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#21 ·
Question:
why does your stated (factory) pellet count vary for each shell?
1 1/8 oz of 7 1/2 should be the same # regardless of hull / shell
[/QUOTE]
Shot size is "fairly" uniform, but never exact... and shot is not weighed, its loaded by volume.

Smaller size pellets can fit more within a given volume and vice versa...
 
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#22 ·
Here are a few more of my pattern numbers w/ the same gun and choke using some premium loads for comparison.

Patterning results from a 12-gauge Browning Citori with 28" Invector-plus barrels using Briley flush chokes (patterns average of five, 30" post-shot scribed circle, yardage taped muzzle to target, and in-shell pellet count average of five).

40 YARDS / F
Win AA Heavy 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (377 pellets) / pattern 299 (79%)
Rem Gun Club 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (375 pellets) / pattern 272 (73%)
Rem Premier STS 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (408 pellets) / pattern 321 (79%)
Rem Premier Nitro 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (420 pellets) / pattern 321 (76%)

Hope this helps!
 
#23 ·
Joe Hunter said:
40 YARDS / F
Win AA Heavy 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (377 pellets) / pattern 299 (79%)
Rem Gun Club 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (375 pellets) / pattern 272 (73%)
Rem Premier STS 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (408 pellets) / pattern 321 (79%)
Rem Premier Nitro 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (420 pellets) / pattern 321 (76%)
Click to expand...
Gun Clubs, 73%, better than expected. But good enough for me.
 
#24 ·
GamesGuy said:
Question:
why does your stated (factory) pellet count vary for each shell?
1 1/8 oz of 7 1/2 should be the same # regardless of hull / shell
Click to expand...
GamesGuy -- Thanks for the kind words.

In-shell pellet count variations are primarily due to shot size variations. If each shell had exactly 1 1/8-ounces of true 7 1/2 sized pellets, their pellet counts would be very close to the same, but they don't all have the same weight and pellet sizes vary.
 
#27 ·
GamesGuy said:
12 GA 2 ¾" FEDERAL FIELD & TARGET LOAD
1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (486 pellets) @ 1200 fps

So where actually does the 486 come from. Mfg literature???
Click to expand...
I opened and counted the pellets in 5 shells and there was an average of 486 pellets, so it is the true in-shell pellet count average in the loads I tested. The payload was over 1 1/8-ounce, and the pellets also were also smaller than #7 1/2 size. Both of these factors resulted in a higher pellet count than what a true 1 1/8-ounce payload of #7 1/2s would be.

12 GA 2 ¾" FEDERAL FIELD & TARGET LOAD
1 1/8 oz #7 ½ lead (486 pellets) @ 1200 fps

PELLETS/SHELL (1 1/8 ounce = 492.2 gr)
In-shell pellet count / weight (grains)
491 / 516.8 gr
488 / 512.9 gr
487 / 512.3 gr
486 / 511.2 gr
480 / 511.7 gr
Mean 486.4 / 512.98 gr

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5/shell, #7 ½ = .095” dia.)
.113”, .100”, .097”, .097”, .096”, .094”, .093”, .093”, .092”, .092”, .092”, .092”, .091”, .090”, .090”, .090”, .090”, .089”, .089”, .087”, .086”, .085”, .085”, .085”, .083”
Mean pellet diameter / .09164”
 
#29 ·
Top Gun is my shell of choice for singles. I like the 1145 fps. Breaks targets if I do my part in practice, league or ATA shoots. I have confidence in them & shoot them well. At handicap---I like Gold Metal, STS and AA in that order----26 yard line.
 
#30 ·
pheasantmaster said:
Maybe for shooting close. He's using .036 constriction with his choke.

Long distance I would want over 80% results at 40yds.
Click to expand...
I have not patterned shotshells in a lot of years but I remember back in the late 80's patterning my trap gun. A M12 build up with .031" choke. I got 90% patterns with magnum shot reloads at 40 measured yards. Seeing 70-80 % called good these days just makes me think the quality of shot has gone down considerably since then.
 
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