So I have tried the new long beard shells out of a 835 using both a Kicks Gobblin Thunder (.685) and also a Bass Pro Black Out (.675) chokes. The patterns are unreal at 40yds with both chokes putting 238 pellets in a 10" circle @ 40yds. So for kicks and giggles I shot it at 20yds. and all but 19 pellets landed in a 10" circle. It almost looked like a slug with about a handful of pellets around it. So this for me to thinking, is this too tight? I can see where this would be a great shell for some long range but what if your turkey shows up 20 yds or less?
What are some other good non HTL shells that pattern well out to 40yds as well as not to tight?
Thanks in advance for any helped
Try Winchester supremes
Best I have tried in the 12 ga are Winch Gray Box 6s, averaging 132/10 @40 (3" 1.875 oz - Rem 1187, 26" barrel, IC .665), while maintaining reasonable pattern width in close.
I'm pretty sure it was Win Supreme 3.5" 6's I shot at 20yds and I think I had all but 10-15 pellets in a 10" circle. At 40yds it would run 135-150
At 20yds they're all tight.
URL=http://s558.photobucket.com/user/Tom_Foolery_74/media/20yd835Win6HV.jpg.html](http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/ss29/Tom_Foolery_74/20yd835Win6HV.jpg)[/URL]
Yeah, you want to try your shells with the factory choke, instead. None of my 835 chokes squeeze past .690, and they are PLENTY tight. I'd much rather open up that pattern.
I have tried them and they are way to tight through a turkey choke. I like the Federal shells through a modified or full choke. Maybe try the Longbeards through your full and see how they do.
I shoot mine through a .665 carlson's and at 20 yards it will take a birds head clean off. I'll try to get pictures up. It looks like a slug hole just below the turkeys head.
I was shooting the LB's through my Winchester SX2 and Carlson Longbeard XR choke and they were ridiculously tight at 20 and under. It was a slug hole with a couple of fliers around it. I switched to a Wrights #1 .670 and there is a huge difference. More room for error at 20 and under (although I would sill like it to be a little more open) and outstanding patterns with #5 and #6 out to 40 yards. I didn't shoot it at 50 but plan to see what that looks like just to know.
My 20 yard shot is about the size of your fist. I have fiber optic sights on my gun so if he gets too close I won't have a issue. I guess it depends on how close your gonna let him get before you shoot.
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I wonder how a Carlson's extended .680 would do with these...
.702 Sumtoy
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/Caninester/DSC01936.jpg) (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Caninester/media/DSC01936.jpg.html)
Quote from: The Woodsman on April 08, 2016, 05:41:58 PM
.702 Sumtoy
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/Caninester/DSC01936.jpg) (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Caninester/media/DSC01936.jpg.html)
What's 40 look like?
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/Caninester/DSC01915.jpg) (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Caninester/media/DSC01915.jpg.html)
I have rifled sights on my rig and I've killed a few pretty close. 8 steps and under with long beards.
This is JMO. There not for me. They leave little room for error. I like the supremes.
a different choke can help with that, no reason to ditch the shells.
The purpose of long beards are to offer a denser pattern at 30-40 yards than other lead loads. In return your closer ranges are tighter.
You have 2 options here.
1) use some type of optic or adjustable aight if your poi is off or
2) use regular lead loads
If you want that dense 40 yards pattern it's going to come at a cost. No sense of opening up your choke to shoot a less dense pattern when you can just buy a load that already does that
Quote from: turkey buster on April 11, 2016, 06:27:17 PM
The purpose of long beards are to offer a denser pattern at 30-40 yards than other lead loads. In return your closer ranges are tighter.
You have 2 options here.
1) use some type of optic or adjustable aight if your poi is off or
2) use regular lead loads
If you want that dense 40 yards pattern it's going to come at a cost. No sense of opening up your choke to shoot a less dense pattern when you can just buy a load that already does that
my sumtoy throws a fair pattern at 40 of about 8 inches, and still puts over 200 pellets in 10" at 40 yards....you absolutely can have the best of both worlds. in a 3 " gun with a 21" barrel at that. it is possible. and this is with a super tight choke 655
I shoot a 21in barrel 870 with JH .665 and 3in #5's. My 10in at 40 is 150-170 and my 20 and in is a softball. But I have rifled sights on the barre
I meant reasonable spread at 20 not 40.