Bravo, KY Jon. Who really cares? Doesn't the length of the shot string also depend on the type of wad you are using or the chokes you are using? If you are using say.... Comp U Chokes, don't they grab the wad and hold the wad back and make the pattern more open? Your first mistake as far as a lot of guys are concerned was going to the patterning board in the first place. But that is just some guys' opinions. I remember the first gun I patterned at the patterning board- after I saw the pattern the size of the hood of my car, I didn't think I would ever miss anything. Boy was I wrong! After that, I just went out and shot a few rounds of trap or skeet and figured out how the gun shot that way. That patterning board can really mess with your head. But I wouldn't be that concerned with the shot string. It's there- about 8-10 feet long.