Patterning Steel Shot

[dak0ta]

Hi,

Tomorrow I'm going to pattern my Mossberg 500 using the IC and M Accu-chokes.

I will be hunting geese with BB 3'' magnums. I'm going to pattern Federal speed-shok, Winchester Xpert, and Remington Sportsman.

I've printed off targets that are 22'' by 17'' with a large circle 15'' in diameter. Is this large enough?

Also, what distances should I be patterning each choke at?

For IC, I was thinking 20 and 30 yards
For M, I was thinking 30 and 40 yards

Please advise. Thanks

 

[chas08]

Your targets are too small for my tastes. As I said in a previous thread of yours, I like a 30 inch circle at 40 yds for a 12 ga regardless of choke. You can always step up closer to the target to see how much the pattern tightens up. I've never worried much about close range patterns on the geese where I hunt on the Texas coastal prairies.

 

[dak0ta]

Yeah I think I'll just do 35 yards, that will cover 20-40 yards approx?

 

[dak0ta]

Also, at 35 yards, one should be using a Modified choke right?

 

[RhinoDefense]

It's best to test at actual distance and not cut things short. Patterns can change in 5 yards. If you will be shooting at 40 yards, test at 40 yards.

At 35y, a modified or improved modified would be good. You may have to go full choke depending on your results.

Test on a 30 inch circle.

 

[krimmie]

Also, at 35 yards, one should be using a Modified choke right?

I assume you are talking waterfowl, but it depends what kind of shooting/what kind of shots you will be taking. I usually use an IC choke over decoys, but I place my decoys at 30 yards and set up so they will land a bit closer.

It doesn't take a duck long to get from 35 yards to 25 if incoming, or 35 to 45 yards if flying away. If pass shooting ducks, I go with a light modified.

 

[chas08]

Just rememember, you can "overthink" any thing. There are no constants in the field. Down here we mostly shoot Snows. They are in large groups, very wary, and 40-50 yd shots are considered close. I was in Illinois a few years ago hunting deer, and the Canadas were flying over me so close, going into a field that bordered the wood lot that I was hunting, you could have killed them with low brass #6's. Don't worry so much about 10 or 15 yds, especially if it's 10 or 15 yds closer than the maximum range you are planning on taking them.

 

[dak0ta]

I talked to my friend, and it's mainly shooting at 30 yards. I'm shooting at Canadian geese.