I shot a few this evening and was really surprised at a few of the patterns I got. Check em out and tell me what ya think.
1.) 870 EXPRESS W/ 26" BARREL - JH 665 - WIN SUPER X 3" 1-7/8 OZ #6 @ 30 YDS
2.) 870 EXPRESS W/ 26" BARREL - KICKS 655 - WIN SUPER X 3" 1-7/8 OZ #6 @ 30 YDS
3.) 870 EXPRESS W/ 26" BARREL - KICKS 655 - WIN SUPER X 3" 1-7/8 OZ #6 @ 40 YDS
4.) 870 SM W/ 23" BARREL - JH 665 - WIN SUPER X 3" 1-7/8 OZ #6 @ 30 YDS
5.) 870 SM W/ 23" BARREL - JH 665 - FEDERAL PREMIUM 3.5" 2.25 OZ #5 @ 30 YDS
6.) 870 SM W/ 23" BARREL - REM SUPER FULL - H-13 3.5" 2.25 OZ #6 @ 30 YDS
POI was off on patterns 1, 2, and 3. That barrel only has a single bead so it's very possible my aim was off a bit. I liked patterns 2 &3 but wasn't enthused about 1.
I wasn't really enthused with pattern #4 at all. Nothing more to say about it really.
I was sorta surprised (in a good way) by pattern #5 honestly. That's a good pattern for 5's in my opinion. (This is the only load in which the wad penetrated the paper @ 30 yds. That surprised me also.)
I really liked what I saw with pattern #6. I had all but decided to designate the H-13's for fields/really open woods due to the tightness of patterns but the REM SF opened it up a good bit (which is what I was hoping for).
So now I have to decide what I want to carry to the woods with me on opening day. It will be the 870 SM w/ 23" barrel (I prefer it for several reasons over the Express) for sure but still have a decision to make on the ammo/choke combo. It will either be REM SF/H-13 3.5"-2.25oz-#6 or KICKS .655/Win Super X 3" 1-7/8oz. #6 (pattern results in another one of my posts). As of now, it will be the latter of the two but combos #5 and #6 are killers too. Don't think I could go wrong with any of the three honestly.