Patterning Question To Ponder

[R AJ]

We who know from past experience , have witnessed that two shotguns even one serial number apart can shoot vastly different patterns using the same choke/shell and same conditions.

Given that , have any of you shot the same chokes on the same gun and experienced way different results.
Ex trying two or three chokes form the same mfgr, same constriction , etc.?

Hey give me a break, I'm gathering tax stuff to turn in tomorrow and needed to get away from it all. 

[taylorjones20]

I have not personally shot multiple chokes of same brand and constriction but I did send my gun off to have it worked on and was told that he swapped my choke for another one of the same constriction because it seemed to shoot better.  Obviously it was the same brand.

[Longshanks]

Hmm, interesting. I have one ventilator that shoots great out of my 870SM 26" with lead loads and Hevi 7's. I bought another ventilator to shoot out of my 21" 870. Wouldn't shoot worth a flip. I will try the 2nd  choke in the SM that is already producing patterns and see what happens.

[nosaj]

Hmm, interesting. I have one ventilator that shoots great out of my 870SM 26" with lead loads and Hevi 7's. I bought another ventilator to shoot out of my 21" 870. Wouldn't shoot worth a flip. I will try the 2nd  choke in the SM that is already producing patterns and see what happens.

Looking forward to the results.

[turkey buster]

With varrying production from barrels, chokes, shells, and weather  it gets expensive.
Example I've seen a gun with a certain choke shoot well but the pattern fall apart after 1-3 shots and you would have to clean the barrel. I've also seen guns that once cleaned shot worse.
I've seen 3in shells outperform 3.5in shells. I've seen taking a choke out of a gun and putting it back in effect a pattern.

A lot of it has to do with barrel harmonics. Once you've found the right set up with your gun, barrel, and choke then it's up to the manufacturer to keep producing that shell consistently. Lot numbers on shells change the pattern for better or worse also.

Have fun patterning and keep a credit card handy!

[turkey buster]

Let me add...

It might get time consuming and expensive but try shooting each shell/choke combo with a clean and dirty barrel.

[Dr Juice]

Let me add...

It might get time consuming and expensive but try shooting each shell/choke combo with a clean and dirty barrel.

Even though it sounds interesting, I have neither the time nor the money to experiment. Good luck and let me know how you make out.

[Longshanks]

I just shoot my gun at the camp when I come out of the woods. Takes about 10 minutes. My 870SM shoots the Winchhester XX 3/2/6's the best with the Ventilator. Not much cost there to run a few shells. I don't think I would be going out running HTL just to do a choke comparison. Bought 15 boxes of XX when they were 10.99 a box.

[R AJ]

I just shoot my gun at the camp when I come out of the woods. Takes about 10 minutes. My 870SM shoots the Winchhester XX 3/2/6's the best with the Ventilator. Not much cost there to run a few shells. I don't think I would be going out running HTL just to do a choke comparison. Bought 15 boxes of XX when they were 10.99 a box.

I hope no one is in your camp when you shoot at it!   

He hasn't said whether or not he has hit it yet! We all know what he meant.Thanks for the chuckle as I am still working on taxes. Poor next gobbler that I see before I unwind. 

[mikejd]

I remember the days when we didnt even think about this. we took one shat at a board so we new where we needed to point. Then we bought a box of #4 lead and headed to the woods. Shot most birds closer then 30 yards and killed alot of birds with zero a miss.

Not knocking the OP at all because I am totally obsessed with patterns now.

I have even thought that we aught to have a pass around choke sub forum so we can loan each other different chokes to see if we like it before we commit.

[SteelerFan]

If I get to the point where I need to start trying different tubes from the same company in the same restriction, with clean vs dirty barrel, matched lot numbers on ammo, checking and recording humidity and barometric pressure along with moon phase...

I'll just use my bow!

It's definitely an intriguing science, and many of you have truly studied. I admire your tenacity in the quest for perfection!

Cheers!

[Izzyjoe]

I remember the days when we didnt even think about this. we took one shat at a board so we new where we needed to point. Then we bought a box of #4 lead and headed to the woods. Shot most birds closer then 30 yards and killed alot of birds with zero a miss.

Not knocking the OP at all because I am totally obsessed with patterns now.

I have even thought that we aught to have a pass around choke sub forum so we can loan each other different chokes to see if we like it before we commit.

Ive often wondered the same thing myself, but I have a felling it would not workout very good! I've worked in repair shops, and I know things get broken and lost, but if the person will replace it or pay for it, its all cool, but sometimes it don't work out that way.

[SumToy]

It will happen.  Now from what i have seen it is a deal that they shoot or dont.  It a day and night in patterns.   

[sixbird]

I have even thought that we aught to have a pass around choke sub forum so we can loan each other different chokes to see if we like it before we commit.

Ive often wondered the same thing myself, but I have a felling it would not workout very good! I've worked in repair shops, and I know things get broken and lost, but if the person will replace it or pay for it, its all cool, but sometimes it don't work out that way.

I've done this for a couple of guys and it worked out great. No problems returning and they were able to try without buying...Win,win...

[Dtrkyman]

I remember when I first got the turkey bug i was chasing the ultimate pattern, went through several guns and chokes as well as different shells, then the Remington hevi shot came out and wow, I finally found what i was looking for, followed by Win extended range.

After that I started bow hunting for them and forgot all about the pattern game, I have 2 12 guage guns I use for turkey once in a while and they both shoot killing patterns to 40yds with any turkey load I have tried through them, they both shoot poa/poi which is more important to me than numbers anymore!

On that note I am considering an o/u 20ga turkey getter, I would likely shoot the Fed. heavyweights but those tss patterns are amazing!