be finding yourself buying another.

When I pattern, I always aim (pretty much the only time I do) at the center aiming spot. Then there is no doubt about how much I held under, etc. If it patterns a foot high, I know it exactly. Just use a big enough sheet of paper to allow for that and be sure to mark the top.

 

[mswestfall]

Take plenty of butcher (type) paper and a magic marker with you.

You should put a large dot (large enough to be visible) in the middle of the board. Then I suggest that you aim the shotgun at the patterning board the same way you aim at a clay target.

Shoot. You can shoot from a standing hold or from a rest.

Draw a horizontal line through the dot, then a vertical line through the same dot. Also draw a 15 inch radius circle (30 inch diameter) around center of the dot.

Count the pellets in each quadrant and the dots inside the circle.

Personally I stand 40 yards with a full choke
35 yards with an IM choke
30 yards with a Mod choke
25 yards with an IC choke
20 yards with a Skeet choke

Take at least two (preferably three) shots from each distance with each choke. Try several different ammos. You will probably be surprised at the results of different ammo/choke combinations.

You will learn where your gun shoots and how different ammo works in your gun.

My goal is to have 60 percent of the pellets above the horizontal line and evenly distributed around the vertical line.

Many trap shooters like to have 70 percent above the horizontal line.
Many skeet shooters like to have 60 percent above the horizontal line.
Many flushing bird shooters like to have 50 percent of the patter above the horizontal line.

I shoot trap but like to have fairly flat pattern; 60/40 (above/below). This works best for me, especially for Handicap Trap (as you move back). I personally shoot the same gun (with the same comb) in all sports: live birds, trap, skeet and sporting clays.

I also shoot dear slugs out of the gun, but AIM down a flat barrel.

You can adjust from a 70 to a 60 and a 50 percent pattern by lowering the comb, hence raising the stock and dropping the barrel.

This works for me. For you it will at the very least let you know how your gun shoots at specified distances with specific chokes with different ammo.

All of this information is very useful.

Record (on the target) the gun, date, wind, temp, location, ammo, distance, choke and anything else you think is relevant.

 

[Dave McCracken]

A Patterning board can reveal two things.

First, it can show us if the shotgun shoots to our eyes. IOW, if POI and POA coincide.

Second, it shows the distribution of pellets with a given load, choke and range in THAT barrel.

The first works for me when I shoot as if firing at a moving target. Imagine a bird flying straight away.

The second can be addressed with a benched weapon and aiming.

Decide what you want to do and act appropriately.

 

[RNB65]

Here's how I pattern:

1. Set target at 25yds (a typical range for sporting clays). I use large sheets of role paper from the office supply store.

2. Shoot at center of paper.

3. Identify the center of the shot mass and draw a 30" circle using that point as the center.

4. Count the number of hits inside the 30" circle.

5. Repeat at least 3 times for each different choke size I'm testing.

6. Compare the density and number of hits in the 30" circle generated by each choke constriction. Determine the best choke for 25 yards. Use less choke for shorter shots and more choke for longer shots.

Testing for point of impact is different:

1. Mount paper on board and draw a target dot in the center of the paper.

2. Carefully aim at the target dot and fire. Brace the gun on something in order to insure accurate aim.

3. Compare where the center of the shot mass struck in relation to the target dot.

4. Repeat several times until POI becomes clear.

5. Consult with gunsmith if there is a big diff between point of aim and point of impact.