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My thoughts on Perfect Pattern

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#21 ·
Yesterday I tried my 1 ounce loads with 16 grs of Perfect Pattern using CB 0178-12 wads and CHE 209's in both Rem Gun Clubs and Win AA's. Both performed well and were relatively clean burning.
I liked the crimps better on the Gun Clubs as the AA's had a slight dome due to their smaller capacity. Perhaps the CB 1100-12 wad might be a better choice or perhaps a change of crimp settings for the AA's. Regardless, it was acceptable to me.
 
Discussion starter · #22 ·
You had a dome because you used the wrong wad. There is not a published recipe that uses that combination of components and the amount of powder you used. This is not a forgiving powder and as such one ought not swap out components.
 
#24 ·
Thanks for all who posted. I ordered my first Perfect Pattern today. I will drop the last of my Clays into the hopper tonight or tomorrow. Probably the end of using Clays for me. I liked Clays. But if the Perfect Pattern does the job why go back if they make Clays again

Has anybody actually patterned their Perfect Pattern loads? Not in depth patterning but a quick look to verify that it shoots well
 
Discussion starter · #25 ·
I’ve done real life pattern testing. It crushes targets from the 16 and I’ve shot some of my best scores (a number of 25 straights) from the 27 with it too. It’s all I’m going to load for the foreseeable future. I don’t think I need to shoot paper to know it’s what I like to shoot.
 
Discussion starter · #27 ·
Each reloader is different. Perfect Pattern works great on my Spolar. I’m not sure what you mean by the bushing size being different than listed. I don’t put any stock in bushing charts or lists. I use a scale because that’s what all recipes call for, a weight not a bushing size. I’m curious to know what you mean when you say you can tell a difference with small flake powders? It could be semantics but it’s not a flake powder. It’s a flattened spherical powder. I’m not a powder expert so I’m not sure if they’re the same thing. I guess I pictured flake powders more like Clays or 700X. That being said, I’m not sure anyone could tell the difference between powders as how they actually shoot if they were matched recipes as far as velocities are concerned.
 
#28 ·
sharptailhunter said:
Each reloader is different. Perfect Pattern works great on my Spolar. I’m not sure what you mean by the bushing size being different than listed. I don’t put any stock in bushing charts or lists. I use a scale because that’s what all recipes call for, a weight not a bushing size. I’m curious to know what you mean when you say you can tell a difference with small flake powders? It could be semantics but it’s not a flake powder. It’s a flattened spherical powder. I’m not a powder expert so I’m not sure if they’re the same thing. I guess I pictured flake powders more like Clays or 700X. That being said, I’m not sure anyone could tell the difference between powders as how they actually shoot if they were matched recipes as far as velocities are concerned.
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I started Out with a bushing size the same as others on the forum had listed for a certain drop, # 18 bushing for 16.5 grains. I had to go to a # 20. I weighed About 20 drops. I could be semantics But all of these powders that are similar
Small flattened spherical, have a distinctly sharper sound to me. Just my observations. I’m not an expert
 
#29 · (Edited)
I am glad it is being made and sold. Since I can use Titewad for all the hulls I use, with the primers and wads I already have, I hope the new powders Perfect Pattern and High Gun will make Titewad more available. Now should they come out with some Perfect Pattern data for Federal Papers, well, maybe I would try some, even though it appears to be much denser than Titewad.

The lack of availability means I load what I can get, I even made due with tightgroup when that was all I could buy. I used Clays powder for more than 20 years, and like others, the lack of availability has me wondering if I should ever go back to it when they sell it again.

I read these threads because if I should ever get low on Titewad, I want to save it for my paper hulls and use something else (like Perfect Pattern or High Gun) for the plastic hulls. One thing good that has come of the great shortage, I have become a much better and more knowledgeable reloader. Without the shortage I would still be using the same recipes from 20 years ago, with little thought or interest in the hobby as a whole. I have learned much in the last 3 years.
 
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#30 ·
Hodgdon has also made Nitro 100 NF available, and it is showing up at many LGS locations. Per the latest Hodgdon burn rate chart, Nitro is a bit faster burning than Perfect Pattern, and per Hodgdon provided bushing chart data it's density lies between the densities of Perfect Pattern and Titewad. I can't understand why Nitro 100 NF seems to be so generally ignored while Perfect Pattern seems so enamored. The only shotshell powder listed on the latest Hodgdon burn rate chart as being a bit faster burning than Nitro 100 NF is Alliant's Extra Light.
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#31 ·
sharptailhunter said:
I loaded up some 1oz loads following the data from Hodgdon and was able to shoot them last night.

The powder meters well, drops were very consistent with my Spolar. 14.9gr per the recipe. It’s really clean to load with. It looks similar to Titewad and Titegroup in appearance but isn’t messy to load at all like Titewad is. As a side note, the Delrin charge bar on my Spolar helped quite a bit with the Titewad but Perfect Pattern is still way better than TW on its good day.

Using Win AA hulls, the stack height was great, no problem there. I used the CB 4100-12B wad, again, per the recipe.

Shooting the loads was really nice. The recoil is mild, like most 1180fps 1oz loads. My barrels were clean after each shot. I use #7.5 shot for everything and it broke targets with smoke from the 16yd and my full choke. I used it for the first and second shot on doubles and liked it there too. I wanted to try it out from the 27yd line for curiosity-sake but ran out of time.

All in all, I like it and I’ll definitely be using more of it. Below is the recipe I used, to the letter. I had a few Winchester primers just waiting for an occasion like this. Next up would be to use this same load but with Cheddites and send them off to be tested.

View attachment 1887347
Click to expand...
With 8700psi on that load you have plenty of safety margin to swap out to a cheddite safely.
 
Discussion starter · #36 ·
medscript said:
Did you get the chance to follow thru on testing?
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I haven’t bothered to send any off for testing but I have been loving this powder. I recently loaded some WinAA shells with 13.1 grains of PP and the grey 7/8oz Winchester clone wad from Claybuster with 1oz of shot. It works great for first shot on doubles. It’s very soft shooting but still crushes the target. I shot 75 straight in singles with that load the other day as well. It’s my new favorite powder for singles and doubles.
 
#38 ·
sharptailhunter said:
I haven’t bothered to send any off for testing but I have been loving this powder. I recently loaded some WinAA shells with 13.1 grains of PP and the grey 7/8oz Winchester clone wad from Claybuster with 1oz of shot. It works great for first shot on doubles. It’s very soft shooting but still crushes the target. I shot 75 straight in singles with that load the other day as well. It’s my new favorite powder for singles and doubles.
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I'm loading 14.7 grains with 1oz loads currently. The performance has been underwhelming. I'm thinking of increasing to 16 grains which will get me 1200fps and see if the patterning is any better.
 
#39 ·
medscript said:
I'm loading 14.7 grains with 1oz loads currently. The performance has been underwhelming. I'm thinking of increasing to 16 grains which will get me 1200fps and see if the patterning is any better.
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Testing proves that speed doesn't affect patterns at all, (unless you go subsonic, then the patterns actually get tighter.)

Patterns are only affected by choke constriction and hardness of shot.
 
#40 ·
timb99 said:
Testing proves that speed doesn't affect patterns at all, (unless you go subsonic, then the patterns actually get tighter.)

Patterns are only affected by choke constriction and hardness of shot.
Click to expand...
Conventional wisdom has it that more velocity delivers a more open pattern. But I've seen your tests which pretty much debunk this. Testing wins over presumptive wisdom every time.
 
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