Parterning woes

[hunt12ga]

Any idea why my 20ga was patterning great last year, but is throwing random crappy patterns this year?  Tried leftover LB's from last year and a new box. Cleaned it good with no difference ?

One shot is consistent, then the next has holes the size of my fist. I need to get it ready for my daughters first youth hunt. At this point I'm considering letting her shoot 2-3/4" 6's and keeping her inside 30y, which may not be a bad idea anyway.

Rw

[Dtrkyman]

I have heard of that with long beards in the past, I would try mag blends or hevi 13 in straight 7s if they still make it.

[hunt12ga]

I actually had some mag blends from pre-20ga longbeard days that I tried. Same issue.

[Mossberg90MN]

Maybe it's the choke? Or somehow you got some type of barrel damage. Maybe there's a small knick on the inside that's creating the bad pattern?

[StruttinGobbler3]

Are you shooting a different lot number of shells this year? Sometimes there are inconsistencies from lot to lot. Hevi shot is especially bad about that.


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[Dtrkyman]

I would buy a cheap choke and try it, or the factory full if you have it.


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[guesswho]

I wonder if something caused the resin in LB's to set up?

[Turkeyman]

I wonder if something caused the resin in LB's to set up?

I thought that was LBs feature as opposed to polyethylene buffer. I.e. liquid resin fills the shell, turns solid then fractures upon firing.

[bbcoach]

Some of the guys are buying new LB's this year and are seeing the same thing.  We saw this with the Hevi-13 shells as well.  Not sure what Hevi did, whether it was the manufacturing process, components, powder or what but the later Hevi's didn't pattern as well.  My advice to everyone is if you find a shell and choke combo that shoots well in your gun, then buy a lifetime supply of that lot number.

[slicksbeagles1]

Is it possible the choke is loose or the magazine cap? Contact Clark with allaboutshooting and talk to him he my have some ideas.

[g8rvet]

I swear I had this problem once when the magazine cap was just a tiny bit loose.  I cranked it down and it really seems like it made a huge difference.  It was not that loose either.

[honker22]

I'd try some TSS 9s.  Patterning woes went away years ago when i started using it.

[singlestrand]

Maybe last year you thought it patterned better than it actually did.

[hunt12ga]

Thanks for the input-

I started shooting some of last year's shells and they were inconsistent, so tried a new box and they did it too. Now that I think about it though, the old shells were a full box. I hadn't shot any of that box last year. I'm shooting a single shot CVA Optima Elite, so no magazine nut, but I will check the forend screw.
I'm letting my daughter use it for her first hunt this spring. I may just give her some 2-3/4" #6 1oz loads and keep her inside 30y. I shot them and they threw a pretty even pattern that will kill a bird at that range and leave room for a bit of shooter error. I should be able to get early season birds into the decoys for her. I'm just frustrated with the other rounds. When they shoot well, they are great. The other half are lousy though.

rw