I patterned my new turkey gun yesterday, a Stevens m301 with a Kicks GT .660.
At 40 yards, I got 180 #5's and 230 #6's in 10 inches. I'm certain both are just fine, but it were you, would you hunt the 5's or the 6's and why?
Both should work fine. I remember when anything over 100 was good. I prefer the 5s because my gun has a better hunting pattern with 5s. The 6s are to tight close up imo
I shot #6's in my 12 gauge and never had any issues. I have since switched to 20 gauge with TSS. They both will work, but I would pick the #6's.
#5's myself. Plenty of pellets at 40 yards and more energy than #6's.
Quote from: Happy on January 20, 2019, 03:43:12 PM
#5's myself. Plenty of pellets at 40 yards and more energy than #6's.
My thoughts, as well. Yep.
#5's for me too
I get better numbers with 6's, but a more even pattern with 5's...I shoot 5's.
I'm a 5s guy too for the reasons already mentioned. I no longer use longbeards to so as not to mislead but that's what I used
I'd shoot the #6s. Each have more than enough pattern and energy at 40. Miss judge a bird by 10 yards and each still have the energy but I'd feel better about the extra pattern with the #6s.
I've used both over the past 3-4 years. I always leaned toward the 6's but the last two birds I've killed were with 5's. Both shells killed birds just as dead. The only real big difference (other than pellet count) I've seen is that 6's seem to be harder to find in my area.
5's because gun patterns better
I've shot both, gun loves both. I like the 5's but either work great. I killed a nice bird with a helluva story at a the very maximum of my shooting range last year. He didn't even flop.
Either is fine.
I like number 6's out of my gun i get a whole lot better patterns with the 6's
5s
what ever you have more of !!!
I prefer #6's from all the longbeard shells I've shot...
6' and I don't shoot beyond 30 because my eyes suck. May change to 40 with the new scope I bought though.
pellet count is good with both so i personally would go with 5's for more energy.
unless something goes wrong, I plan to be using 6s for the foreseeable future in my 20ga.
Both have good patterns. That being said my gun likes 5's.
Killed bird last year with 3 inch #6's @ 37yds, should be fine with either
Neat thing I found with the LBXR's when testing them in my Winchester SX3............ 6's, 5's and 4's ALL print the same SIZED pattern to 60 yards !!! Now, the pattern DENSITY obviously goes up as shot size decreases. And per-pellet energy in the Longbeard shells will peter out before the pattern density does (i.e. they will kill PAPER farther than they will kill gobblers).
With my SX3, it wouldn't matter which LBXR happened to get stuck in it, 40 yards is EASILY do-able. The LBXR is basically the ONLY shell I've ever gotten density that suited ME with #4's at 40 yards. But, I can be a little particular.........
Quote from: Yoder409 on January 27, 2019, 12:15:13 PM
Neat thing I found with the LBXR's when testing them in my Winchester SX3............ 6's, 5's and 4's ALL print the same SIZED pattern to 60 yards !!! Now, the pattern DENSITY obviously goes up as shot size decreases. And per-pellet energy in the Longbeard shells will peter out before the pattern density does (i.e. they will kill PAPER farther than they will kill gobblers).
With my SX3, it wouldn't matter which LBXR happened to get stuck in it, 40 yards is EASILY do-able. The LBXR is basically the ONLY shell I've ever gotten density that suited ME with #4's at 40 yards. But, I can be a little particular.........
My gun does 150+ with 3.5 LB #4s at 40.... So I've got some boxes of hevi shot I haven't touched in a few years.
I shoot 5's. More mass=more energy. Plenty dense with 5's, so I lile the improved energy transfer.
My SBE ll loves LB #5's