My first "real pattern"

[kdsberman]

Hey guys, been a member since last year. Since then I've done a lot of reading and talking with a lot of you about patterning.  I've never really done a true 40yard 10" circle pattern. 

I shoot a Mossberg 835 with a Jellyhead choke and Nitro H517 4x5x7 Hevi, 3.5" 2 7/16 oz.   I use a Mueller MX-1 red dot.

After doing a TON of reading and learning the past year or two I finally decided to do my own pattern.  Although I always keep my gun and choke squeaky clean, I gave it a true deep clean last week to prepare.  It was sunny, light wind, and 63 degrees today, so I thought today was as good as any to pattern. 

My first shot showed me that my red dot was shooting a tad low, but showed a good pattern.


I held my gun rock solid as my dad adjusted my sight while I looked down the scope.  This worked perfectly.  But before I shot again I swabbed the barrel to give the second shot a fair chance.  I just ran a cotton swab on a brush down once. Also did the same on my choke.

My second shot (sighted in)..


So how was my first go at this?  I'm happy with it, but what's the experts thoughts?  As for that second shot, I left the sights alone.

As you can see, my first attempt got me 283 pellets, but my 2nd got me 247.  Any idea why the drop off?  One thing I did notice doing this for my first time was that doing the 10" circle was kind of tough only because having the circle an inch one way or another could drastically change the pellet count. So what's the trick to that?

I've never missed a bird with this setup, so I know it is good for killing. But considering what the setup is, how did I/it do?  Thanks Old Gobbler members


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[hookedspur]

Yep thats gonna work well.

[bcknuts]

That will do the job all day    Kevin

[taylorjones20]

Looks great.  Dead birds all day long!

[chatterbox]

I concur.
Very nice setup, and it will do the job VERY well!

[kdsberman]

Thanks guys.  Appreciate the feedback


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[BINK McCARTY]

Looks GREAT!!!!! when u draw the circle around the most dense portion of yr pattern it can p/u or drop off....either way u got a winner

[albrubacker]

 
Wicked pattern!

[dzsmith]

stick you a little tighter choke on there and im willing to bet you could sling at least 30 more pellets in that circle. my buddies sbe11 with a jellyhead 660 or 665 don't remember...with that exact load nitro 3.5" 4x5x7 ripped out 335 in a 10" circle at 40 yards

[surehuntsalot]

nothing wrong with that

[Twowithone]

Turkey sandwiches for sure.

[dzsmith]

choke that barrel down some more and you can break 300. my buddy shoots a sbe2, with a jellyhead 660. he shoots the same nitro shells you do and we taped out 343 in a ten inch circle at 40 which is honestly the best ive ever seen

[hs strut]

i see a dead turkey with this gun he better have his helmet 

[Spurs]

Don't  touch a thing on that setup....you have a turkey killer any day of the weeks.

Now, if you want to "chase the pellet numbers" you could tighten up that choke a little and get some "higher numbers"......but they will be just as dead with what you already have


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[davisd9]

You are more than good, do not go chasing numbers but go kill turkeys. Shots differ from shot to shot. My 835 would go from 200-225, just one of those things. 30 pellets is nothing to worry about. Good luck as you are ready to go!


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