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Turkey Guns & Shooting => 20 Gauge Turkey Guns => Topic started by: backforty on February 22, 2022, 12:39:15 AM

Title: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: backforty on February 22, 2022, 12:39:15 AM
I am down to one box of federal heavy weight 7's.  I have some longbeard #5 and some federal heavy weight 6's. I have shot both of the above loads out of My Indian creek .555 and my carlsons .575 and did not care for the groups at all. I found and ordered some hevi shot mag blends and a jebs .565 choke. My question is has anybody had any luck getting a good pattern out of any of the above combos. I realize I could shoot TSS but currently not willing to pay the crazy prices right now. I am not a crazy tight pattern guy just want a good even pattern.  Thanks in advance.

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Title: Re: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: Happy on February 22, 2022, 07:43:01 AM
My experience with federal heviweight is it likes a bit more open choke. Something in the .565-.568 range. That was with a mossberg and Winchester 20 gauge though.
Title: Re: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: huntinsomd on February 22, 2022, 08:10:08 AM
Try Longbeard 6's.
Title: Re: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: backforty on February 22, 2022, 09:34:43 AM
Quote from: huntinsomd on February 22, 2022, 08:10:08 AM
Try Longbeard 6's.
You find me a box and I would be glad to shoot them.

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Title: Re: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: RED NECK on February 22, 2022, 10:19:55 AM
My 870 20 gauge youth shoots everything I have tried better with a .570 tightwad choke than my carlsons .575, including longbeard 5's. I don't have any pictures of the longbeard 5's but at 40 yards I would use it no questions asked from my setup. Here is the longbeard 6's at 40 yards,I always use a range finder, this is with a .570 tightwad.
Title: Re: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: RED NECK on February 22, 2022, 10:22:39 AM
As long as they keep selling longbeard 5 & 6's in 20 gauge that is what I will shoot from this setup.
Title: Re: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: backforty on February 22, 2022, 11:15:50 AM
Quote from: The Heartbreak Kid....... on February 22, 2022, 10:19:55 AM
My 870 20 gauge youth shoots everything I have tried better with a .570 tightwad choke than my carlsons .575, including longbeard 5's. I don't have any pictures of the longbeard 5's but at 40 yards I would use it no questions asked from my setup. Here is the longbeard 6's at 40 yards,I always use a range finder, this is with a .570 tightwad.
If my jebs choke doesn't work out I'll have to pick up a tightwad.  Thanks for the info

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Title: Re: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: MattBordas on February 22, 2022, 08:40:12 PM
In my 20 gauge 870s (21" barrels) I got the most consistent patterns with Jebs .565, Carlson LBXR .568, and RSF .572.  I got real good patterns with .555 Jebs and .562 Sumtoy as well but when it came to the higher payloads amd bigger lead shot sizes a lot of things they over choked it and blew my patters. 
Title: Re: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: backforty on February 22, 2022, 09:07:31 PM
Quote from: MattBordas on February 22, 2022, 08:40:12 PM
In my 20 gauge 870s (21" barrels) I got the most consistent patterns with Jebs .565, Carlson LBXR .568, and RSF .572.  I got real good patterns with .555 Jebs and .562 Sumtoy as well but when it came to the higher payloads amd bigger lead shot sizes a lot of things they over choked it and blew my patters.
I've got a jebs on the way. I'm hoping it makes an improvement over what I'm getting out of the other chokes.

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Title: Re: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: WPA Bowhunter on February 24, 2022, 09:48:42 PM
I'll second the tightwad with fed HW #7s. It is a .570 restriction and for the price tag it's very hard to beat. Also the Remington super full .572 works well.
Title: Re: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: backforty on February 25, 2022, 12:10:47 AM
Quote from: WPA Bowhunter on February 24, 2022, 09:48:42 PM
I'll second the tightwad with fed HW #7s. It is a .570 restriction and for the price tag it's very hard to beat. Also the Remington super full .572 works well.
I had no problem patterning the 7's.  Fed heavy weight 6's are another story.

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Title: Re: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: randywallace on February 25, 2022, 10:35:37 AM
Quote from: backforty on February 22, 2022, 09:07:31 PM

I've got a jebs on the way. I'm hoping it makes an improvement over what I'm getting out of the other chokes.

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I am not knocking Jebs at all.  They are what I use in all my guns - BUT if you are willing to spend $100 on a choke, why not sling some TSS 8 or 9s if you want a good pattern?  That indian creek .555 can shoot some nice patterns with TSS 9s and the Carlosons can do likewise if you don't like a hot core.
Title: Re: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: backforty on February 25, 2022, 11:19:27 AM
Quote from: randywallace on February 25, 2022, 10:35:37 AM
Quote from: backforty on February 22, 2022, 09:07:31 PM

I've got a jebs on the way. I'm hoping it makes an improvement over what I'm getting out of the other chokes.

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I am not knocking Jebs at all.  They are what I use in all my guns - BUT if you are willing to spend $100 on a choke, why not sling some TSS 8 or 9s if you want a good pattern?  That indian creek .555 can shoot some nice patterns with TSS 9s and the Carlosons can do likewise if you don't like a hot core.
I thought about that but I currently have 6 boxes of federal heavy weight 6's and three boxes of long beard #5 that I would like to shoot. I also picked the jebs choke up for 70.

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Title: Re: 870 youth pattern issues
Post by: cpreeves on February 25, 2022, 11:22:30 AM
Quote from: randywallace on February 25, 2022, 10:35:37 AM
Quote from: backforty on February 22, 2022, 09:07:31 PM

I've got a jebs on the way. I'm hoping it makes an improvement over what I'm getting out of the other chokes.

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I am not knocking Jebs at all.  They are what I use in all my guns - BUT if you are willing to spend $100 on a choke, why not sling some TSS 8 or 9s if you want a good pattern?  That indian creek .555 can shoot some nice patterns with TSS 9s and the Carlosons can do likewise if you don't like a hot core.

Agree 100%. At the end of the day, shells are one of the most important pieces of your gear. Unless you're going to hunt multiple states in a year, a box or two of TSS shells will get you through the season