870 help!!!!

[brandonmacd1]

I started having heart troubles a while back and the docs orders were not to shoot a 12 gauge any time soon. So, i took the plunge and got a 870 youth 20 gauge with the 21" barrel. From there I got an ssx choke and shooting federal hw #7's. Here's the thing I am only averaging about 100 hits in a 10" circle. The barrel has been polished and it has a red dot so my poa and poi are the same. Isn't this a low count?

[brandonmacd1]

O yeah. I have also tried a ic, tight wad, and jelly head and none got above 90 in the 10".

[redarrow]

Sounds low to me. Are you certain poa/poi is the same.I assume you shot it at 15-20 yards with a dove load to check

[brandonmacd1]

I am positive. Just in case I was off though I shot at a 4' by 4' piece of cardboard and that was at the most dense area.

[mossyoakpro]

My 870 youth actually prefers the more open choke....I am shooting a Sumtoy 570 in mine after trying all of his chokes.  At no time did I ever get numbers that low.  What lot number shells are you shooting???

[brandonmacd1]

PHT258F 7

[SKFOOTER]

PHT258F 7

That's the model # for the 20 gauge loads.  The Lot # is located inside one of the end flaps on the box. 

[brandonmacd1]

I don't have any sense. I have never looked at one to be honest. It is 5P-37PN737 it looks like. The ink is pretty patchy

[sevetts]

i would suggest to anyone shooting fed heavywieghts out of a 20 to try a carlsons non ported .575, ive shot em out of several guns and havent found a choke that shoots a flite control wad better. for less than 30 bucks its a great investment...

[chris30br]

I don't have any sense. I have never looked at one to be honest. It is 5P-37PN737 it looks like. The ink is pretty patchy

Very low 10" count. I have the same lot number and have shot two shell.and they averaged 167. Give Sumtoy a call and he will get ya going

[bushwhacker]

I shoot a .570 undertaker in my 870. It has a 26 inch unpolished barrel and I get 140's average in the 10" at 40 yards.

[gophert]

OK before you go spending lots of money on different chokes there are a few things I would suggest. 

Make sure your barrel is clean with NO sign of oil in the barrel.  I would even suggest swabbing it with rubbing alcohol until it is super clean and dry.  My next thing would be to try a different box of shells.  There are occasions where you just get a bad batch.  Although it doesn't happen a lot, I have seen it.

If you are saying that you have tried an Indian Creek and got similar numbers something is definitely up and I don't think it's the choke.  I have seen my patterns vary due to oil in the barrel by more than 200 holes in the 10" so it does happen.

If none of that works, then I would start the choke search.  My first call or pm would be to william at Sumtoy.  He will work with you and get the choke you need for your gun. 

[brandonmacd1]

Thanks for all of the help everybody. I finally found some hevi 13 #7's, so I am going to clean my barrel again and give them a try. I only have until April 7th before surgery so I hope they work so I can hit the woods. If not I guess the choke hunt is on again.

[remmy1187]

Not trying to be a smart a** but are you sure they are actually 7's.  Correct me if im wrong fellas, but I think last year there were some guys that had heavyweight 7's that were loaded with 6's from the factory.

[brandonmacd1]

seems like it. The pellets are there its just not very dense.