Opinions welcome....too tight?

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

I am shooting a 24" 835 ulti mag with the Carlson's Longbeard XR choke.  Shooting 3" LB's #6 shot. 
This is what it's doing at 20 yards.  A golf ball size hole with multiple flyers.  At 30 and 40 it seems good but at 20 it seems like it's got a random pattern.  Its only my second year with this particular shotgun and I'm just now getting around to setting it up.  Thoughts, suggestions....

Click to enlarge:

[bbcoach]

LB's with the shot loc technology are very tight shooting shells.  The resin that holds the shot together, hurts in one way but helps in another.  Close shots will be very tight but it helps keep the pattern together at longer distances.  You have done the Most important thing, Patterned Your Gun, so you know what it does at a variety of distances.  Only you can say if it is too tight for you.  That combo will definitely get the job done but make sure you shoot it like a rifle.  One more thing, try the .690 Extra full turkey choke, that should have come with the 835, and see what kind of pattern you get at 20.   

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

LB's with the shot loc technology are very tight shooting shells.  The resin that holds the shot together, hurts in one way but helps in another.  Close shots will be very tight but it helps keep the pattern together at longer distances.  You have done the Most important thing, Patterned Your Gun, so you know what it does at a variety of distances.  Only you can say if it is too tight for you.  That combo will definitely get the job done but make sure you shoot it like a rifle.  One more thing, try the .690 Extra full turkey choke, that should have come with the 835, and see what kind of pattern you get at 20.

Thank you.  I never even tried that factory turkey choke. 

[Happy]

There's enough around the perimeter that I would feel comfortable with it as long as it was consistent. But as others have said only you can be the judge of that.

[coyote1]

I would hunt that. My 20 pattern with 5's is smaller, wish it was more open.

[Tom Foolery]

They're all tight at 20yds.  Here is a pic from my 825 with 3.5" Win HV 6's, range was actually 22yds, 676" StarDot



I had Williams Slugger Rifle Sights on mine which helped on the closer shots.

[tha bugman]

There's enough around the perimeter that I would feel comfortable with it as long as it was consistent. But as others have said only you can be the judge of that.

I am with Happy.  I think you have enough wiggle room on either side to be fine.

[roverboy]

Woah!

[roverboy]

How tight is the Carlson's Longbeard choke? Have you measured with calipers?