What are the suggested methods for a patterning a Trap shotgun?
Some suggest use 13 yards, others 25 yards and so on.
Should the gun be shoulder mounted or bench rested or both?
Should you check it using different loads?
Preferred chokes used, any recommendations?
THank you.
I. Hartman
I was answering the original question of how to pattern a shotgen; not how to pattern and select particular loads. I have shot trap for 40+ years. Early on, I determined that the most importand thing in trap shooting was the proper sight picture combined with correct lead for the angle of target flight. Choke and shotshell loads are of secondary importance. The more I shoot trap, the more I have found this to be true.
Pat Ireland: I'll follow you only because Frank Little has passed away. I do have his book and will always remember what a great person he was. I respected, not only his talent, but he worked a fulltime job and I could relate to that (with the exception of me being a great shot). Darrell
I did some very professional patterning of my own last weekend. I wanted to compare cheap factory loads to reloads with cheap shot to reloads with magnum shot. I used the professional method of paper plates tacked to a tree at 35 yards all through the same choke all 7 1/2 shot with my 20 gauge then counting the holes in the plates. What did I find out? There were wild inconsistancies with the cheap reloads and the cheap store bought shells. They patterned the same. But the magnum reloads were more consistant. Whereas the cheap shells would have anywhere from 15 to 35 pellets through the plate the magnum shot always had between 25 and 35 pellet holes. The magnum shot did not have the wild swings that the cheap shells had and had more even distribution of pellets. I have decided to spend the extra 5 dollars per bag on the magnum shot. I know my best scores in competitions were with my magnum reloads.
Dennis- I am just getting old and fussy about words and for this I apologize. A pattern for a shotgun would be a set of drawings used to build the gun. A pattern for a load shot through a shotgun would be a bunch of holes. You can test how a specific gun patterns a load, but this is very different from "patterning a shotgun".
Thanks, highflyer, you've done the work to give us some valuable information. I've done some of this myself with "cheap" vs. "premium" loads and sometimes I get what you did, sometimes not, though. Before buying a season's loads it's a test well worth doing. If you opt for bargain loads you might end up with something just fine - or you might get something not worth shooting. And they could come from the same maker in the same boxes.
Neil- Your explanation, and I agree with you, presents a dilemma to me. I have tested, and shot a few flats of a discount shell made In Italy with a brass head and a picture of the Roman Coliseum on the box. To get them at the best price, I must order a pallet. But, I might not get what I tested and I don't want to get stuck with 100 flats of bad shells. Life decisions can be difficult.
I printed out this thread and put it in my "Everything you need to know about trap shooting" notebook. Good stuff, Thanks people. gyrine
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Trapshooters Forum
4.1M posts
85.3K members
Since 2005
A forum community dedicated to Trap shooting enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about targets, clays, hunting, gunsmithing, gear reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!