Pattern Opinions

[crucible7]

So, I've been "rebuilding" my old Mossberg 20 ga into a dedicated turkey gun. I've killed several birds with this gun as a young man with a modified barrel and Winchester Double X #5

I decided to go to a 22" threaded barrel and a Carlson LBXR .568 choke.

I was zeroing the red dot yesterday and these were the patterns I was getting at 40 yards shooting Federal Premium TSS #9.

Now, for someone used to shooting #5 shot, this pattern looks awesome but it seems from my research that a lot of guys are getting much more consistent patterns with TSS at 40 yards than this.

I feel like this is a huntable pattern but maybe I'm missing something. I don't want to be so tight at 40 that I'm shooting bullet holes at 10.

Any advice or thoughts are welcomed!




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[ChesterCopperpot]

It's most assuredly a huntable pattern but my first thought is that you might be slightly overconstricted.


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[crucible7]

It's most assuredly a huntable pattern but my first thought is that you might be slightly overconstricted.


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I'm new to the TSS game but I did read that it doesn't like super tight chokes. Maybe the .568 is blowing the pattern out some. I'll probably just hunt with it this year since I've got a couple boxes of this stuff already and TSS ain't cheap


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[TrackeySauresRex]

 

Yer on your way to getting her really dialed in. That stuff definitely ain't cheep good luck getting it just right,, post em up.

[BandedSpur]

Ditch the Federals. Every gun is different, but .568 should not be too tight. Try some Foxtrot or Apex 9s and watch that pattern tighten up.

[Twowithone]

That turkey,s coming out of the woods over your shoulder with that pattern. Range find some landmarks for references when Boss Tom struts in at 40 and nail him.

[mountainhunter1]

I actually agree with the last post, there is nothing getting out of that pattern inside of 40-45 yards if you are doing your job aiming. But even you can improve that pattern as far as the ten count, I personally at times wonder after doing this a long time if maybe your current pattern is more what a man needs at reasonable hunting ranges. See a lot of patterns with 330-350 in the ten with a 20 gauge, but sparse in the outer 20 and folks are missing turkeys more than they care to admit.

I would personally put the federal up and try either the Fox Trot, Verdict, Apex, Viper or Salt Creek if you cannot get a good handload from someone near where you live. Your choke is probably fine at nearly a .570 constriction. If you do find that you need/want to try another choke, you would be hard pressed to beat the IC in either a .562 or.570 (the .570 is usually a little better in the 20 coverage), or a Trulock Precision Hunter in either a .575 or a .585 (the .585 will also be better more times than not in the outer 20 coverage), or either the Patternmaster CBT in .565 or the Anaconda Striker in .570. I have shot all of them in many configurations, and those chokes will usually outshoot the rest of the stuff on the market on average. The RRoberts is a solid choke, but it cost a few dollars more than all listed above and wont outshoot any of those I listed on most days. For the money, it is really hard to do better than the 53-63 dollar (depending on porting or not) cost of a Trulock Precision Hunter.   

[Ranman]

I have been shooting TSS for a long time, and have chased high numbers in the past.. now I go for patterns like yours. There is not a bird that will walk out of that.. if you want tighter, open the choke up to .575

[King Cobra]

To each his own but that is the kind of pattern I am looking for at 40 yards. It's going to be tough to find much better.

[Franklin7x57]

plenty of shot in the turkey for sure. I'd shoot one at 20-25 yards and see if you are happy with that

[tnanh]

Very nice pattern.

[owlhoot]

Kill them all day with that setup.

[Tom007]

Turkey nuggets!