Just sent this to E M

[killdee]

Have these problems showed up in the 3" #7 or just the 3.5 and 20 ga. I just checked the lot # and all the 3" stuff from last year and what I bought a few weeks ago show 200806, my 20's are 100991 and the other box,has 100903 and 100991 stamped under it, both bought at the same time?

[Timberline]

I have a H13 choke (.662) and I have the 3.5" straight 7 shells from both lot #300325 and lot #300488.  Apparently, EM did not make this change to optimize the load for their choke (or any choke).   I got an ~ 15% reduction in my pattern count in 10" at 40' with the new lot number (which I got from Cabela's). 

I shot the old lot at 42 degrees and the new lot at 51 degrees .  Went though the same cleaning scheme as last time.  Wind speed was under 7 mph in both cases.

Then I tested a Jelly Head choke (.660) with the new lot to see if the choke would make a difference (same temp, same day).  The average was almost the same.  My worst pattern with the Jelly head choke was slightly higher than what I was getting with straight 3.5" 6's (lot #300185) last year .

I also sent EM an email.  I only have a few shells left from lot # 300325, so I am afraid to shoot anymore of those this season.