I have hunted with Winchester HV #5's since 1992, I have about 8 boxes left, great shell. I patterned my gun this year and Longbeards were too tight for me to hunt with unless I put a more open choke in my gun. I don't count holes so I can't give you that kind of information. The Longbeards shot about 8" to a foot lower than the HV in same size shot. My son in law wanted me to check out his 1300 with longbeards and I had sighted his gun high with Winchester HV #5's, I shot one shot of the Winchester LB #5's put it on the money, tight killer pattern. Showed him a the pattern and he loves it and wants to hunt with it. The longbeard is truly a all around 40 yard shell, if you don't like the pattern, throw a more open choke in your gun. If they still make longbeards when I run out of HV, I will buy another choke and shoot longbeards. Of course I will probably be dead before I run out of HV, I'm 63. Also the HV patterns are a little more open but great.
