When notox became mandatory, I still had a stash of 1 1/4 ounce soft #4 loaded up with Herco to about 1225 fps in fairly fresh AA hulls. A few years ago, I got a burr under my saddle and decided to pattern a few of them in long barrel Foxes. I never got past the first 30" Sterlingworth that was bored just a little over .040 ahead of a standard .730 bore. I shot the first patterns at 40 yards. The pattern was so tight that any mallard or pheasant would have been ruined. I went back to 60 yards, and still had a pattern that would have been instant death on a mallard, pheasant, or goose. I have had the same patterning experience with my old AYA light ten. Patterns at 40 to 60 yards with BB and #2 steel were astounding. I sold the gun, but saved the patterns. You never know whether a goose you kill already has shot in him, but my AYA has killed at 90 yards or better with steel BB. I don't know what this proves, except that tight chokes and big shot are the order of the day for long birds.
