I haven’t had many free days to blow smoke. I compiled a list of combinations to try and told the wife “see you after lunch”YIKES! Too much information.
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Shot patterns
- Thread starter Zutt-man
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Nice shooting. There are a bunch of keepers there.
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I thought #10 looked really good too.
Brokennock
Cannon
Question and 2 comments/suggestions.
Have you tried what look to be the best patterning loads against a steel can, like a tuna can, for penetration? It seems like a lot of shot, plus the lubed cushion wad, for that size bore. I'm confident it's fine, but worth testing.
I don't use the shot cartridge for my initial load with the Skychief load for turkeys, just a paper strip folded over the end of the mandrel and pushed into the bore. At 1 3/16" wide the long edges just overlap. The ends are trimmed flush with the muzzle after shot is added. This is just to separate barrel steel from lead shot. I use the cartridges for reloads and for squirrel and pheasant hunting. But, the muzzle end is trimmed completely leaving it totally open.
Unfortunately the pic I used in the photo tutorial doesn't show this,,,,
That bit of folded over paper gets removed. For turkeys I'm loading it twisted end down, twisted end nested into the tow/faux-tow wadding, and lifting the folds up and trimming them with my belt knife. For squirrels and pheasants I load them flat end down, so the flat end is against the flat get wads I use, and the twisted part is cut off.
Might try a thin card between shot and lubed fiber wad. But overall, if you get good penetration with the best patterning loads shown here, stick with what you have going on.
It is almost info overload, but thank you for taking the time to share it.
It’s an awful lot, but like I said I haven’t had many opportunities to get out and gobbler season is around the corner.
I hadn’t thought about penetration. I had some 1.5”x2” stakes holding up my cardboard. BB’s obviously went through the cardboard. They only penetrated about an 1/8” into the wood. I would THINK that would be enough.
I actually had a hard time loading my shot cups. They were awfully tight. They were fit for the bore and I probably should’ve sanded another .05” off the dowel.
I think the one thing that surprised me is the lack of need for cards. There were some absolute stunning patterns in there (compared to others I’ve seen) and if I don’t have to carry extra shootIng supplies? Win win
Brokennock
Cannon
Amen!
A lot of these load combinations were so similar to the next, the only one I repeated was the best pattern to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. I’d probably still be out there shooting if attempted multiple shots of the same loads. I’m sure there might be some loads that would have a better ‘averaged pattern’.
I’ve harvested turkey with 7’s before, but they need to be closer. Standard unmentionable turkey loads use 4’s, 5’s & 6’s. Sometimes a combination. My 5’s should be plenty
Awesome test and good results.
Didn't you try just o/s cards?
Didn't you try just o/s cards?
Thanks for posting this field test. I’m guessing it took much of a long afternoon but fun as all get- out.
#10 sure looks like a winner to me, too!
#10 sure looks like a winner to me, too!
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The first two I used overshot cards. It was all I had in my shooting bag.
Even though home was only 3 miles of gravel away, I couldn’t bring myself to leave and go grab them real quick. I feared with the balmy 15° weather I may smarten up and just stay at home
Very good info. Thanks for posting your tests
Lots of good info there, #10 definitely looks like a winner, hope it's repeatable. #5 shot should be plenty good for efficient kills at MZL ranges, especially with the 80grs load. With pellet load weight of about 770grs, should still have enough penetration as far as your pattern allows. Nice.
Was it with corn meal and a lubed wad though?The first two I used overshot cards. It was all I had in my shooting bag.
Even though home was only 3 miles of gravel away, I couldn’t bring myself to leave and go grab them real quick. I feared with the balmy 15° weather I may smarten up and just stay at home
Yes.
Powder, meal, cards, shot, wad.
Results weren’t great. I’m going to sit down and do some analysis on this to be sure, but upon initial glance it seems using a lubed wad as a buffer from powder to shot vs corn meal produced better results. Interestingly enough, it’s the inverse for a round ball. Wish I would’ve tried a bare ball too
Just FYI, I’m going to be sitting down and doing some data analysis (aka a lot of counting) with the % of BB’s to strike the target and % of BB’s to hit a centered circle to see where the focus of shot is per load. Buckle up
Think pattern is still good out to 35yds for a shot but you'd want to aim at head. As you pointed out, pattern a little low and starting to see a noticeable drop in pattern at end of range.
So not just cards.... maybe next time
