Firstly my apologies for not posting a picture of a pattern. I forgot my phone that day and didn't think to save one and photograph it once home.
Shooting a Benelli Supernova using 12ga 3.5" WLNXR's 2oz #5's. Using a Carlson's .650" WLBXR choke.
24" Benelli factory vent ribbed barrel topped with a Swampfox Kingslayer.
After confirming 100% gun hits to POA I use a life sized turkey target complete with (hopefully) anatomically correct representation of a turkey's brain and spinal column, draw a 10" circle with where the waddles meat the feathers at the center and my POA and shoot five shells at the target
Range conditions were near perfect. Shot from a bench with gun in a front rest and rear sandbags. Target was on a 36"x36" sheet of contractor paper backing. All five patterns were well centered. With 12ga 3.5" WLBXR shells not available for sale anywhere I know of I can't shoot that many more this year for the sake of testing as I already shot way more than I would have had I known they were going to be none available for sale OTC near me and save for ONE place none FS on line.
Fired 10 shells prior but did run a 10ga phos/bronze brush fallowed by one patch wetted with action cleaner fallowed by one dry patch between all shots including all test shots.
I took the average of five shots at 45 yards and my results were:
Average of 138 pellets in a 10" circle roughly 37% of the payload
Average of 15 pellets in the head area
Average 8 pellets in the brain
Average of 23 pellets in the neck area
First I would appreciate opinions if this is a poor, good, VG or excellent pattern for this gun, choke and load.
Second can this pattern be improved with the purchase of a different choke as based on raved reviews here, I am leaning towards a Sumtoy .650 choke.
I have already tried one other AM choke as well as the Benelli factory XF choke but the Carlson's gave the best patterns. At $50-$70 each I would like to avoid buying any more chokes unless they stand a reasonable chance of improving my pattern enough to justify the cost.
Lastly shot at 45 VS 40 because my 40 yard patterns were putting over 50% (almost 200) of my pellets in a 10" circle.
Thanks to all for your time and sharing your experience with me.
