patterning shot gun

[Gadgetman]

Somebody want to give me a quick lesson in the correct way to pattern my new shot gun? What distance from paper, how large should paper be etc. Mostly interested in results pertaining to pheasant hunting usage. Not sure if it matters but it is a Benelli M2 with the 5 chokes. I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I have never patterned any of my guns

[yellowsubmarine]

Start with a 2x3 or 3x3 target with an aiming point or silhouette of what you're hunting in the middle. Fire from 30 or 40 yds or both. Take only one shot per target. What you are looking for is how many pellets are hitting the effective area of what you are trying to shoot. Some people do it as a percentage of what the load contains because, obviously, there are more pellets to start with in a 1 1/8 oz. load than in a 1 oz. load. Hope this helps.

[gspman]

There's 2 schools of thought. 1) Do your patterning at 40 yds. 2) Do your patterning at the range you take most of your shots.

Do 40 yd patterning to determine how your choke performs with a particular load.

Do the other patterning to determine if the pattern is dense enough to kill a bird at that range. If I remember right, the "experts" say pheasants should have a minimum of 4-5 vital hits and I think grouse 2 for a clean kill.

This is going to be rambling but here goes...

- Which ever you choose to do, measure the distance from the MUZZLE of the gun to the target.

- Get your ammo from the same lot number to for load consistency.

- Use the ammo you'll be hunting with so you know exactly how your gun choke/load combo performs.

- Use 4'x4' sheets for patterning. If your gun's point of impact is a bit left/right/high/low you can determine this easier with a larger sheet and you can tell how much it is off.

- Draw a dot in the middle of the target and a 30" circle around it. Obviously you shoot at the dot.

- Shoot a minimum of 5 shots with each choke/load combo.

- Count the number of pellets in the 30" circle to determine how your gun is patterning with a particular choke/load combo. Remember that a full choke will not always throw a full choke pattern with every load. Take the average of 5 shots for an overall result. Divide that number by the total number of pellets in the load to calculate your choke percentage.

- Use a marker and color each pellet hole on the whole sheet, it makes it much easier to count pellet holes accurately.

- Draw a new 30" circle around the area with the most consistent and densest coverage. This will tell you if your gun's point of impact is off.

- If you use a SxS or O/U test both barrels. Don't be surprised if they don't shoot to the same point of impact. Many don't. This is more common with SxS's than O/U's.

[jlm]

Very good post GSP, thank you for the information!

[irvingdog]

A simple pattern frame:

I've been having my customers do this. Take 2 saw horses ( I use the aluminum brackets and 2X4's) and an 8 foot 2X4. Set up the horse, and across the front legs, use thumbtacks or staples to pin up Christmas wrapping paper left overs from end to end. This will give you an 8 foot long, 36 inch high test pattern base for pennies! I do this for rimfire gallery shooting also. Draw on, or stick on any targets you want.

Step back to a distance you feel you would try to take game from. Shoot. Approach the target while asking yourself "If this had been a (duck, grouse, etc) would I have put plenty of pellets into vital areas?" Don't forget to ask yourself "too much?"

[Gadgetman]

Thanks guys, hope to get out to the gravel pit as soon as it cools down a bit

[Wallydog]

A great source for patterning paper is your local newspaper.. They accumulate "roll-ends" that can be bought for a nominal fee. Usually.

WD

[Mr.Seaguar]

Ive patterned a few guns extensively. Heres my findings. Guns really kick hard, you just dont notice when hunting. Lots of little holes does not a dead bird make. A gun that throwns beautiful patterns but doesnt fit you won`t kill birds. In conclusion, my clay thrower has helped me kill birds a ton more than patterning ever did. I used cardboard sheets I got at work. Good Luck.