Patterning gun videos

[Bowguy]

Most guys on here are pretty knowledgeable so this is not something they'd  need to know but does anyone watch the videos where guys test loads? Almost none shoot at anything big enough to see the pattern. They clearly aren't centered and can't read what happened. Gives me a headache to watch.
To Anyone new reading. You need to shoot paper big enough to capture the whole load. Than center it. Only  when seeing the whole pattern can you compare densities.
Most guys it seems shoot red dots commonly anymore but I'm sort of a scope guy since you don't need a battery. If anyone scopes a gun realize at close range your pattern would be lower as your scope sits higher. If centered at 40 yards, and you shoot at the wattles at 7 yards you may hit the beard so you may want to aim a little higher up on neck/head.
While on that subject, it'd be best to shoot for the wattles, mid neck, where the skin meets the feathers, (except the extreme close range). However you chose to think but your pattern will be completely useful. Aiming for the head you throw half the pattern off the target. Consider that

[RMP]

Yes.  But usually because I'm bored.  There's no substitute for going to the range and getting familar enough with your gun and where it hits that you come home with a bruise on your shoulder and confidence that you can make a good shot to the max range you've set for yourself.  One thing I've learned after an embarassing clean miss at extremely short range is that knowing where and how your gun hits at 10 yards or less is as important as knowing that at 40 yards. 

[Tom007]

It's funny this thread came out. I just watched a real good video on patterning by Dave Owens (Pinhoti Project).
He started with Dove Loads at 8 yards. The Pattern out of his M2 Benelli was the size of a golf ball at this distance. He adjusted it a few inches to exact zero. Moved the target out to 40 with a sizable target. Tweeted it once, and it was perfect with his TSS. I believe it took 3 shots. Solid way to set up and pattern your gun.....

[Greg Massey]

It's funny this thread came out. I just watched a real good video on patterning by Dave Owens (Pinhoti Project).
He started with Dove Loads at 8 yards. The Pattern out of his M2 Benelli was the size of a golf ball at this distance. He adjusted it a few inches to exact zero. Moved the target out to 40 with a sizable target. Tweeted it once, and it was perfect with his TSS. I believe it took 3 shots. Solid way to set up and pattern your gun.....

X2 ... Same way I do all turkey guns

[Wigsplitter]

Great info - it bothers me too that people shoot a 12by 12 piece of paper with no backdrop or cardboard so they can see ALL the pattern - it's important in my book!! Great post!

[bwhana]

I will also add that 40 yds is considered the standard and allows for pattern comparison to your own and others on an equal scale. I get that some don't have the range at times, but a 30 yd pattern doesn't truly help others looking at the pattern like a 40 yd does.

The splatter targets are very fun to see, but mine are always attached to a larger sheet of paper and count the full pattern from it. Loads are too expensive now not to count each one and build the database.

[WV Flopper]

 I like and enjoy shooting my 22 LR. I spend time tinkering adjusting and cataloging what the gun does. Actually have a target that is three years old. Meaning, I have been shooting the same target for three years. I ain't sure how many five shot groups are on it but it is bunch.

I have run bricks of good 22 ammo through my gun adjusting the tuner as I go, just for fun. But, I do pick the days I do this on and try to control what I can.

Lots of guys you see on the tube have an agenda from the beginning, even if they don't, they drive the issue towards the result they thought would happen. Like when guys say, "Oh I pulled that one, not going to count that shot in the group". Don't count the group period, shoot another.

That pie plate, 8X11 piece of paper is a waste of a shotgun shell. You can't gather any data like that, not from 40 yards. I agree, work your way out to 40 yards, then compare apples to apples!

[WV Flopper]

 I personally would like to see guys pulling a bore snake between shots when comparing different shotgun ammo, apples to apples. 

[Dtrkyman]

I've always wanted to shoot through staked out targets that at just paper set at 10 to 40 yards in ten yard increments all with one shot and see what it looked like!

I know you can just do it with 4 separate shot but that's no fun!


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[zelmo1]

Seeing is believing. Biggest backstop you can find to see the whole load on paper. The rest you all know. I pattern my loads, all my loads, not just turkey, out to 60 yards. Not to think that I can shoot that far, its actually to show how fast your pattern deteriorates. Seeing what happens to a pattern will usually open some eyes to keeping shots to ethical distances. I dont want birds in my gun barrel, lol. My preferred shot is 25-35 yards. I like my patterns in this range the best so that is my sweet spot. If I do my part, then I should never need to change too much. But asa we all know, when the next new " best thing ever" comes out, I/we will be trying it, lol. Z

[Bowguy]

I knew most guys here understood. Someone is reading that's not familiar. All great input fellas.

[Tom007]

I knew most guys here understood. Someone is reading that's not familiar. All great input fellas.

Thanks for the post my friend.....

[runngun]

Shotgun patterning is a huge part of hunting for me anyway.  Few years ago I started rolling my own so I built a patterning box with thick metal backing with a tray at the bottom. I built it so I can reclaim the TSS. I had a buddy over at my house and he wanted to shoot his 20 gauge. He was shocked when he walked up and saw the pattern. The box is 4 foot square and there was pellets all over the backstop. Hot core but there were flyers all over. And they were all his because he was the 1st person to shoot it. PLEASE PATTERN YOUR GUNS!!! SEEING IS BELIEVING!!!
Have a good one and May God bless y'all,Bo

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