Yes I read the same post from Clark. He said it may open the patterns...here is exactly what he posted on this topic.
Here's what I found from shooting the early WLB shells with #6 shot. Before going into that however, I'd like to inject that not all shot charges of WLB shells "behave" the same. For example, the resin slug is much softer on the larger shot sizes, particularly on #4 shot. It can be easily crushed between your thumb and forefinger. The #5 shot slugs to a lesser extent and the #6 loads need pliers to crush the resin slug.
We all know that the resin slug is designed to fracture upon upset. Many times, we have no real way of knowing if or when that happens because we can't see inside the chamber or the forcing cone area where this would take place at that time. We have however seen evidence of the resin slug not fracturing or not fracturing fully at times. When that happens, the patterns are exceptionally tight at all ranges.
So, if the resin slug does not fracture at upset and we want that slug to fracture, the secondary source of fracturing can be the interior of the choke tube. One way to do that, is to use a choke tube that is somewhat tighter than we might ordinarily use. That pretty much goes against what we've been told over the years. "If you want a tighter pattern, shoot a tighter choke and if you want a more open pattern, shoot a more open choke."
In this case, you many need to shoot a tighter choke to get a more open pattern. Now, we also go back to the design of the choke and its "internal geometry". It's not all about the exit diameter.
There is another complicating factor. I referenced the "early" WLB shells and most of my work on this subject was done with them. I cut open shells with #4, #5, and #6 shot and found the differences in the resin slugs that I discussed. We shot a lot of those early WLB shells at still target shoots, then went to more current production and then last year, we shot the early production shells again on the shooting circuit and at the World Championship. They shot very tight patterns, as evidenced by the records that were broken.
Along the way, several of us cut open the "current production shells" and it appeared that the resin slug with the #6 shot was about as easily crushed in our fingers as were the #4 and #5 shot resin slugs. I suspect that the formula was changed at some point to make the resin fracture more easily and consistently.
That says a couple of things to me. The first is that this shell was designed to be a "long range" shell and that is how it performs. At ranges under 35-40 yards, it throws some very tight patterns. It also says that you may want to experiment with some tighter chokes to see if your particular gun will shoot more open patterns at closer ranges. Some will and some won't.
It comes down to each of us knowing our guns.
Thanks,
Clark
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