870 super mag - need pattern help

[jb177]

I've got old real tree advantage 870 with 23" barrel. I've used a .665 jellyhead for last few years. I have some patterns from 3-5 yrs ago with winchester xrhd 3.5" #6's showing 188 and 191 in the 10. I've shot that combo for several years and I'm down to my last box.

I removed my tru glo sights last year so I was checking my zero yesterday.  Mind you the barrel is fairly clean and was polished 5+ years ago, but I got a measly 136 yesterday.  I will say the 20" looked awesome but bc some of my 10 was in it.  I also shot some 3.5" #5 long beards and got 141

Anyways, any idea as to why my numbers went down so much in the xrhd?  I'm almost out of them but would like to know what's going on.

Also, any suggestions on how to improve my patterns and to make them more consistent?

[MS]

I have that same gun, which is my primary turkey gun.  I've shot a half-dozen chokes (Rhino, Jellyhead, IC, etc.), and the Patternmaster Code Black by far patterned the best.  Inside a 20" circle at 40 yards, I get 90% plus patterns with TSS and Hevishot.  Kinda expensive (around $100) but when I have a strutter in my sights, the cost is irrlevant.

[d.winsor]

hard to say, maybe you got a different batch of shells, maybe something was changed in that batch.  I might be missing something but how many yards did you shoot the winchester longbeard #5's.  You will probably never know why numbers went down on xrhd, I would continue to pattern your gun.  Maybe you have some plastic in your barrel and/or the choke.  Get some birchwood casey bore cleaner and a brass brush, it is really strong and will take plastic out quick, a word of caution "don't get it on your camo stock".  Swab it in your barrel and let it work awhile then use the brush with BC.  If you know some one who will lend you a .665 choke, I would shoot it and see if there is a difference.  If I think of anything else I will post it, good luck

[taylorjones20]

I shoot a newer 870 SM and I use the JH .665.  I shot the LB #6 and got 227 in the 10" at 40 yards.  The older 870's normally pattern more consistent than the newer ones.  Two of my buddies have older 870 3" and they both shoot JH .660 with stunning patterns...  Not sure why yours dropped so much.  Maybe it's time for a fresh polishing job since it's been 5+ years...  Just my thoughts...

Good Luck with it!

[allaboutshooting]

I've got old real tree advantage 870 with 23" barrel. I've used a .665 jellyhead for last few years. I have some patterns from 3-5 yrs ago with winchester xrhd 3.5" #6's showing 188 and 191 in the 10. I've shot that combo for several years and I'm down to my last box.

I removed my tru glo sights last year so I was checking my zero yesterday.  Mind you the barrel is fairly clean and was polished 5+ years ago, but I got a measly 136 yesterday.  I will say the 20" looked awesome but bc some of my 10 was in it.  I also shot some 3.5" #5 long beards and got 141

Anyways, any idea as to why my numbers went down so much in the xrhd?  I'm almost out of them but would like to know what's going on.

Also, any suggestions on how to improve my patterns and to make them more consistent?

I'd recommend that you "deep clean" the bore. A bore can look clean when in fact it's not. It can't hurt your gun and may help considerably.

There are so many things that can affect patterns in addition to a fouled bore. The largest single factor that you can't control is ambient temperature. Lower temperatures mean less dense patterns. Cold air is dense air and dense air disburses pellets more quickly.

Since you removed you sights, I'm assuming that you shot at some big paper and you're looking at the most dense part of your pattern?

There were also changes made to those shells over the years they were in production and the later shells did not pattern as well as the first year of production shells.

You may want to try some Hevi-13 shells and see how they work in your gun.

Thanks,
Clark

[jb177]

Thanks for the responses.

The LB #5 were shot at 40yds as well.

I'll deep clean the bore again and see if that helps.  Both patterns are huntable to 40 just baffles me as to how it went down that much.  Temps were in the 60's with a small amount of wind.

I did shoot a large piece of contractor/construction paper.  Found it's the best thing when comes to pattering, get a large rolls for ~$10 at home depot.