Just wondering what would be considered a decent hunting pattern at 40 yards with lead #5 shot? I think I'm getting around 100 in a 10 inch circle, but I want better.
Quote from: Ky Gobbler on February 10, 2013, 10:09:35 PM
Just wondering what would be considered a decent hunting pattern at 40 yards with lead #5 shot? I think I'm getting around 100 in a 10 inch circle, but I want better.
THAT ^
100 +/- at 40 with lead 5's is pretty dang good.If I could get that I believe I would just stick with it.
Shoot 3 patterns with those #5's, and if all 3 break 100, you've got something.
The best I've gotten at 40 yards with 3" #5's has been 131 in my INV+ BPS, and 116 in my 870, using an Indian Creek .665 choke in each. That doesn't mean I can get those numbers every time. The 870 has ran from 90 to 116 with #5's, and I've only shot that one 131 pattern with the #5's in the BPS.
#6's may give you better numbers. But, if the difference was less than 15-20 pellets, I'd just use the #5's because they hit like bricks. Or maybe a #6 in the chamber, and a couple #5's in the magazine.
Like mentioned earlier, anything around 100 is very good.
I shot 3 with my .870 and Winchester hv 3" 5's and got 88, 93, and 100. Im stickin with it. I'd like to get a little better but it's a dead bird all day long.
I want 130+ out of my 935 with a 3.5" shell. I will hunt with anything that goes over 100 in the 10 ring.
My stepdads 835 will consistently do 140+ with 2.25 ounces of 5's.
100-120 with lead 5's is a dead bird all day long
#5's have Lots of Power for small game, Turkeys, and vermin, plus look at how much money you'll save on shells over time vs. HTL prices.
Think about how many times you will have a shot well within 40 yards. You have a very adequate pattern at 25, 30 and 35 yards number wise I bet.
The old norm was 80 or approximately one pellet per square inch of surface area.
Do see what 6s do also as they are good to 40 yards as well.
how in the world do you get 100 hits in a 10" circle? I never really pattern my guns much for turkey. I shoot a lot of ducks and doves and until this year i haven't really gotten all worked up for turkey season. I patterned my Nova this weekend with a few different shells. Im shooting 3" #5 and #6 and 3.5" #6 federals, rem. nitro and all gave me about 60 or so on the target. Im using a tightwad .655 choke and a 28" barrel. Any tips how to improve the shot count inside the 10" circle. I have seen impressive numbers and patterns on here. Can you give the newbie a few pointers.
Quote from: burke0428 on February 19, 2013, 04:26:44 PM
how in the world do you get 100 hits in a 10" circle? I never really pattern my guns much for turkey. I shoot a lot of ducks and doves and until this year i haven't really gotten all worked up for turkey season. I patterned my Nova this weekend with a few different shells. Im shooting 3" #5 and #6 and 3.5" #6 federals, rem. nitro and all gave me about 60 or so on the target. Im using a tightwad .655 choke and a 28" barrel. Any tips how to improve the shot count inside the 10" circle. I have seen impressive numbers and patterns on here. Can you give the newbie a few pointers.
Winchester is the standard for lead or if you can find the old Federals in the blue and gold box they are awesome. You may have to try a few different chokes to get great lead numbers. I have always like Kick's chokes for lead, but many are good.
I would start with Winchester High Velocity 3.5" 2 ounce #6's and try the tightwad choke. If that doesn't work, call SumToy Customs and tell William what shell and what distance most of your shots will be. That is the best $65 I have ever spent on a turkey rig.
Quote from: burke0428 on February 19, 2013, 04:26:44 PM
how in the world do you get 100 hits in a 10" circle? I never really pattern my guns much for turkey. I shoot a lot of ducks and doves and until this year i haven't really gotten all worked up for turkey season. I patterned my Nova this weekend with a few different shells. Im shooting 3" #5 and #6 and 3.5" #6 federals, rem. nitro and all gave me about 60 or so on the target. Im using a tightwad .655 choke and a 28" barrel. Any tips how to improve the shot count inside the 10" circle. I have seen impressive numbers and patterns on here. Can you give the newbie a few pointers.
Make sure you are shooting at a target at least 3ft x 3ft to make sure your poi matches your poa. Alot of times shooting at smaller targets one can assume they have a bad pattern but really the best pattern is somewhere besides the target. I buy a roll of masking paper from my hardware store and staple it to a 5ft x 4ft piece of osb. That gun with that choke should be shootin well over 100 #6' in 10" at 40yds with a 3 or 3.5.
Quote from: burke0428 on February 19, 2013, 04:26:44 PM
how in the world do you get 100 hits in a 10" circle? I never really pattern my guns much for turkey. I shoot a lot of ducks and doves and until this year i haven't really gotten all worked up for turkey season. I patterned my Nova this weekend with a few different shells. Im shooting 3" #5 and #6 and 3.5" #6 federals, rem. nitro and all gave me about 60 or so on the target. Im using a tightwad .655 choke and a 28" barrel. Any tips how to improve the shot count inside the 10" circle. I have seen impressive numbers and patterns on here. Can you give the newbie a few pointers.
Check that Tightwad choke again and verify that it says 655 and not 665. I do not know of a 655 Tightwad choke. Tell us your gun and gauge,etc. to better help you . I believe like others that you are shooting at a 10 inch circle or small target one.
Comp-N-Choke in .670 has been my best lead choke so far, shooting BPS invector +. Have patterned lead very little, but I have gotten upper 90s in 10" at 40 yds with that.
After reading this i guess u should have never gotten rid of that Walmart beretta that would do 90 with 3-2-4s with a trulock .650!
the choke says .655 and i am shooting a 12 ga benelli nova 28" barrel. i am going to try and get some large pieces of paper and get a chance to see the whole pattern. i might be off and just missing the good section of the pattern. ive got federals remington and some winchester all in 3" and 3.5" number 6s and well see what i get. i might try to post some pics and will definitely let you guys know what i find out. thanks for the help.
Quote from: burke0428 on February 20, 2013, 08:53:24 PM
the choke says .655 and i am shooting a 12 ga benelli nova 28" barrel. i am going to try and get some large pieces of paper and get a chance to see the whole pattern. i might be off and just missing the good section of the pattern. ive got federals remington and some winchester all in 3" and 3.5" number 6s and well see what i get. i might try to post some pics and will definitely let you guys know what i find out. thanks for the help.
I use masking paper that is used to protect floors after I install them. Back side of Christmas paper works good to.
I like 100+ in a 10 @ 40. Unfortunately shooting 3" 5's I wasn't able to achieve that. My 30-35 yard patterns with 5's were business but at 40 yards the space between pellets was too much. lead patterns can really deteriorate from 30-40 and even 35-40. Shooting 160-170's in a 10 @ 40 with Win 3/2/6's. Win 3/1 7/8/ 6's comes close to that with 1 3/4 not far behind. Shot so much better than 5's I stopped hunting with them.