I use 3" Kent steel hulls cut to 2.5 inches, 3 drams of Pyrodex, a 1/4 inch lubed Wonder Wad, a 1/4 dry wad, shot cup from Winchester AA wads, 1 1/8 #4 or #5 lead, overshot card and roll crimp. I shoot this load in over 15 guns and they all seem to patten quite well. I shoot pheasant both wild and planted and 5-stand trap with the same load at ranges up to 40 yds or so. Prior to lead being banned it was my go to load for ducks and close range geese.
Experimenting to tighten the pattern I would suggest you purchase some steel wads with the petals uncut. There were many experiments 10 years ago with cutting various lengths of petals and various number of petals to get tighter patterns and distance. Some people reported very good results.
I am also very interested in Winchester's LongBeard shells. They have a liquid resin poured over the shot which then hardens. Upon firing the shell the resin breaks up but it holds a tighter shot string and very tight pattern. I have been trying to think up some type of 'resin' on my own to test.
