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I was patterning my 870 with a Trulock precision hunter .665 with LBXR 1 3/4 oz 5s.  The numbers weren't great,  and the patterns were not even. There was clusters of shot with gaps in between clusters.  I picked up some 6s and gave them a try.  Better numbers and a nice even pattern.  I was sitting here and decided to take a look inside one of these loads, so I cut open a #6. Take a look at this. I doubt this shell would have patterned well. I hope this was a fluke.

If 6s looked good, why did you open one up?  You said 5s were the problem.


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Quote from: drakehammer on April 25, 2018, 12:01:17 PM
If 6s looked good, why did you open one up?  You said 5s were the problem.

The 6s I shot patterned much better than the 5s.  I didn't cut it open looking for a problem,  just to see what was inside first hand.  Here is a side view. Look how the resin flowed outside the wad petal.


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How do the 5s look inside?  Seems like that's what we need to see.  I am trying them out for the first time too.


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Thanks for the pics.


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I just cut open a 5 and it looks fine. I have never had good patterns with 5s from this gun and choke. So I wasn't surprised that the lb 5 patterns looked blown out.

Hmmm.  Most of my friends prefer the 5s. I guess because they're lead. But LB sure has a reputation for great patterns.


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I would guess that the likely cause of that result was more likely probable to be caused by the shell being squeezed at some point and allowing the shot to slip between the wad slit. This could've happened while you were cutting it or handling at any point between mfg and this photo.

No, it definitely happened when the shot was dropped.  As the resin flowed out the gap in the wad and conformed to the casing before hardening

Friend of mine posted this pic on another forum...said it fell apart in the chamber. Unfired Longbeard XR #5

(http://i67.tinypic.com/2iuqrgo.jpg)

I can tell you if you drop them, the chance of breaking the resin encapsulating the shot is high and that can ruin patterns.  I have at least 8 rounds out of 5 boxes of 4s, 5s, and 6s that rattle like they've been dropped and Im positive I didn't drop them.  I shot a couple last eeek and the patterns were definitely spotty compared to the rounds that sounded solid.

Quote from: mightyjoeyoung on April 29, 2018, 04:32:35 PM
I can tell you if you drop them, the chance of breaking the resin encapsulating the shot is high and that can ruin patterns.  I have at least 8 rounds out of 5 boxes of 4s, 5s, and 6s that rattle like they've been dropped and Im positive I didn't drop them.  I shot a couple last eeek and the patterns were definitely spotty compared to the rounds that sounded solid.

Good point about ones that rattle, possibly being dropped etc, and patterns being affected. I will shake all of mine and use the ones that rattle for small game etc...


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I just had a box with the primers set too deep. Unfortunately I didn't realize till I pulled the trigger on a bird and got nothing but the click lol.

Seems like Winchester quality control is no where to be found. People are having problems in Virginia and Mississippi......

Oh snap...

Primer set too deep on a shotgun shell?    Thats a new one on me. Please send post pics of these suspect shells.  We can tell you right away.


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I have shot several shells after the defect including Winchester longebeards from a different lot number and have had zero issues. The second pic is of a remington shell I shot right after to make sure it wasn't the gun. From what I can tell when comparing the misfired shell with other Winchester Longbeards that I have the part the pin strikes on the primer is a bit deeper on the misfired one.

A few years back, I had a similar issue of primers being seated too deep on their Partition Gold slugs.  I sent them the lot # and pics of the shells, and they sent me a certificate to cover three new boxes.

Kellyguinn this is not a deep primer issue.  Thats a dirty action / firing pin issue. The non-European primer caps are soft. Put it back in your gun and squeeze. It will fire. Almost 100% sure.  If not in that gun then try a different one. Happens all the time and people incorrectly blame ammo.  More often than not its a dirty action or firing pin hole. I have reloaded and fired well over a million rounds. Trust me, its the gun. That ammo is well within spec.


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May be drake but it sure seems funny that I have never had a problem. 1st shell from new box has a problem then go back to shells I had left over including other Winchester LB from another box without a problem. Either way they are on the way back to Winchester and they are sending a coupon for another box.

On a tangent, but I noticed while shooting thru a chronograph that Longbeard shells that rattled all shot subsonic.  If they were tight they shot as advertised around 1200 to 1240 fps depending on barrel length. 

Quote from: kellyguinn on May 07, 2018, 02:45:30 PM
May be drake but it sure seems funny that I have never had a problem.

Well for future reference, several times that has happened to me too.  Actually thats pretty common sequence of events for dirty or compromised pins and pin holes. Sometimes it just a little crud that prevents clean and complete firing pin travel.  Either way, if I was you, I would make sure your good to go. Best of luck.


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Thanks. I'll for sure give it a deep cleaning now that the season is over.

Hear comes the BOOM! ;)