Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Turkey Guns & Shooting => 20 Gauge Turkey Guns => Topic started by: sugarray on March 16, 2011, 09:46:05 PM

Title: Shot the Hastings .562 in my 22" barrel Rem 870, improved patterns
Post by: sugarray on March 16, 2011, 09:46:05 PM
So I got the Hastings .562 today and had to shoot.  Cleaned it up and to the range I went.  Closest range was closed until April 1st, ??  WTHeck.  Anyway, had some gusting winds from L -> R and tried my best to shoot in between gusts.  I'll get it in a vise and adjust POI/POA when I have a nice day.  I am pleased with the patterns.  Added 20 pellets to my 10" numbers and 20" seems pretty even without big holes, shooting the HW.  The Hevi was still pretty patchy and I was not pleased with them.  I cleaned 3 passes with bore snake in between shots.

All shots were: Rem 870 Compact, 22" barrel, Hastings .562 choke, 40 yds range finder, 40 degrees.

HW 1.5 oz #7

shot #1: 113 in 10", 151 in 20"
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww336/sugarray40/Hunting/patterns/DSC01094.jpg)

shot #2:  115 in 10", 130 in 20"
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww336/sugarray40/Hunting/patterns/DSC01095.jpg)

shot #3:  137 in 10", 142 in 20"
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww336/sugarray40/Hunting/patterns/DSC01096.jpg)

Hevi 1.25 oz #7

shot #1:  91 in 10", 121 in 20"
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww336/sugarray40/Hunting/patterns/DSC01097.jpg)

shot #2:  99 in 10", 146 in 20"
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww336/sugarray40/Hunting/patterns/DSC01098.jpg)

shot #3:  101 in 10", 130 in 20"
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww336/sugarray40/Hunting/patterns/DSC01099.jpg)

Tell me what you think.  Which would you shoot?
Title: Re: Shot the Hastings .562 in my 22" barrel Rem 870, improved patterns
Post by: TrkyHntr on March 16, 2011, 09:52:50 PM
Ray, You got it shooting pretty good now the the fed #7's. Mine shoots the H-13 #7's about the same as yours. Go with the fed 7's. Those are great patterns for your son to shoot with. Gives him 40-45 yd range, and plenty of room for error.



Shane
Title: Re: Shot the Hastings .562 in my 22" barrel Rem 870, improved patterns
Post by: headbuster on March 16, 2011, 10:43:12 PM
Fed. all the way!! patterns look good and even to me! They pack a punch!! Best of luck to ya!!!!!
Title: Re: Shot the Hastings .562 in my 22" barrel Rem 870, improved patterns
Post by: surehuntsalot on March 16, 2011, 11:12:26 PM
there is ONLY ONE  20ga HTL shell good enough to be used for turkey hunting and that is the Federal HW
Title: Re: Shot the Hastings .562 in my 22" barrel Rem 870, improved patterns
Post by: jtg88 on March 16, 2011, 11:16:01 PM
Sugarray, you and I both seemed to be blessed with the only two 20 gauges that will not post really great numbers no matter what choke/shell combo we try.  I've tried 4 chokes and both Hevi-13 and Heavyweight 7s in my Winchester 1300 youth and so far the absolute best it will do is 130 in the 10" with Heavyweight and a Hastings .562.  I know that is more than adequate as a killing pattern but it makes me sick to see everybody breaking 150 with a $15.00 choke and I can't break 130 to save my life.
Title: Re: Shot the Hastings .562 in my 22" barrel Rem 870, improved patterns
Post by: shootumindaface on March 17, 2011, 08:51:50 AM
Quote from: headbuster on March 16, 2011, 10:43:12 PM
Fed. all the way!! patterns look good and even to me! They pack a punch!! Best of luck to ya!!!!!
Thats what I think as well.. Perfect for a kid.. Thanks for posting up Sugar Ray
Title: Re: Shot the Hastings .562 in my 22" barrel Rem 870, improved patterns
Post by: sugarray on March 17, 2011, 09:28:04 AM
Quote from: jtg88 on March 16, 2011, 11:16:01 PM
Sugarray, you and I both seemed to be blessed with the only two 20 gauges that will not post really great numbers no matter what choke/shell combo we try.  I've tried 4 chokes and both Hevi-13 and Heavyweight 7s in my Winchester 1300 youth and so far the absolute best it will do is 130 in the 10" with Heavyweight and a Hastings .562.  I know that is more than adequate as a killing pattern but it makes me sick to see everybody breaking 150 with a $15.00 choke and I can't break 130 to save my life.

I know, but this is for my 6 yr old and I only wanted about 110-120 for him with good 20" numbers.

Quote from: shootumindaface on March 17, 2011, 08:51:50 AM
Quote from: headbuster on March 16, 2011, 10:43:12 PM
Fed. all the way!! patterns look good and even to me! They pack a punch!! Best of luck to ya!!!!!
Thats what I think as well.. Perfect for a kid.. Thanks for posting up Sugar Ray

Me too, I am really pleased with these numbers now.  Patterns are more even too.  Ready to hunt.  Only problem, I am out of shells.  An thinking of trying the TSS #9 in a 1 oz load.  Not as big a punch, but still has more pellets that the HW #7 load.  Decisions, decisions.
Title: Re: Shot the Hastings .562 in my 22" barrel Rem 870, improved patterns
Post by: shootumindaface on March 17, 2011, 09:33:08 AM
SugarRay, you are stressing and wearing yourself out.. That pattern is plenty dense for a 40 yard shot but has all the Margin for Error someone should need.. I know you want your kid to be successful and if you do, buy a case of cheap dove loads and have her practice shooting pop cans on a stick at various ranges till season.. Your pattern is perfect for a kid bud..
Title: Re: Shot the Hastings .562 in my 22" barrel Rem 870, improved patterns
Post by: sugarray on March 17, 2011, 10:19:52 AM
Quote from: shootumindaface on March 17, 2011, 09:33:08 AM
SugarRay, you are stressing and wearing yourself out.. That pattern is plenty dense for a 40 yard shot but has all the Margin for Error someone should need.. I know you want your kid to be successful and if you do, buy a case of cheap dove loads and have her practice shooting pop cans on a stick at various ranges till season.. Your pattern is perfect for a kid bud..

You are absolutely right.  I am stressing and don't need to.  I have all the room for error he needs.  I have a case of pop ready and a box of shells.  We will shoot this weekend if the weather permits.
Title: Re: Shot the Hastings .562 in my 22" barrel Rem 870, improved patterns
Post by: 300Mag on March 17, 2011, 05:48:21 PM
That's how it was doing in my gun. Should be good for a kid.
Title: Re: Shot the Hastings .562 in my 22" barrel Rem 870, improved patterns
Post by: spurz on March 17, 2011, 06:26:22 PM
Glad the .562 worked for you.
Good Luck to You and your son.
Title: Re: Shot the Hastings .562 in my 22" barrel Rem 870, improved patterns
Post by: Ranman on March 17, 2011, 10:55:04 PM
Those are nice patterns, and also good enough for me.  The Big Kid.  :z-paddy-smiley113:
Ranman