I have and 870 3 inch 12 gauge with 21 inch barrel. I shot several longbeard # 4 through it this past weekend with a Jelly head .660 and .665. terrible patterns. There were two petals ripped off the wads with both chokes. Shot the factory choke and got an ok pattern with 111 in a 10 inch circle but two petals were still torn just not ripped off. Found a .670 Carlson's on e-bay. how do yall think it will do with the longbeard 4s. I got 161 in the ten with a ventilator and longbeard 6's that I am content with but have been interested in shooting the 4s also. worried about the tears and hoping the more open non ported choke will help. Also have a Rhino .660 that I have not shot Long beards in yet.
Shooting 4's I would search for something in the .670+ range. I've tried everything from .643 to .680 in the Rem 870 with those shells but not the #4's. The 5's and 6's seem to really shin in the .655-.665 range for the Rem's.
161 with 6s sounds a little low have you deep cleaned and polished the barrel
Yes. I polished it. I was fairly content with that out of a 3 inch shell. Should it do better? I have not had this gun for long and it is the only 21 inch 12 I have shot.
Put that 660 rhino in and give it a go with the #6s unless you are just dead set on the 4s the 6s will be very effective to 40 yards. A good pattern of 6s will kill every bird you shoot at 40 yards and under.
I'd definitely try .670 or bigger with the 4's. I shoot a .665 Carlson out of my sxp and the 5's and 6's shot great, but the 4's left something to be desired. I've seen on here a lot where if the choke is too right for the shot, it makes the pattern worse.
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I am not set on shooting 4s. I like 5 and 6s ok too. Would just like to find a choke that shots the 4s decent. The best I got with 4s was 111 with the factory turkey choke. That was a three inch shell. I would just like the 4s as and option. Both the jelly head 660 and 665 ripped the petals off the wads.
I shot the LB 4s thru a Wrights #1 which I believe is 670 and it did fairly well. Should be in the Rem pattern section.
I finally shot the .670 Carlson's and the Longbeard 4s. Decent pattern. Dense center. Shot 100 once and 110 another time with even pattern. The wads were still ripped with two petals missing on both shots. Have not noticed this with the 5 or 6 Longbeards and have shot both of those through various chokes. Has anyone else noticed this happening and do you think it would affect the pattern. I may have a bad batch of 4s. I am not set on shooting the 4s but if I could consistently get 110-120 in the ten with them I would be happy.
I posted a picture in the Rem. pattering section, this morning. Using 21" barrel, .665 Sumtoy choke, and LB's #6 in 3". 225 in the 10", and had torn and missing petals, while sighting it in. So IMO I don't think that is causing you a problem, but suggest going to #5 or #6 shot.
The only time I have ever used #4 shot is in the Remington Duplex loads of 4X6 loads. Still have a box or two of them.