Longbeard XR/ choke consistency issues

[PineyRooster]

I have noticed that point of impact and point aim issues with patterns in both my 20 and 12 ga. I stopped using longbeards several years ago and went to tss jn my 20 but in my 12 I went back to the pattern board recently and noticed that there are still inconsistencies with shifting patterns. My question is do wad stripping chokes produce more consistent patterns with longbeard xr? I have always used non ported smooth internal chokes like Trulock and rob roberts. They produce great patterns but they are so tight that if the patterns shifts it could cause a miss which I believe could account for a couple of unexplained missses in the past. Any of you have any experience I'd like to hear it.

[Ihuntoldschool]

Absolutely not. The more you wreck the wad the less consistent patterns and point of impact you can expect.

Rob Roberts did extensive testing with ported chokes and decided against them for that reason.

Ive seen some crazy patterns from that shell, patterns look as if they were sliced in half. ANY shell can have slight variations in POI from shot to shot depending on how the wad petals open. Ideally you would like each petal to open at same time but doesn't always happen. But that shell is so tight shooting, least little variation is a MISS on close birds.

It's not your choke(s) it's that shell in my experience.

[SumToy]

Yes they do help.  Now few things can make it walk around.  One big thing is OVER choke.   Now if the LB is the one that is doing it I have ideas that it something to do with how the stuff it is held together brakes up.   

Now we have seen barrel flex or choke flex in the past with some guns. 

[PineyRooster]

Thank you for the replies.. im officially done with the XR's... the best pattern in the world means nothing if it isn't consistent. 

[sswv]

Thank you for the replies.. im officially done with the XR's... the best pattern in the world means nothing if it isn't consistent. 

agree 100%.

[Tombigbee]

Thank you for the replies.. im officially done with the XR's... the best pattern in the world means nothing if it isn't consistent. 

agree 100%.

They have always been SO darn good, but apparently no more. In pre-season shooting this year I fired the last shell from a box, and it patterned so well there was no need to shoot again. I did anyway.

The next 5 shots from a new box couldn't have been any worse....horrendous, scattered patterns that would have assuredly resulted in a wounded turkey.

I checked all my XR's and found a box with a matching lot number to the box containing that first shell. They patterned fine, but I can no longer trust XR's.

Open to suggestions on what to try next. I am not a TSS kool-aid drinker, but if it patterns in my gun I'll  be happy.

Benelli SBE (original), 3" 12 gauge, currently with a Comp-N-Choke XX Full (because it USED to pattern those XR's perfectly)

[BandedSpur]

Thank you for the replies.. im officially done with the XR's... the best pattern in the world means nothing if it isn't consistent. 

agree 100%.

They have always been SO darn good, but apparently no more. In pre-season shooting this year I fired the last shell from a box, and it patterned so well there was no need to shoot again. I did anyway.

The next 5 shots from a new box couldn't have been any worse....horrendous, scattered patterns that would have assuredly resulted in a wounded turkey.

I checked all my XR's and found a box with a matching lot number to the box containing that first shell. They patterned fine, but I can no longer trust XR's.

Open to suggestions on what to try next. I am not a TSS kool-aid drinker, but if it patterns in my gun I'll  be happy.

Benelli SBE (original), 3" 12 gauge, currently with a Comp-N-Choke XX Full (because it USED to pattern those XR's perfectly)

Couldn't agree more on the LBs; saw the exact same thing in my buddy's 870. They went from great patterns to patterns I would not shoot at 40 yds (3"-1.75-5s). I started loading 12 ga TSS for him, which of course shot great, and now I am loading 20 ga TSS for him, which also shoot great.

It is not a question of "if" TSS will shoot great in your gun. Trust me, it will. My only advice is to stay away from Federal. They will shoot adequate patterns, but there are much better options out there.